HAMPTON – Superintendent Lois Costa is proud to share that students in Hampton Academy’s Extended Learning Program (ELP) joined members of the Surfrider Foundation’s New Hampshire Chapter for a beach cleanup, and later turned the trash they collected into art projects.
Students in Special Education Teacher Bonnie Heath’s ELP class helped to collect 25 pounds of trash at the beach cleanup, which was held on Friday, Nov. 3 at Jenness State Beach in Rye. The cleanup was organized by Paraprofessional Chris Grippo, who helps to run the Surfrider Foundation’s New Hampshire Chapter.
The Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through a powerful activist network.
Students started at the parking lot and walked to the north end of the beach, known as Straw’s Point, and then headed back to the starting location. Along the way, students picked up 80 rubber lobster claw bands, 75 plastic fragments, 38 cigarette butts, 27 plastic bottle caps, 20 yards of rope, and more.
On Nov. 17, Heath, Grippo, and Psychologist Jenn Langevin gathered with students to turn the trash they collected into sea art projects.
Grippo kicked off the activity by having students sort through the items they gathered during the beach cleanup. Then, using those items along with sea glass and shells that were donated by staff members, they created their art pieces.
Hands-on projects like this can be used therapeutically to help students from all backgrounds become engaged, build communication skills, foster creativity, and build self-esteem, and can improve multiple areas of struggle including mental health, social skills, and executive functioning skills.
“Through this project, the students learned to communicate and work together,” said Langevin. “They got to not only gather items that were deemed as trash, but they were able to utilize some of these items to create a one-of-a-kind treasure.”
The sea glass art created by students and staff are being displayed for all to enjoy in Hampton Academy’s lobby throughout December.
Langevin plans to organize monthly projects like the sea glass art project, integrating regular education students with the INSPIRE and Experiential Learning Programs at Hampton Academy.
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