Palsson Elementary School’s Rockin’ Bottle Drive Program

Students at Palsson Elementary decided to try out their first bottle drive fundraiser back in January 2018. After their first bottle drive was a huge success, Palsson set an ambitious and encouraging goal to use their bottle drive money to fund a 5-month drum lesson program for groups of third-grade students.

By advertising the school’s bottle drive across Lake Cowichan, the students are able to collect beverage containers from residents of their entire community, who have banded together to support the school’s initiative. Students were also responsible for collecting the recycling from classroom recycling stations each day to return to the depot. The recycling program didn’t just encourage recycling awareness in Lake Cowichan – it promoted leadership and responsibility among Palsson students, as well as building stronger relationships between families and the local community.

The school’s recycling efforts resulted in their drumming program being fully funded by deposit refunds! The program ended with a bang when students showed off their skills at a concert for the whole school community – everyone who supported the students’ initiative was invited to cheer them on!

This year, Palsson Elementary collected over 9,000 beverage containers, which they returned to Junction Bottle Depot in Ladysmith, BC. That dedication has been rewarded by a first place, $5,000 cash prize from the Return-It School Contest to support ongoing efforts.

Watch a clip from Palsson’s drum concert here.

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