OXFORD – November is officially “Oxford Recycles Month,” and the ninth annual Recycled Holiday Ornament Contest kicked off at the Oxford Academy Primary School. Notices went home in Friday Folders. This event was designed to coincide with the state’s “NY Recycles” and the national “America Recycles Day” held every year on November 15th. All three of Oxford Academy school district’s art teachers: Katie Thomas, Charity Gipp, and Joni Eaton will be spreading the message of recycling with their students during “Oxford Recycles Month.”

While it may appear to be just a fun contest for the kids, the positive ecological message it’s sending is clear to all. This contest has received support and recognition from local businesses, the Village of Oxford, the Chenango County DPW, and the NYS DEC in Albany.

Sponsored by the Oxford Holiday Committee, the contest specifies that the ornaments, no larger than 8” (requested but not always strictly adhered to), be constructed of materials that would usually go in the garbage can, such as Styrofoam cups, straws, cardboard, old unwanted CDs, etc. The deadline for entries is Monday, November 19.

To give the kids from UPK through 4th grades, some ideas for environmentally friendly, recycled ornaments, a display window near the office in the Primary School will be set up. Aside from sample ornaments, there are books on exhibit from the school’s library. Most of these books detail the importance of the “3 R’s”- Recycling, Reducing, and Reusing.