BES students bond through SMART School Challenge

Boulder Elementary seventh and first grade students won $2,000 for their efforts creating upcycled bird feeders and participating in the living classroom challenge as part of the Saving Money and Resources Today (SMART) School Challenge through the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. 

Boulder Elementary Science teacher Connie McCauley and first grade teacher Stacey Peterson were thrilled to see students bond through these activities, the latter of which involved planting pinto beans. McCauley and Peterson were notified of the grant the last week of school, giving them an opportunity to celebrate the success with the students on the last day of school (Friday, June 2). Boulder Elementary was one of 20 schools that participated in this program, and was one of 10 winners. Each project integrates lessons and projects relating to resource conservation, efficiency and healthy schools.

Peterson said students went above and beyond to make the project a success, with the seventh grade students leading the charge, creating slideshow presentations they shared in the rotunda of the Montana Capitol building on May 23 during the SMART School Symposium. Students also made poster boards illustrating the project, which emphasized bird feeders in hopes to attract more birds to Boulder Elementary’s community gardens, which seventh grade student Daisy Johnson said is beneficial to the community because the birds pollinate the area and help control the number of insects.