Richard Pokorny has big plans for the science department at Red Bank Middle School. The seventh-grade science teacher wants to construct a greenhouse to better teach plant sciences and so he can have his students conduct experiments.
A greenhouse isn’t cheap, though, and requires fundraising. Pokorny figured, what better way to start the fundraising process than by celebrating Earth Day?
Thus, this year’s inaugural RBMS Earth Day Festival was born. The festival will last from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Earth Day, April 22. Sidewalk chalk art contests hosted by the school’s art department and local vendors selling arts and crafts from around the community are among the day’s festivities. Entry is free for all visitors.
“We wanted a day to not only celebrate Earth Day, but also to help out our school’s programs, too,” Pokorny said.
In addition, the school’s math department designed T-shirts with an Earth Day theme that will be sold during the event. Proceeds from the T-shirt sales will go toward the math department.
With any luck, Pokorny hopes the event can become an annual one, and that it will kickstart the fundraising necessary for the greenhouse.
“We’d be sharing it with the high school,” he said of the greenhouse. “I wanted to spend this year getting a good base for what we can work with and then visit greenhouses at other schools.”
Pokorny said he plans on visiting Bradley Central and Soddy-Daisy high schools to learn more about their agriculture programs in the hope of bringing something similar to Red Bank.
Vendor spots for the festival are still available, and all funds will stay within the school. Businesses interested in reserving a spot can call Richard Pokorny at 457-0242.