Win the Aquarius Battle at Marblehead Middle School

Over 1,600.This is the number of bottles that did not enter the waste stream on February 15, thanks to the newly installed hydration station at Marblehead Veterans Middle School.
MVMS students Sadie Beane, Sidney Reno, William Pelliciotti, Jack Morgan and Jacob Sherry, along with members of Sustainable Marblehead and school officials, gathered in the cafeteria the day after Valentine’s Day to celebrate a rather unique partnership relationship, this is due to homework.
“More recently, in civics classes, these students have had to write and deliver what’s called a soapbox speech,” said MVMS vice-principal Julia Ferreria.”They all chose the topic of recycling and reducing single-use plastic.”
Ferreria said she heard that sustainable Marblehead was exploring the idea of ​​putting a water refill station in the park, essentially a fountain designed to refill water bottles, so she contacted them.
Sustainable Marblehead member Lynn Bryant said the Ferreria’s outreach coincided with a conservation working group discussing the need to reduce plastic.Bryant said they had been in discussions with Recreation & Parks about including the station in the park and decided it was just as important to have them in the school as well.
To that end, Sustainable Marblehead has funded a water refill station for the school.A small readout on the top of the machine will indicate the amount of plastic bottle saved due to using the hydration station.
“I can’t think of a better place to really support our efforts to reduce plastic than schools,” Bryant said.
Bryant said she also believes it’s important, as adults, that they support students’ apparent passion for reducing plastic.
Eighth grader Sadie Bean said that when it comes to plastic, reducing use rather than recycling is the way to go.Plastics break down into microplastics, which will damage the environment and jeopardize their future, Bean said.
William Pelliciotti said that when plastic enters the ocean, it also gets into the fish, and if they can’t digest it, they starve to death.If they don’t starve, people who eat fish will also ingest microplastics, which are just as unhealthy for them as it is for fish.
“If you put in the effort and recycle or use alternatives like metal water bottles, you can solve the problem,” adds Jack Morgan.
“This is the next generation — they are eighth graders who are already so enthusiastic and we are so proud of them,” Ferreria said, adding that the students’ soapbox speeches came from the heart.”You can see all of their passion for doing better for the environment and for future generations.”
“I also want to highlight Kate Reynolds,” Ferreria said.”She’s our science teacher who started the composting project here and is our green team advisor, which is our sustainability club, so we’re very proud of Kate’s work and her leadership.”
Bryant was also recognized for his work over the years as a founding member of Sustainable Marble Head.The former executive director said it was an honor to be recognized and thanked Sustainable Marble Head for making hydration stations a reality before returning to students.
“I just want to say thank you to the five of you,” she said.”It’s a pleasure to be here with you and all your work, enthusiasm and commitment, it makes me grateful and hopeful.”