3 minute read
PS 676 eats oysters
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WINE & SPIRITS 357 Van Brunt St. PS 676 eats oysters
by Nathan Weiser
PS 676 took part in the citywide eighth annual Billion Oyster Project Student Symposium at Governors Island on June 10 and brought prizes back to Red Hook. The students took the NYC Ferry to Governors Island and then took the ferry back and said that they wished the ferry ride was longer than it was. Lynn Shon, who teaches the fourth and fifth grade science classes, was with the students and oversaw the projects that they brought to the symposium. The first grade team won a prize focused on animal survival in New York Harbor. Another prize went to the second grade team. Their project was about coastal bird habitats. They researched a bird and made a model of their habitat. The fourth and fifth grade projects that Shon oversaw focused on redesigning the PS 676 school yard. “It addressed some of the key issues that they had been studying and also that they had been covering through empathy interviews they did with the school,” Shon said. “The team that won designed a proposal for a garden in a section of our school yard.’ There were only a few elementary schools. The rest of the schools were middle schools and high schools. “It was about showcasing your work and going through the process of talking to the judges and advocating for your design, but it was also a nice experience for the kids,” Shon said. “This was more of a modern day science fair.” A popular part was the shucking station where the kids tried raw oysters. This was the first time that they had eaten oysters. “A couple students really liked them,” Shon said. “I had one fifth grader eat 12 oysters. It was a fun event. The oysters were a highlight for the kids.” “We were fortunate to get free tickets from NYC Ferry,” Shon said. “They have been so generous. We have actually taken the ferry 10 times for 10 different trips this year, and every time they have comped our tickets.”
New garden a collaborative event
by Nathan Weiser
Earlier this year PS 676 conducted a survey asking what the school could use. The students found out that the school community felt that the school yard lacked shade. On a hot day it can be hard to be out there for a long time. It was also felt that the school yard needed some seating. “A lot of the students and faculty and even the cafeteria manager said that they felt we needed a garden,” faculty member Lynn Shon said. “That aligned with what we were learning in science class. They have been learning about climate change and ways to mitigate climate change but also to adapt to the changing climate.” Shon has also taught them about flooding in Red Hook and about how green spaces can address a lot of those issues. They have also learned about different types of green infrastructure. The RETI Center, which is located in Red Hook, helped the students build and design the garden. The RETI Center has a lot of experience with design work. The planning for the school yard improvement began back in December. Shon had received a $5,000 sustainability grant that she won through the Department of Education and this money was used on this project that the kids won the award for at the symposium. Brooklyn Boatworks is a boat building organization that the students are part of and the idea was to take single use boats from them that are unusable after one sail and turn them into the garden. (continued on page 6)
