Operation Cluck and the Guffey Film Festival

The idea is to raise chickens that will produce fresh eggs, which the school can sell at prices lower than at the supermarket. The chickens will also provide fertilizer for the community garden. The garden will provide produce to sell to the community, as well as materials for composting.

The students hope to raise potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes and more, according to Kayla. The school needs volunteers and money to get started. There is also the possibility of having a farm summer school program.

“This project is being organized by the middle school students and their teacher, Natalie Sardi,” stated school principal Jacob Sampson.         

Having an organic community garden was one of the goals Sardi had when she became the middle school teacher this school year. 

The community garden is a two-year project, with the chickens and plants starting next school year, said Sampson.

After Kayla’s presentation, Shawna Crocker gave a presentation about the Colorado Environmental Film Festival (CEFF) and the upcoming Guffey Environmental Film Festival on April 20, in conjunction with Earth Day.

Although it wasn’t planned, both presentations supported and went well with

each other.    

“CEFF has many resources to help with Operation Cluck,” said Crocker. “The Guffey Film Festival can help the school raise funds for the project.”

Crocker and CEFF encourages kids to make environmental films, which are submitted in July. CEFF 4 Classrooms offers teachers the chance to view and have films in the classroom. 

“CEFF is a people’s alternative news source, as well,” stated Crocker.

Crocker showed a short film made by three students in New Mexico about the environment and an amazing product called bio-char, made from burned materials that have an incredible surface area and water retention ability, which is good for the environment. Of course, the students want to learn to make bio-char and sell it as a fundraiser for the school.

For more on CEFF, see the Flume Feb. 3 issue. One can also visit ceff.net.

“The April 20 GCCS Earth Day events will include the vertical hydro-aeroponic greenhouses that were recently donated to the school, some sort of work day and the Film Festival,” said Sampson.

In other matters, the school board introduced Amy Owen, the new board member appointed to fill the remaining term of Nancy Comstock.

The 8th Grade Tea will be March 8 at 4:10 p.m. The first through fifth grade students recently went to the Florissant Fossil Beds and the Dinosaur Museum in Woodland Park. 

All the middle school students are First Aid and CPR certified through the fire department. 

School board elections will be April 19, if needed. The first notice will be posted by board member Chris Peterson Feb.18 around Guffey. The second notice will be posted March 25. 

“Gail Carver has again volunteered to be the election official, if needed,” said Peterson.

The board workshop, which is open to the public, will be March 18 from 10 a.m. - 12  p.m. at the school. The workshop will include the principal evaluation and any policy and governance issues.

Board members present at the meeting were Amy Owen, Dean Wilson, Lawrence Epps, Ashley Stone and Chris Peterson. The board recessed for an executive session to discuss a personnel matter and the administrator evaluation at 6:12 p.m.

All board meetings are open to the public, and everyone is welcome to attend.