Santa Fe Standard

On September 20, students gathered across campuses for a district-wide event, Toss No Mas Day. The day aims to clean up school campuses and raise awareness about environmental responsibility. The initiative is part of a broader statewide campaign to combat littering in New Mexico. Students from all grade levels participated by picking up trash around their schools, making a positive impact on their local communities.

From elementary schools to high schools, students were provided with gloves, trash bags, and other supplies for the cleanup process. Staff and volunteers, including teachers, parents, and local environmental organizations, joined the students in the effort. Several schools organized competitions to see which group could collect the most trash.

Students cleaned playgrounds, parking lots, sports fields, and other areas on their campuses. The collected trash was later sorted and properly disposed of or recycled.

Beyond just picking up litter, Toss No Mas Day offered an opportunity to teach students about sustainability and the long-term effects of pollution. Teachers and staff incorporated environmental lessons into the day’s activities.

"This is a fantastic initiative that not only helps clean our campuses but also empowers our students to take pride in their surroundings and learn about their role in protecting the environment,” said Superintendent Hilario “Larry” Chavez. “It’s wonderful to see them working together for such an important cause."

Toss No Mas Day is one of many ways Santa Fe Public Schools aims to promote civic engagement among its students. By involving young people in hands-on projects like this, the district hopes to instill a lifelong sense of responsibility for their communities and the planet.

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