MILLSTONE May 2018.2

The Non-stoppable Phearless Phragmites Phighters Team By Pam Teel The team has been hard at work! They just launched an invasive species online teacher resource kit that you can view at PhragKit4Teachers.weebly.com .The resource kit is part of the project they will be presenting at the Future Problem Solving International Conference in La Crosse Wisconsin in June. They also just participated in theMillstone StreamCleanup. Bright and early on Saturday, April 14th, Millstone Township Elementary School's Phearless Phragmites Phighters joined Stony Brook - MillstoneWatershed organization members for their annual Stream Clean-Up event. Before the crew launched into their clean-up efforts, the young problem-solvers enthusiastically presented their new environmental resource kit for teachers. The students handed out flyers and shared a printed copy of their eBook, "Cornelius and Betty: A Phragmites Adventure." As the students picked up trash along Perrineville Road, they observed with consternation that many cigarette butts had been tossed in close proximity to dry and flammable Phragmites stalks. The teamwas pleased tohear fromtheEnvironmental Commission Chairman, Eric Davis, that the EC continues to pursue permits for managing the invasive Phragmites patch across from the Millstone Township First Aid Squad building. The Phearless Phragmites Phighters are once again heading to the Future Problem Solving International Conference! The conference takes place this year June 6-10 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The bright teamof students ingrades 3-6participate in theCommunityProblem Solving Division which "encourages students to become agents of change and engages students in their communities." (FPSPI.org website) The Millstone Elementary School's problem solving team has devoted two years to their evolving project, and they earnestly strive to spread awareness and motivate other students throughout New Jersey to act against invasive Phragmites. At the International Conference, the students will enjoy connecting with problem solving students from around the globe, sharing their projects, being interviewed, collaborating on

creation of a display showcasing their work, and appreciating sights along the beautiful Mississippi River. A big shout out goes to all the conscientious students involved in the project. They will be the future guardians of our environment!!!!

Announcing Teacher Resource Kit at Stream Clean-Up: (L to R) Evangeline Huey, Anna DePinho, Mahi Desai, Brendan DeRose

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