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Naval Base Works Dept. Adopts Grade 4!

By Steve Parker
01-Oct-01
Naval Base Works Dept. Adopts Grade 4!


Sullivans students participate in one of the activities organized by the base’s PWD Environmental Branches (photo: Steve Parker).
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Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan—The Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) Public Works Department (PWD) Environmental Branches of Yokosuka Naval Base adopted the Grade 4 class of The Sullivans School this year, with a series of field trips and competitions that enriched student learning in astounding measure.
The ongoing adoption began last October during Energy Week, when students from the entire fourth grade walked towards Berkey Field looking for what Tom Bawden, NAVFAC FE Energy Manager described as “the tallest structure on Yokosuka Base.”
What the students found was a meteorological tower that was set up for one year to record data and test the feasibility of building a wind turbine to provide energy.
This was a perfect match for the DoDea Science Standard 4Sd the students were studying at the time, “an understanding of weather patterns and phenomena.” The students excitedly asked questions as Mr. Bawden pointed out anemometers and weather vanes at different heights on the structure.
In December, LS2 Shadia Flowers, Defense Distribution Depot Yokosuka, Japan, and Seiroh Koike, JPN DDYJ and CFAY PWD, arranged a morning visit to the Cardboard Recycling Plant at Warehouse J-39 on Yokosuka. Students watched, fascinated, as a piece of cardboard was pulled through the shredder and prepared for use as packing material inside the warehouse. Each student carried their own piece of recycled cardboard back to school and shared their stories with parents, siblings, and fellow students. They also gained an understanding of how recycling is helping save their environment.
That understanding was put to good use in March, when Ms. Lily Mow of the CFAY PWD Environmental Branch sponsored an essay contest for the Grade 4 students around the theme, “What Can You do to Help Save the Earth?” Seven winners were presented with their awards at an assembly featuring Mr. Eric Rankin, Deputy Director of the Public Works Department and Ms. Lily Mow, Installation Branch Chief, Environmental Compliance Branch, as well as Sullivans School administrators Walter Wilhoit and Andrea Mial.
Finally, the extraordinary yearlong partnership in education culminated in May with an eel grass/Tiger Blowfish release project coordinated with the Kanagawa Prefectural Fisheries Technology Center and the CFAY PWD Environmental Branch.
Students walked to Kosano Park on a beautiful spring morning, and prepared a clay-nutrient wrap for divers from the Yokosuka Bubble Club to plant. The eel grass wrap helps control further erosion, while the eel grass itself offers protection for the marine life as well as a food source for the fish.
The students then moved towards the waterfront and gently released the fish provided for the event by the Fisheries Center. The fish swam straight to the newly planted eelgrass! Some students who had named their fishes waved goodbye and called out after them. They played a small part in rejuvenating Yokosuka’s marine life and demonstrated how we, as a community, are working together with the Japanese community to preserve and beautify the local area.
The Sullivans School students and Grade 4 teachers wish to thank the CFAY PWD and tenant commands for this extraordinary learning opportunity.




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