4/30/2004
Media Contact:
Kelly Duncan, DPW [317] 327-2053 |
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Department of Public Works delivers pizza and praise at first-ever Knozone Pizza Party at IPS School 96
Meredith Nicholson third-graders get special delivery from DPW director for participating in air pollution program
INDIANAPOLIS – Department of Public Works Director Jim Garrard and Knozone program representatives rewarded nearly 100 third-graders with pizza and pop to thank them for participating in this year’s Knozone elementary school outreach program.
Each spring, Knozone, the city’s voluntary ozone-reduction program, invites Central Indiana teachers to take the Knozone Challenge by providing ozone awareness activities for use in their third-grade classrooms. After successfully completing the activities, each student can register to be entered in a drawing to win a free bike and helmet at Knozone’s annual bike giveaway in the summer.
"The Knozone elementary school outreach program has given the Department of Public Works the opportunity to educate thousands of kids and their teachers about what they can do to improve air quality and reduce pollution in their neighborhoods," said Garrard. "The School 96 students should be commended for showing us all that you are never too young to care about the air and to do your part to battle bad ozone."
As a new feature in 2004, Knozone randomly selected one teacher from all Knozone school kit order forms received to win a pizza party at his or her school and the chance for students to meet the Knozone spokesperson, Dr. Kno. This year’s winner, Diane Rudzinski, was selected from 41 schools that submitted order forms. Rudzinski is a third-grade teacher at Meredith Nicholson Elementary, IPS School 96.
"We felt that it was important to educate our students about the dangers of ozone pollution, especially since we have a number of children who have asthma in our classes," said Rudzinski. "It also is valuable for the children to see what they and their parents can do on Knozone Action Days to help."
In 2003, Knozone revised its school outreach program and created new materials to help teachers educate their students about ground-level ozone and Central Indiana air quality. The updated school kits include comic books, ozone detector cards, coloring sheets, bookmarks and a CD-Rom game.
Since its inception in 1995, Knozone has worked to educate area residents about the effects of ground-level ozone pollution and to encourage voluntary actions that they can take to protect their health and improve air quality in Central Indiana. Knozone regularly partners with businesses, schools and organizations that share the program’s vision and wish to educate the community about air quality issues.
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This summer’s Knozone program sponsors and partners include: BP, American Lung Association of Indiana, Wal-Mart, BitWise Solutions, Citizens Gas, Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, IndyGo, Union Federal Bank, Jiffy Lube, American Lawnmower, and the Marion County Health Department.
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