Three Alpharetta Schools Breathe Easily

This summer, The Clean Air Campaign announced its refreshed and expanded Clean Air Schools education program. Starting the school year off strong, 41 schools (3 of which are in Alpharetta) have already joined the program, initiating projects to educate their students about the importance of clean air.

“We’ve seen unprecedented interest in the Clean Air Schools program so far this year,” said Susan Bacon, director of education for The Clean Air Campaign. “The program is easy to implement and schools can select projects that best fit their needs. Schools can register at any time and we’re anticipating that additional schools will join us as the year progresses.”

The three Alpharetta Clean Air Schools are:

• Barnwell Elementary
• Fulton Science Academy
• Ocee Elementary
  

The Clean Air Schools program, revamped this year, teaches students about air quality through educational projects that encourage them to take action for positive changes within the school and community. To participate, schools select one of the five projects, but many schools choose more than one. The projects include:

• A no-idling campaign that reduces harmful smog-forming emissions
  
• An educational musical assembly program that features BAIR, the Better Air Bear (geared toward K-5, available in metro Atlanta only)
• Georgia Performance Standards-based air quality lesson plans for grades 3-12, available for download at CleanAirCampaign.com
• Ride There! for Clean Air, a program to encourage bus ridership
  
• Walk There! for Clean Air, a program to encourage walking to school
  

Of the 41 Clean Air Schools, 39 will implement no-idle campaigns to help eliminate unnecessary idling on school grounds which causes air pollution and places students’ developing lungs at risk. Thanks to a grant from The UPS Foundation, The Clean Air Campaign will provide all the materials needed to employ the no-idle campaigns at no cost to the schools.

Registration is open and schools around the state can apply for the program at any time. For more information about the program or to become a Clean Air School, visit CleanAirCampaign.com or email Schools@CleanAirCampaign.com