N. Babylon teacher wins grant for recycling

A North Babylon elementary schoolteacher has won a grant for an innovative teaching program she created for her classroom. Alison Offerman-Celentano, director of science at Parliament Place Elementary School, was the recipient of a $2,000 ING Unsung Heroes grant for her “Paper Pioneers Closing the Loop” plan.

Her concept is a recycled papermaking project for fourth-grade students at the school, who will make their own recycled paper, reinforcing concepts of conservation learned in previous grades.

The project is intended to help students learn about environmental science beyond textbook reading, using hands-on methods of learning while extending education on preserving the Earth’s resources to parents and the larger community. Offerman-Celentano was one of 100 grant winners and will now compete for one of the top three prizes — an additional $5,000, $10,000 or $25,000.