Joliet School Wins Shedd Aquarium Wreath Challenge

Photo: St. Mary Nativity’s winning wreath

JOLIET, IL — A holiday-inspired recycling challenge designed to promote creativity and conservation among teachers and their classrooms has named St. Mary Nativity as one of the winners for its sustainable wreath.

Carole Frano’s sixth and seventh grade classes at St. Mary Nativity took home the award for most creative in the sixth through eighth grade category.

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Students from 45 different schools, kindergarten to high school, decked the halls of the Shedd Aquarium with wreaths built from 100 percent recycled or recyclable materials.

This year’s theme, “Toadally Recycled,” which was inspired by the Shedd’s new “Amphibians” exhibit, encouraged students to reflect on how changing our behavior to reduce, reuse and recycle can help amphibians in their many life stages and habitats, according to a release from the Shedd Aquarium.

Each wreath was accompanied by a short essay addressing the subject. Classes selected as overall winners and fan favorites were treated to a sponsored all-inclusive field trip to the Shedd Aquarium. Other category winners received prizes such as a curriculum materials and gift cards.

Full List of Winners

Overall Winners

• K – 5: Nature Explorers’ School, first grade
• 6 – 8: John Barry Elementary School, sixth grade
• 9 – 12: East Chicago Central High School

Most Creative

• K – 5: Forest Ridge Academy, 4th Grade; Haugan Elementary School, Preschool
• 6 – 8: St. Mary Nativity, sixth & seventh grade
• 9 – 12: NewHope Academy

Best Educational Message

• K – 5: Lincolnwood Elementary School, Kindergarten
• 6 – 8: Aspire Charter Academy, seventh & eighth Grade
• 9 – 12: Golder College Prep, 11th grade

Online Fan Favorite

• Laura S. Ward STEM School, second grade

On-Site Fan Favorite

• Bell Elementary School, first grade