Discovery Elementary School

Students end their presentation with a cheer. (School News Network)

Swoosh it, bank it, launch it from the three-point range. Whatever you do, recycle it.

That was the message from Discovery Elementary School fifth grade students Emani Armstrong, Amaya Proctor, Drew Geurink and Andrew Kenyi, who designed and created “Chute Hoops,” a collection bin with two mini hoops for bunched up bottles and other plastic items.

“We are doing this because every year 36 million tons of waste is thrown into the landfills,” said Drew, reading from the group presentation. “Half of it is recyclable. Americans throw 35 billion water bottles in the trash. If we use our product, we can reduce that amount.”

From left: John Bizimana, Loghan Sterkenburg, Dion Preniqi, and Landon Ward focused on water conservation

Added Emani: “We do want to make recycling more fun for kids.”

The students were among several groups in Kentwood Public Schools’ PEAKS program for gifted and talented students working to answer the question, “How do we make Discovery Elementary more green?”

They presented to a panel of judges final ideas around composting, eliminating plastic and styrofoam, conserving water and recycling. The team, dubbed the Air Michiganders, netted the win for their Chute Hoops plastic ball design.

“I love, love, love the idea,” said judge Eric Kelliher, a Kent ISD Career Readiness consultant. “You’ve taken something kids are kind of doing and made it more engaging. I think a lot of kids will be late to class because they will be shooting baskets.”

Students used design thinking to create their prototypes

Discovering Ways to Solve Problems

Students, first tasked with solving a problem in the community, chose to explore how to make the school “greener” after learning about engineering. They tapped into the knowledge of a Steelcase engineer who explained how to build according to LEED certification standards.

They used design thinking to come up with solutions to make the school more environmentally friendly, ideas that could feasibly work. “The whole point is I wanted it to be something we could see happen at Discovery,” said teacher Amanda Barbour, who participated in training on design thinking through Kent ISD.

Chute Hoops has two hoops for bunched up plastic

The first step in design thinking — the “empathy” phase– involves determining the needs of people who are facing a problem. Students interviewed Principal Deb McNally, a custodian and four other staff members who pointed out some less-than-green situations.

Top areas included plastic waste, food waste and water use. Students designed projects based on those areas, creating prototypes to address the waste.

After initial presentations to staff members, they tweaked their projects for the final design challenge. Judges included Kelliher; Kentwood STEM coordinator Nancy McKenzie; and Hristijana Kulasic, a paraprofessional.

Other designs included a compost bin/greenhouse combo to help eliminate food waste and grow food for the cafeteria, to be managed by a fourth and fifth grade garden club; bamboo trays to replace styrofoam trays; and a food smasher for efficient composting.

For more stories on area schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.

From left: Bryce Barnes, Hudson Vitcans, Barbara Hoolihan and Jenelle Williams present on a biodegradable lunch trays. (School News Network)

Customer service representative Molly Hensch helps Young Fives student Nadia Mutoni identify letters

By Erin Albanese

School News Network

Fifth-grader Javar Lowe bounced a mini-basketball off the cafeteria wall and watched it rebound into a makeshift hoop, an empty trash can. “I made it!” he shouted, a huge open-mouthed grin spreading across his face.

Fourth-grader Kaden Thomas retrieves a basketball from a makeshift hoop, an empty trash can

Greg Smolka cheered along, ready to take his shot. The purchasing manager at Walther-Trowal, a machinery manufacturer in Kentwood, was spending 30 minutes mentoring Javar, just as he does every Friday.

Smolka and six co-workers, including Ken Raby, vice president and general manager of U.S. operations for Walther-Trowal, are “Friday Friends” at Discovery, each week, mentoring seven Discovery Elementary School students whom teachers have selected to take part in the one-on-one mentorship opportunity.

Ken Raby, whose wife, Betsy, is a paraprofessional at Discovery, said he was inspired to bring the majority of his staff on Friday mornings to invest in community children. He hopes to continue the program next school year. The Rabys previously helped connect mentors to Kentwood schools through Kids Hope.

“This is not a team-building organization. This is about mentoring kids,” Raby said.

Employees, who are away from work for a full hour, spend 10 minutes on academics with their students using math flash cards, reading or finishing worksheets, before spending the final 20 minutes just having fun: playing board games, shooting trash can hoops or launching a football across the cafeteria.

Purchasing Manager Greg Smolka takes a shot

For Smolka, it’s time well spent. “I grew up homeless for 12 years of my life,” he said. “If it hadn’t been for people like this who mentored me, I don’t think I’d be here today.”

Javar said he’s learned about Smolka by spending time with him. “He’s responsible and takes care of himself. When I grow up I’m going to choose something I’m good at and not be someone who’s bad.”

Customer service representative Molly Hensch sat on the floor with Nadia Mutoni, a Young Fives student, who was busy identifying letters on flash cards and eating cheese crackers. “She’s fun,” Nadia said of her mentor. “We play together. We do our letters.”

“I love it,” Hensch said about mentoring Nadia. “It’s wonderful. I think more employers need to do this.”

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