The Green Committee at Como Park Elementary has entered a contest put on by Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper. Como Park has received a donated Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper rain barrel, which the students will paint and enter in a competition. The rain barrel will be used to collect water, which will be used to water school gardens. · Two teachers, Rose Monterosso (third grade) and Charlene Kina (first grade) are working on garden ideas and will involve teachers and students to aid with planting, weeding and watering. This is part of Como Park’s “Going Green” initiative. · Illustrations that we paint on the rain barrel will demonstrate or suggest our environmental awareness, environmentally friendly practices that individuals or groups can do (old, new or even invented), environmentally conscious scenes or types of water conservation efforts. · We will also involve the parents by sending a water usage “questionnaire” which is a tool for the parents to use as a self-assessment to promote water usage awareness at their homes. · Due to this project so far four teachers have purchased rain barrels to use at their homes and parents have made inquiries.