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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: 19 September 2006 SUBJECT: Good Hope Makes Coastweeks a Priority
This Saturday, The Good Hope School community will be gathering at Sandy Point to clean the shoreline. Coastweeks is a national effort to celebrate our coastal resources, bring attention to their worsening conditions, and encourage the nation to take more action in conservation. The Good Hope team, which will include students, faculty, family, and friends will not only be picking up garbage but logging data for use by NOAA and other international environmental groups to help stop the problem at the source. During a meeting on Monday, September 19th, a student asked why Sandy Point was a good beach to select, they felt not many people picnic there and it didn't seem to have a lot of garbage. Jane Coles, Chair of the Good Hope Science department, explained there are many types of marine debris. Marine debris is not only the left over trash from beachgoers, such as bottle caps and food, (which can attract non-native species to the beach, endangering nesting birds and turtles), but it is also any man-made debris washing up on shore. Sandy Point 's South Shore has a strong tide and garbage often washes ashore from ships or other sources. It is important we understand that what washes ashore can wash back out and cause damage, such as fishing line drowning a turtle, or tangling in a propeller, causing local fisherman to take time-off to repair their boats. Class participation in Coastweeks is an important aspect of Good Hope School 's emphasis on community service. GHS promotes ocean awareness education at all grade levels. The Saturday, Sandy Point cleanup, is a push to extend this learning to family and friends. The beach cleanups give students an opportunity to play a valuable role in the preservation of St. Croix 's natural environment.
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