School, NFL Team Up For Environment
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Niu Valley Middle School has teamed up with the National Football League Environmental Program to raise awareness about protecting and caring for the environment. They recently celebrated with a schoolwide assembly, Malama Honua.
“Living organisms in general, and humans in particular, survive and thrive in only a sliver of habitats on Mother Earth,” principal Justin Mew explained. “When we reduce our livable habitat, we reduce the carrying capacity of Mother Earth and reduce the quality of life. It’s important to learn from our past practices to live responsibly now, with a duty for both the present and future.”
Last year, the school applied for a grant from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to buy endemic trees following the removal of its wiliwili trees due to wasp infestation and the removal of several other trees to make way for accessible ramps.
Although it didn’t get the grant, when the NFL Environmental Program approached DLNR for recipient schools or agencies, Niu Valley was selected.
“Without this partnership we couldn’t have participated fully in the broader Malama Honua effort or landscaped our campus in a short amount of time,” Mew said. “We benefited greatly by the partnership because they could feel and experience the support from the NFL, local agencies, the U.S. Army and our own parents, who gave of themselves to support our school.”
At the assembly, emceed by KHON-2 sports anchor Kanoa Leahey, a traditional Hawaiian opening and a ceremonial tree planting took place. The first harvest of vermicastings were applied as fertilizer to the newly planted trees and shrubs. NFL Environmental Program directors Jack and Susan Groh and University of Hawaii head football coach Greg McMackin also were on hand to address the students and faculty.
“Niu Valley Middle School was the perfect school to partner with because of its ongoing efforts,” Jack Groh stated.
“Prior to the tree/shrub planting, our school had ongoing sustainability efforts,” Mew explained. “For example, our parent support group holds community recycling drives. Team C, ‘Down to Earth,’ had a worm project that recycled cafeteria food waste into vermicast compost, and our agency partnership with our student government and science department puts recycling bins in each classroom, office and work area for paper, bottles, cans and plastic containers.”
As an added bonus, the partnership has enabled Niu Valley students to meet the environment and community service requirements of the school’s International Baccalaureate Program.
“Through this partnership, our students have deepened their appreciation for our environment and gained valued skills that will significantly help in reducing the carbon footprint in Hawaii,” Mew said.
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