Jennifer Godwin-Minto
As spring begins, Poly marked the transition with its second annual Earth Day celebration, Terrapalooza, a schoolwide event focused on climate action, education and community engagement. Last year, the inaugural Terrapalooza offered workshops and climate teachings that students could attend during their free periods throughout the school day. However, this year, Terrapalooza underwent several changes, including a new schedule that shortened classes to allow time for all students to attend two specific workshops in this K-12 event.
Much work went into the special event, which was organized by the Climate of Change Committee composed of six students — senior Ollie Arteaga-Johnson, junior Amelie Salette, sophomore Audrey Ma, and freshmen Emmett Joanou, Ryan Kim and William Pan — as well as four adults — Manager of Environmental Sustainability Laura Fleming, Upper School English Teacher and Director of Outdoor Education Laura Marion, Upper School History and English Teacher Avi McClelland-Cohen and Upper School Librarian Nora Murphy. After last year’s Terrapalooza, Murphy and McClelland-Cohen discussed having a longer, more community-based event to bring Lower, Middle and Upper School students together.
The Committee met once per six-day rotation during community time, contacting students and teachers and planning out schedules and workshops.
Ma reflected, “Poly has become a leader in climate action for schools in Pasadena—from implementing a schoolwide sorting system to installing solar panels—so our mission with Terrapalooza is to bring more awareness and enthusiasm about our green initiatives to our Poly community.”
The event opened with a speech in Garland from Kelley Le, an environmental educational leader and advocate, as well as the Executive Director of Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Projects (ECCLPs), who aimed to inspire students to make a change by offering examples of other students who have taken climate action. Then, students made their way to their assigned events throughout the Upper School campus.
Terrapalooza showcased climate action work and created a wide array of learning spaces for students. Upper School Science Teacher Rachel Dunham ran a Paleoclimatology workshop for students in the library, speaking of how rising CO2 levels and temperatures have and will continue to affect the environment. Upper School Spanish Teacher Patricia Levin ran the blind taste testing activity with sustainable vegan foods. Additionally, presentations were given by Model UN, Kristen Osborne-Bartucca’s Art History class and some Spanish classes.
Murphy gave students an opportunity to try unique sustainable foods such as grasshopper jerky, a surprisingly tasty snack. Murphy noted, “I most enjoyed seeing Poly students try delicious, protein-rich edible insects!”