News Release

For Immediate Release

Novato Charter School Sixth Graders Help Restore Creek

Sixth graders at the Novato Charter School are working with the Save the Bay Foundation to help restore the natural habitat of Tolay Creek in Sonoma County. Under the guidance of a Save the Bay instructor, students collect seeds of native species, remove non-native weeds and plant native plant seedlings.

“This project exemplifies the community service component of the NCS curriculum in which students learn to see themselves as caretakers of our community and our planet,”says Rachael Bishop, Director of the Novato Charter School. “The project also provides a hands-on laboratory for learning and understanding basic concepts in conservation.”

Located in Sonoma County between Sears Point and Vallejo, the Tolay Creek Restoration Project is part of a Save the Bay effort to restore 435 acres of diked historic wetlands to tidal salt marsh, providing critical habitat for threatened and endangered species.

A Waldorf-methods public charter school located at Hamilton Field in Novato, Novato Charter School serves children from kindergarten through 8^th grade.

A nature-based perspective is a distinct feature of the Novato Charter School curriculum. Through nature studies, community service projects, and environmentally conscious practices, students are taught a reverence and sense of guardianship for the Earth. The school also offers an organic gardening program that exposes children to natural science, recycling and an appreciation for the environment.

For more information about Novato Charter School, call 883-4254 or visit their web site at www.novatocharterschool.org.

Contact: Rachael Bishop, Director, Novato Charter School at 415.883.4254