The garden with the encouragement of Mrs. Moises-Adan involved many classes in its design, implementation, and maintenance. The art department also got involved in designing beautiful stepping stones with its teacher Mrs. Alvarez. Mrs. Brown's students created a delicate "plant outfit" and also participated in the Art Workshop. Our Music and Dance teachers Mrs. Consuegra and Mrs Amaro had their students participate on a performance called "Power of the Plants" The computer department has been busily working on the website under the leadership of Mrs. Jennifer Rizo which will incorporate all the challenges of the year. Her students were also involved in the design and execution of logos for T-shirts. Science, Social Studies and Language departments are working feverishly on some of the other challenges. The students have also excitedly competed in architectural and engineering designs (the green buildings and solar cars), under the guidance of their teachers Mrs. Escarpio, Mrs. Chacon and Dr. Mederos.

The one challenge that has united and actively involved the entire school has been the Environmental Action project. Michael Adams e-mailed the CEO of Wal-Mart Mr. Lee Scott requesting compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFL's at a wholesale price. Mr. Scott and Wal-Mart donated 1300 CFL's for this life changing Action Project. A campaign is underway at St. Brendan's to get all students and their families, teachers, staff and administrators to switch over to CFL's. To initiate this campaign, for a month, "commercials" on the benefits of CFL's have been created by many different students and have been shown to the school on closed circuit TV. The students have made posters and hung them throughout the school advertising the upcoming and very important "exchange". The students, teachers and staff were asked to bring an incandescent light bulb from home in "exchange" for a CFL. This simple action and all the advertisement engendered an insatiable and enthusiastic interest in the protection and restoration of the environment. The TV production classes have also been busily promoting and helping in this very worth while effort along with their very talented teacher Mr. Funes.

The whole school has actively participated. Interestingly enough and as a result, parents, friends and acquaintances are buying CFL's to replace incandescent bulbs and to place in their homes in the hopes of reducing energy usage and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.Compact fluorescent light bulbs are more efficient, use less energy therefore save money and save the environment. "Replacing a single incandescent bulb with a CFL will keep a half-ton of CO2 out of the atmosphere over the life of the bulb. If everyone in the U.S. used energy-efficient lighting, we could retire 90 average size power plants. Saving electricity reduces CO2 emissions, sulfur oxide and high-level nuclear waste." (Eartheasy)

The Fairchild Challenge has been the catalyst that has brought about not only the interests and enthusiasm of students and teachers, but a catalyst for environmental awareness and change! As a result, St. Brendan is making sure we are making a difference in the world one student at a time!


Martha Adams