The document summarizes a student project called "CAT Goes Green" which aimed to establish a recycling program at their school. The project involved researching recycling, creating educational materials like videos and brochures, and engaging students and faculty to participate in recycling. Surveys and evaluations found that recycling increased after the program launched as students and staff became more aware of recycling benefits through the group's educational outreach. The project organizers recommend the school adopt permanent recycling infrastructure and procedures to continue the successful recycling program.

1. Public Relations Project CAT Goes Green Thomas Hickey Melani Borrilez Brianna Buckwalter

2. Our Project Our project is called “CAT Goes Green” Our school had a weak history of recycling No formal program in place Interest among faculty and students but there was no way to pursue this interest

3. We wanted to get a recycling program going at our school, and have it be maintained . Two targets for this project- Primary Target: students and faculty/staff Secondary Target: parents and the district community

4. Primary Target: We wanted the students and faculty to be aware of recycling and its benefits We wanted them to recycle at school We wanted them to carry over what they learned at school to action at home

5. Secondary Target: We wanted them to understand recycling and how they can change the current environmental state. We wanted to get them to start recycling and make a difference.

6. Description Before we started anything we: 1. Did research and collected facts on recycling and its effect on the environment 2. Decided on our targets 3. Brainstormed and created a list of possible activities. 4. Had sign-up sheets so every DECA member could participate

7. Description cont’d Created a video Made brochures and created a poster board for open house On the daily announcements we would send facts up to the WTEC Radio station Wore CAT Goes Green shirts when recycling Our DECA members talked to students and faculty in the school. We put an article in the school newspaper

8. We gained the support of social studies teachers who agreed to show informative movies to their classes so the entire school could be educated.

9. To reach our secondary targets we: We were in three different newspapers the Community Courier, Mercury, and Philadelphia Inquirer/Chester County section CenterPoint Magazine We were on three different websites: The CCIU website, the CAT-Pickering DECA website and the Engle-online website We were on the CCIU channel.

10. Rationale There wasn’t a program for recycling in the school Students would listen to other students In 2006 32% of US paper made products were recycled In 2007 50% of US paper made products were recycled Americans use more than 67 tons of paper or 580 pounds and only one-fifth is recycled

11. Organization Melani Borrilez Brianna Buckwalter Thomas Hickey Research Documentation Other Media Recycling/ Collection

12. Implementation We researched the issue about going green We selected our targets We decided on how to reach our targets We brainstormed what we were going to put into our movie Everyone chose a part they wanted to illustrate

13. Implementation cont’d We set up schedules and spoke to teachers. We announced the start of the project by showing our DVD to the school The project started and as it progressed, we let teachers/staff know how their classrooms were doing.

14. Evaluation Our first steps: We took Surveys Created Questionnaires Looked over the classrooms. This all helped us set the project direction.

15. Evaluation Cont. The Research: Looked up facts. Looked up statistics. Looked up helpful hints. The results of the research is what caused the students/staff to understand the importance of recycling.

16. Evaluation Cont. The Documentation: Created daily announcements Made a brochure Created a poster board Created a DVD The Documentation caused the students/staff to join the effort because they were always being reminded of the project. We were very successful in getting the project in front of the target.

17. Recommendation We Recommend: Recycling containers for plastic, glass and aluminum Bins placed by universal printers The school becomes a community drop-off center for recyclables The custodial staff takes over the program and keeps its impressive results

18. Impact People through out the community responded to our project by Brandywine YMCA in Wilmington Newspapers responded Local Residence Chester County Intermediate Unit

19. Conclusion This was a great project and some one should do it again The students and staff responded to all of our media, announcements, and newspaper articles by recycling more We know that our project was successful because not only did we help our school and the environment, but we also informed hundreds of thousands of people about the benefits of recycling.