NORTHAMPTON - GREEN Teams have a presence in all of Northampton schools seeking ways to make the student body healthier and more environmentally responsible at each school. GREEN Teams Coordinator Micki Darling offered this rundown of what that looks like:

Northampton High School: An environmental club convinced school officials to get rid of styrofoam trays and use plastic trays instead. The plastic trays were previously put in storage because students continually threw them out. To steer clear of that problem, GREEN Team high school students monitor the trash to make sure no one throws the trays away.

JFK Middle School: Students recycle their milk cartons and compost biodegradable waste such as fruits and vegetables in their student-built composting site in the courtyard. The school also recently received a grant for a school garden, set to start in spring. A sustainability club meets after school to learn about alternative energy. Darling said she plans to work with the club adviser to implement green initiatives.

R.K. Finn Ryan Road School: Students recycle milk cartons and snack waste in bins located in the hallways. The school started a garden last year and a student inspired a week to bring awareness to biking or walking to school.

Leeds School: Students recycle milk cartons at lunchtime.

Bridge Street School: Students recycle plastics in classrooms and milk cartons at lunchtime. Darling visits individual classrooms and teaches second-graders how to be experts of recycling. Those experts teach all of the other students how to recycle. The GREEN Team received a donation to plant four new maple trees at the school.

Jackson Street School: The GREEN Team pilot school recycles milk cartons and shapes curriculum around the school garden. Teachers use the outdoors, woods and wetlands to teach nature education. Many classes take field trips to the Barrett Street Marsh for lessons. The school's "Safe Roots to School" initiative encourages people to carpool and invites students to walk to school in groups. The school's "Zero Garbage" initiative focuses on environmental sustainability.

- CATHERINE BAUM