Third Graders Carry On a 10-Year Tradition

Giving up recess to clean the playground?

Every Wednesday, Endeavor Elementary third graders are excited to do just that.

For more than 10 years, Endeavor’s Clean Up Crew has worked hard to help keep their playground area clean and safe.

The Clean Up Crew was the brainchild of a former student named Roger, who recently graduated from Lakota West. He remembers seeing a bumper sticker about how trash can pose a safety hazard.

“One day during recess Roger remarked to me about all the trash he was seeing on the playground and was concerned about safety and wildlife,” said Endeavor Instructional Aide Trina Moore. “Suddenly an idea was born!”

Moore still helps with the Clean Up Crew to this day. She says the group runs to meet her on the playground to get their disposable gloves and trash bags. The students then form teams and get to work.

When the recess whistle blows for the students to get in line, they return to Moore with their bags of trash, use hand sanitizer and get ready to head back to class.

In exchange for their hard work and giving up their recess time, Moore gives each student a Rocket Reward, which can be used for monthly school drawings.

Moore adds, “I love seeing the delight when the students gather again to combine all of the trash, often exclaiming, ‘Look how much trash we got, Mrs. Moore!’”

Third grader Bhumika likes to be part of the Clean Up Crew because “the playground is a better place after we clean.”

Riley said it is like Earth Day every week. And Savannah and Sydney like to be members of the Clean Up Crew because it helps the community and they like helping people.

The group dynamic changes weekly, as the students determine if they wish to participate or not.  Moore says, “Many times students have requested to clean more than once a week, which I find so incredibly giving on their part, but I keep the task to once a week so they can have adequate time to play.”

She has had students in upper grade levels seek her out during the school day and ask if they can still participate independently during their own given recess!

“It truly warms my heart to see so much care and concern from our students. It is my hope that this special program, born from the action and determination of one student, will continue for many years to come; that these caring students will continue to foster the responsibility to make our local community and the world a better place!

Roger is both surprised and happy that the Clean Up Crew is still going strong. “Safety is important and I’m happy our community has kept it going.”