A Hoboken elementary school student team received additional honors last month for creating an environmentally friendly “R Book.”
Isabella Roach, Pria Wolsky, Cameron Daly, Rajan Grover, and Erik Jacobson were all second graders at the Wallace Elementary School when they created the “R Book” in the 2017-2018 school year. The concept behind the “R Book” is simple: It’s a notebook with laminated pages. The lamination makes the pages reusable. The R Book is eco-friendly and erasable. Pages can be reused after they are wiped with a cloth.
The students from the Wallace School originally won first place in the elementary school category of the 2018 NJSBA STEAM Tank Challenge. The popular contest, conducted each year by the NJSBA in partnership with the U.S. Army, encourages students to think like entrepreneurs as they hone their skills in science, technology, engineering, the arts and math (STEAM).
The students received a new honor last month from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) New Jersey Chapter at the 2019 Green Awards Gala at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick. The R Book Reusable Notebook hit high marks for sustainability and qualified for recognition in the USGBC’s K-12 category.
USGBC NJ is a non-profit organization focused solely on advancing green building and sustainable communities. As New Jersey’s green building advocate and education resource, USGBC NJ provides educational programs, events, green building tours, and networking.
Lauren Eakin, the gifted and talented coordinator at the Wallace Elementary School, said she and the students were pleased to receive the award.
“It was truly an honor for this idea to be recognized outside an educational forum,” she said. “This concept was born from five eager second-grade students during the 2017-2018 school year. To see it blossom and still have so much momentum after its STEAM Tank 2018 win is incredible and a testament to the work they put into this.
“Through their communication with different subject matter experts, and the research they did to find the most appropriate and sustainable materials, these young students learned a lot!” Eakin said. “During the course of the gala, we networked with architects, engineers, and other professionals to learn about green and sustainable design. We were fortunate to meet so many outstanding people who are committed to making a difference in green practices. It is my hope that these distinguished companies and individuals build a partnership with schools to educate and inspire young minds.”