Students from Brookwood Elementary pose with their certificates and prizes. From left to right, front row: Iris Lute (K), Liam Resplandor (K), Nathan Cabrera (K), Atreyu Cawood (K) and Harrison Hunter (1st); from left to right, back row: Judson Phillips (2nd), Anna Shaw Hughes (2nd) and Jack Hayes (1st).
Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful and Keep it Clean Dalton have announced the winners of the "Principal for a Day" program, a community initiative that encourages students to pick up litter in their community. The program was started in 2019 by Emery Silvers, an elementary student at the time, who was determined to get people around her to help clean up the community after her teacher showed the class the impacts of litter on animals.
The program awards the student who picks up the most litter in their school with the opportunity to be "Principal for a Day."
Officials said, "The initiative has seen a great response over the years with many students embracing the project and having fun while picking up trash.
The program is an excellent opportunity to promote environmental awareness and community service among students with minimal in-classroom time."
Brookwood Elementary had the highest participation, with seven students participating, including Harrison Hunter, Iris Lute, Jack Hayes, Lia Resplandor, Anna Shaw Hughes, Atreyu Cawood and Judson Phillips as their winner. Together they picked up 466.5 pounds.
Westwood Elementary will be having two brothers as their “principal” with Carson and Connor Hammontree taking first place. Students Bridger Chitwood and Peyton Chandler also picked up litter from around Dalton. Together, they cleaned up 283 pounds.
When asked about his experience, Nathan Cabreror said, "There's a lot of fishing line laying around." Jack Hayes found lots of bottles littered around and even a suit jacket. Bridger Chitwood also had an odd find. He found an abandoned dryer near Westwood Elementary. Whitney Cawood, said about her son, Atreyu’s, experience, “He’s taken ownership of all the litter we pass as we walk into places. He was also thanked several times and it made him feel so good.”
"We are thrilled to see so many students participate in the 'Principal for a Day' program and take the initiative to keep their community clean," said Amy Hartline, executive director of Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful, "We hope this program inspires others to take action and make a positive impact on the environment."
Westwood Elementary students and Principal Scott Ehlers pose with certificates and prizes. Principal Ehlers posing with, from left to right: Peyton Chandler (3rd), Bridger Chitwood (1st), Carson Hammontree (1st) and Connor Hammontree (3rd).