Hopewell Valley schools are preparing to celebrate the fifth annual Green Week from April 21 to 25, with a full slate of environmentally focused programming planned across the district.
This year’s theme, “Hope is a Practice,” reflects the week’s focus on action, connection, and sustainability. Events will take place at every school in the Hopewell Valley Regional School District, from tree plantings with first graders to a keynote Earth Day talk at the high school.
At Hopewell Valley Central High School, students will participate in a daily “Eco Lunch & Learn” series featuring environmental leaders, culminating with an oak tree planting ceremony on Friday. Throughout the week, students will also explore sustainability through hands-on activities, including an introduction to visible mending.
“This week brings a really positive energy into the school,” said Carolyn McGrath, a visual arts teacher at the high school and co-chair of the district’s Climate Action Committee. “Even students who aren’t directly participating in events are impacted just by being in a space where people care deeply about these issues.”
Between 50 and 100 students are expected to take part in various activities at the high school. The Youth Environmental Society (YES) Club has played a leading role in organizing the programming.
This year’s Eco Lunch & Learn series includes:
- Monday, April 21:
Forest ecologist and ethnobotanist Dr. Patricia Shanley will discuss the value of forests to human health and mental well-being, based on her work in the Brazilian Amazon and New Jersey. - Tuesday, April 22 (Earth Day):
Daphne Frias, climate and disability justice activist and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, will deliver an address on the power of storytelling in climate action. - Wednesday, April 23:
Ben Dziobek, Executive Director of the Climate Revolution Action Network, will speak about youth-driven organizing for climate justice and political accountability. - Thursday, April 24:
An introductory session on Visible Mending will introduce students to creative clothing repair techniques that promote sustainability. (Students bring their own lunch; no registration required.) - Friday, April 25:
Students will gather for an Oak Tree Planting Ceremony on campus to celebrate New Jersey’s state tree and its ecological importance. Pizza will be provided for participants.
Green Week, which began in 2020, has become a district-wide tradition. Each school has planned activities tailored to its students, often partnering with local groups like the Sourland Conservancy and D&R Greenway Land Trust.
At Bear Tavern Elementary, students will clean up outdoor learning spaces, plant trees and vegetables, and participate in nature-based games and scavenger hunts. Hopewell Elementary will send older students to plant at St. Michael’s Preserve, while younger students will plant gardens on school grounds. A lunch-and-learn led by Dr. Lauren Madden will give fourth and fifth graders an opportunity to explore questions about climate change.
Stony Brook Elementary will host daily themed announcements, a tree planting ceremony, a Lorax read-aloud, and a schoolwide “blue and green” photo to celebrate Earth Week. Toll Gate Grammar students will host a Green Week Expo and participate in a community tree planting event on Friday, April 25 at 10 a.m. Timberlane Middle School will feature student videos and reflections tied to climate pledges made earlier in the year.
In addition to in-school activities, the district will host a community-facing event:
The Gift of Repair: A Visible Mending Workshop will take place Saturday, April 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the HVCHS Community Room. Led by artist and community organizer Shari Hersh, the workshop will teach hand-mending techniques suitable for denim and cotton garments. Participants are encouraged to bring clothing items to mend, though materials will also be provided. The event is open to the public, costs $10 (cash only), and is sponsored by the YES Club.
“My hope is that students see the impact that people can have and know that they, too, can make a difference in their own lives,” McGrath said. “Many of our speakers are internationally recognized for their work. They demonstrate through their lives and actions that it can be done.”
Additional reporting by Julianna Burd
