December 18, 2019 (Meeting notes)

By Gary Chamberlain

Dear Principal Paul Wilson

Martins Creek Elementary School Martins Creek Middle School

On behalf of the North Carolina Litter-Free Coalition (NCLFC), I want to thank you, and teachers Jamie Verola and Katie Truett for taking their time today to discuss their student-driven sustainability program and anti-litter efforts. I know that you, those mentioned along with Coach Robertson are heavily vested in your school’s sustainability and anti-litter projects.

Jamie Verola present me with 12 essays from the Martins Creek School, 5th grade students on the topic “Earth is our gift” and I was impressed with all of the essays written by Mason Smith, Carter Hooper, Zoey Taylor, Luke Bradley, Jacob Williams, Jenna Verola, Gracie Thrasher, Alex Ashe, Jenna Cook, Edhy Vasquez, Jonathan, and Sophia.

Several of the essays mentioned the “Cash-4-Trash Program” that was created by the North Carolina Litter-Free Coalition which is receiving state and national attention.

We discussed topics on how to partner together to achieve mutual goals and objectives that have long and short-term benefits for the students of Martins Creek School and our community.

Topics discussed during our meeting included Martins Creek School possible partnering with a Sedona, AZ international school on recycling and sustainability projects, participating in the Cash-4-Trash Program, participating in the annual NCLFC sanctioned anti-litter contest consisting of 8 questions worth 380 points and how to apply STEM and STEAM concepts to sustainability and litter programs.

On a national level, I mentioned how Martins Creek School was part of the Phoenix Fox 10 News interview that reports on how Mayor Charlie German, Camp Verde, Arizona is trying to replicate our Cherokee County efforts in Camp Verde, AZ (Google “Phoenix Fox 10 News Cash-4-Trash”). An image displaying Martins Creek School was part of this interview.

On behalf of the North Carolina Litter-Free Coalition and our supporters, I presented Jamie and Katie with a certificate of recognition for both Martins Creek Elementary and Martins Creek Middle School for the year 2019 and these two schools will be featured on our NCLFC 2020 Poster.

Our Cherokee County parents and residents should be proud of the efforts of our Martins Creek School teachers and students.

Gary Chamberlain-Spokesman

North Carolina Litter-Free Coalition (FB)

Home of the Cash-4-Trash Program

PO Box 98

Murphy, NC 28906

FolksvilleUSA@gmail.com

(928) 202-1186 (AZ cell)