By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
“Last year was the first time Caribou Middle School had an Energy Team,” said Ben Ezzy, CMS seventh-grader. “We were invited to an energy conference sponsored by Maine Public Service in conjunction with Earth Day and to enter a project. We won second place (county) and Rookie Team of the Year (national).
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
The Energy Pledge, created by Ben Ezzy, a seventh-grade Caribou Middle School Energy Team member, was the first station visiting students/teachers and community members were introduced to (and encouraged to recite) during the March 30 Energy Extravaganza exhibit put on by the Energy Team.
“This year we attended the Efficiency Maine conference held in Presque Isle,” added Jillian Flynn, CMS Energy Team member. “It was a pretty good experience. and we decided to do a bigger and better project this year, striving to win first place.” The theme of the projects promote energy conservation, education, and efficiency.
The nine team members, under the direction of Beth Alden, started planning last October and on March 30, the CMS Energy Team held a day-long Energy Extravaganza at the Recreation and Wellness Center which was open to the public and visited by local classrooms. During the planning time the students paired up and decided which areas of energy conservation they wanted to promote. Following this, the CMS students also contacted local businesses to see if they would like to participate in the event. As a result of placing second in the contest last year, the team received $250 for future endeavors relating to this year’s project.
“I think this has been a very unique learning experience for these kids,” stated Alden, “especially the planning and research plus finding themselves working with businesses and the public.”
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Members of the Caribou Middle Energy Team are, from left: Dustin DeMerchant, Caleb Hunter, Jillian Flynn, Chathu Karnuisari, Benn Ezzy, Maggie Cyr, Anna Soderberg and Molly Adams. In back are David hunter and Beth Alden, advisor.
Upon entering the gymnasium at the Wellness Center, students, teachers and members of the public were directed toward an easel which displayed the energy conservation pledge, written by Ezzy. Everyone who entered was asked to read the pledge and encouraged to sign their names to a banner of paper attached to one wall.
Following the pledge, Ezzy and Flynn, as official greeters, invited the visiting classrooms/public to peruse the seven different areas, each providing information on various types of energy conservation. Each of the student-manned stations also offered guests a chance to win prizes and collect tickets which were dropped off before leaving the exhibit, to be drawn later in the day, providing a special door prize to the school(s).
The Energy conservation stations included wind turbines; fossil fuel; nuclear power; hydro and solar; recycling and energy efficient light bulbs. Local business participating were S.W. Collins, Maine Public Service and the Tri-Community Landfill.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Nancy Chandler, from Maine Public Service, was on hand to help inform students and community members about energy conservation during the Energy Extravaganza held by the Caribou Middle School. Maine Public Service sponsors a county-wide program, in conjunction with Earth Day. Energy Team project’s are judged locally with the winners going on to be considered for a national award.
“I think the kids all had fun,” stated Flynn. “We tried to come up with some games that would engage them in learning about different ways to conserve energy. Nancy Chandler’s (representing Maine Public Service) station was probably the most popular,” she added, “ the Kilo Meter is a great game.”
Caleb Hunter, a third leader on the CMS Energy Team remarked, “This is teaching kids something while they are having fun — and of course they always like to get out of the classroom for a while.” Chandler commented that the biggest reason behind this type of event is to promote the knowledge of energy conservation to not only students but adults alike.
The energy teams who enter into the local and national contest must document their entire project via a 15-page (30-page both sides) scrapbook throughout which their entire event from planning workshops, business contacts, research, promotions, photos and expenditures are recorded. The project is then judged on a local level resulting in two winners; one from grades 5 and under, the other grades 6-8. These winning entries are then judged at the national level in Washington, D.C. This year the Energy Team whose project is deemed the winner in their respective divisions will receive a pizza party held in their classroom and a cash award of $350 to use in the next competition.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
It’s not easy to pick up a penny when one is wearing insulated rubber utility gloves, such as are worn by employees at the Maine Public Service Co. This challenge was one of many local students participated in during the Caribou Middle School Energy Team’s Energy Extravaganza.
“We can’t say enough about the cooperation and support we received from Miss White (CMS principal) and the support from the all the schools, bringing their classes to the Energy Extravaganza,” stated Ezzy. “We also really have to say ‘thank you’ to Kathy Mazzuchelli for allowing us to use the gym for this event, she is just such a great community person — just great.”
Flynn also made a point to recognize the Energy Team advisor, Mrs. Beth Alden, “She worked so hard with us on this project, she listened to our ideas and was just running everywhere — she is our ‘go to’ person.”
Members of the Caribou Middle School Energy Team include Anna Soderberg, Dustin DeMerchant, Maggie Cyr, Molly Adams, Caleb Hunter, David Hunter, Chathu Karunisari, Jillian Flynn, Ben Ezzy and teacher/advisor Beth Alden.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
RSU 39 Superintendent Frank McElwain was greeted by two of the CMS Energy Team leaders, Ben Ezzy and Jillian Flynn, when he stopped by to check out the Energy Extravaganza event on March 30.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Josh Ashton and Owen McQuarrie listen as Lea Stedt, representing the S.W. Collins Co., as she explains about wind turbines and the efficiency of LED lights, during the CMS Energy Extravaganza, held on March 30 at the Caribou Wellness and Recreation Center.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Ben Ezzy, official greeter during the Caribou Middle School Energy Team’s Energy Extravaganza, explains to visiting students the route they will take to view the various energy conservation stations.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Keegan Dickinson, a fourth-grade student from Teague Park enjoyed checking out all the energy conservation information provided by the Tri-Community Landfill exhibit at the recent Energy Extravaganza.
