The Job Skills Class resumed the recycling program on Nov. 13. Students from this class will stop by each participating room and collect material for recycling.Job Skills Teacher Ms. Amanda Crews believes this program helps students practice practical skills that will directly translate to their possible careers. 

“This allows students to practice things such as following directions, following a schedule, and understanding responsibilities that will help them with future jobs,” Ms. Crews stated in an email. 

There are specific instructions for those wanting to participate. Fort Osage students and staff can participate by utilizing the blue and green recycling bins located in  classrooms and workrooms. It is also important to remember to rinse cans and bottles, and not to put food items or trash in the recycling bins. Kale Rupeniski is a junior at Fort Osage, and while he realizes the importance of the recycling program. He’s noticed the difference of participants from this year to past years. 

“I think it’s good for the environment,” he said via a text message. “We should keep doing it. I’ve seen a few kids use the recycling bins but not as much this year since most things are online.” 

The bins being used for the recycling program were donated by Bridging the Gap.BTG is a program that promotes reduce, reuse and recycle. Their efforts to help the planet’s environment in the Kansas City area started in 1992 when a group came together with an idea to create a community based recycling program. With the help of BTG donating recycling bins, Science Teacher Mr. Joshua Terhune was able to start this program for the school through his Environmental Science class. 

“The school district stopped recycling because they were going to start being charged $15,000 to have it picked up,” Mr. Terhune said in an email. 

He and his students were able to come up with a plan to work around the new fee. His environmental science classes working with students in the Jobs Skills class, came up with a new option. They realized that if they picked it up and sorted it, they could take it free to recycle at the Ted’s recycling center in Independence. 

After starting this two years ago, it has stuck ever since. With the help of Ms. Crews and her Job Skills Class, Fort Osage’s recycling program serves as a way to teach job skills and practice responsibility for the environment.