By Mary O’KEEFE

This is the second year Crescenta Valley High School has implemented the Good Neighbor Initiative.

“Every club and every sport [team] each picked up trash in the neighborhoods for a week,” explained Principal Linda Junge.

Neighbors have contacted the school sharing concerns about the trash that is left in their yards by students in the morning, after lunch and after school. In an effort to be a good neighbor, the school has developed a program that encourages students to take responsibility for their actions and take ownership of their school and surrounding area.

Creating a cultural shift and being environmentally responsible is the way Junge describes the goals of the program.

“We hope, over time, they can make a real impact on our community as a whole,” she said.

Assistant Principal Bill Gallimore is in charge of the program.

“We have eight zones,” Gallimore said of how the neighborhoods are divided.

The zones stretch from Ramsdell to Encinal avenues. Several clubs and off-season sports athletes are given one full week to clean their particular zone. They are given safety jackets, gloves, a garbage bag and trash grabbers. Each club chooses its time to clean, either at lunch or after school.

For neighbors who would like more information, contact Assistant Principal Bill Gallimore at bgallimore@gusd.net.

  Mary Okeefe