More than 500 kids will be running, recycling and digging for worms at Sacramento City Unified School District’s kid-designed Earth Day Celebration on Wednesday, April 13, at Theodore Judah Elementary school.

The event will kick off with a 10 a.m. press conference where SCUSD Superintendent Jonathan Raymond will announce a bold new initiative for “greening” Sac City schools. Theodore Judah is located at 3919 McKinley Blvd.

Following the press conference, students from David Lubin, Washington and William Land elementary schools will participate in kid-friendly activities created by Theodore Judah students – with help from SMUD.
One of those activities is a “trashy” twist on TV’s popular “Minute to Win It” game show. Students will have one minute to properly sort trash from recyclable items to win.

The day also will feature a “Carbon Footprint Relay Race.” Kids will run relays to demonstrate how far some food travels to reach Sacramento tables and the energy used up by that system.

Judah’s student “Green Team” – 40 kids in first through fifth grades – worked with parents Shannon Hardwicke and Yolanda Milliken and kindergarten teacher Audrey Marshall after school and during lunches for four weeks to come up with fun activities to teach other students about being good environmental stewards, says Judah Principal Corrie Buckmaster Celeste.

“Judah’s Green Team provides an opportunity for students to develop their leadership skills as well as for a venue to further apply what they are learning in our science and garden program,” Buckmaster
Celeste said. “Additionally, the students felt it was really important to send a message that learning to take care of our environment can be fun.”

High School students from SCUSD’s Rosemont campus will be on hand to assist younger children with arts and crafts and other activities.
SCUSD is committed to becoming a model K-12 district in the area of environmental sustainability and in increasing the health of children through better nutrition and exercise.

This month, Superintendent Raymond was recognized with a Champion for Change Award by the Healthy Eating Active Living Collaborative (HEAL). The Champion award is given to “outstanding individuals for their efforts to educate, engage and empower low-income populations to eat healthy and be active.”

Superintendent Raymond created the district’s Healthy Foods Task Force a year ago. The task force has spearheaded efforts to establish a school garden at every Sac City campus and to bring “Go Green, Eat Fresh” salad bars loaded with locally grown produce to all SCUSD schools.