Adopt-A-Beach Cleanups
Each fall and spring Oppe is proud to sponsor a Galveston beach cleanup in conjunction with the Texas Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Cleanups and Clean Galveston.
All students and their families are invited to join the Oppe staff to help clean our adopted one mile stretch of Galveston beach from 61st street to 45th street.
Oppe Green Team Makes Texas History
The Green Team Helps Name The Official Sea Turtle of Texas
During the 2012-2013 School year, The Green Team, had the idea to write a bill to name the Kemp's ridley sea turtle the official Sea Turtle of Texas. The team invited State Representative Craig Eiland to Oppe to teach them how a bill gets passed. The students decided the Kemp's ridley could be the official sea turtle of Texas after learning the species is native to Galveston Island. Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, which annually nest on Gulf beaches during the spring and early summer, are considered an endangered species and are protected by federal conservation laws.
The Green Team, along with parents, and teacher sponsor Katie Pistone traveled to Austin on March 20, 2013 to testify before the House of Representatives to move the committee to pass their bill to make the Kemp's ridley sea turtle the Official Sea Turtle of Texas, endorsed by local Rep. Craig Eiland. The bill was unanimously passed and was put towards a House vote. Local Texas Senator Larry Taylor also helped with the bill.
After the bill was passed, the Green Team, with teacher sponsors Katie Pistone, Becky Hernandez, Janet Mack, and Principal Helena Aucoin were recognized by Galveston Mayor Rosen and the City of Galveston for their hard work in helping to write HCR 31 making the Kemp's ridley the Official Sea Turtle of Texas. Mayor Rosen presented the Green Team with a proclamation declaring May 29, 2013 Kemp's ridley Sea Turtle Day in Galveston.
Oppe Elementary School, Campus of Coastal Studies
was named a NOAA Ocean Guardian School in 2018
In 2018, as a result of their Coastal Studies Magnet focus, Oppe Elementary was named a NOAA Ocean Guardian School. The afterschool club, The Green Team created a video to showcase their efforts to become an Ocean Guardian School.
Oppe Ocean Guardian video
Oppe In The News
The National Marine Santuary Foundation recognizned the efforts of Oppe as an Ocean Guardian School and published an article about our efforts.
Read the National Marine Santuary Foundation article.