The Team (from left): Madison LaSorda, Alexis Giovinazzo, Shelby Jackson, Stefanie Sherr, Kamille Dailey, Jessie Levin, Elizabeth Bixler, Alexis Berry, Jessica Saunders, Maddie Nicol.

Through its Green Schools Program, Coca Cola and RecycleBank of Philadelphia awarded grants to Springside School in Philadelphia to support two exciting projects which will generate creative thinking about current environmental challenges.

In the first, Middle School students will create public service videos aimed at positively influencing the way people use energy and recycle and reuse materials. This educational programming is planned for use in homes and schools.

The students will research, develop, design, write, produce and edit a series of short videos using the resources of the new ViDCAST studio. This process will give students a chance to utilize their artistic talents and technology skills and reach a broader audience with their message.

In an independent project which also involves a close partnership with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the Philadelphia Water Department, seven Upper School students are currently working with environmental artist and activist, Stacy Levy, to merge art and science by designing a permanent sculpture that will reduce storm water runoff throughout the campus.

Designs are in the works to direct water from Springside’s rooftops to eventually go through water sculptures, ramps, wheels, pulleys, and other simple machines during rainstorms in order to dissipate runoff more effectively.

The physics and art students will work through each step of the process of creating a public artwork: from researching the reality and spirit of the site, to understanding infrastructure, diagramming flows, brainstorming ideas, testing out materials, creating a budget and proposal, and fabricating and installing an artwork.

Finally, there will be an installation of the project, fittingly, between the art and science wings of the Upper School.

For more information, contact Gretchen Harrison, Springside School, 215-247-7200, ext. 7131, or send email to: gharrison@springside.org

1/4/2008