For the October 2024 Junior Saints, students were invited to draw pictures and write about God’s creation or how people can care for or protect the environment.
Holy Redeemer Catholic School, Kensington
Artwork by Drew Meringolo, sixth grade, Holy Redeemer Catholic School, Kensington
Artwork by Katherine Oldroyd, Holy Redeemer Catholic School, Kensington
Artwork by Sophia Jackson, Holy Redeemer Catholic School, Kensington
Artwork by Santi Baruffaldi, seventh grade, Holy Redeemer Catholic School, Kensington
Artwork by Cece Staudt, sixth grade, Holy Redeemer Catholic School, Kensington
Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“We can care for the environment by making new ways for advertising recycling. Another way is we can get brand new recycling bins in school. We can also go outside and pick up trash. I love caring for the environment, because I know we are caring for God at the same time, because God created everything. So knowing that makes me feel a little bit closer to God.” – Artwork and writing by Lou Hudson, seventh grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons, Maryland
“I help care for God’s beautiful creation by nurturing the earth in sustainable and natural ways by raising chickens, using compost and growing a garden. Our chickens provide our family with fresh eggs and help control pests, while their waste can be turned into rich composts that nourishes the soil. Our family uses our unused scraps of vegetables and fruits, coffee grounds and other waste to compost. Composting reduces waste and returns nutrients back to the earth by supporting healthy plant growth in our large vegetable garden. By growing a garden, we can produce the items that we regularly eat and cut down on pollution from having to drive to the store, preserving the natural beauty of the environment. These small, thoughtful actions my family takes honor the world God has entrusted to us, helping to protect and restore it.” – Tyler Wingenter, sixth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“The environment is important to all of us because we need it to survive. It is also necessary for all other living beings. The environment is home to everything necessary for plants, animals and humans to survive. Burning fossil fuels has endangered the environment because by burning fossil fuels, we release carbon dioxide, which destroys the ozone layer and is harming the environment. If we continue, our world will be shattered. We need to stop this and make harmony with the environment.” – Artwork and writing by Nate Mekonnen, seventh grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“I think we should all care for the environment like St. Francis of Assisi did. He cared for a lot of the birds and other creatures. We have many types of birds in Maryland such as chickadees, tufted titmice, Carolina wrens, hummingbirds, cardinals, blue jays, mourning doves, American goldfinches and house finches. There are lots of native species of plants that these birds like to eat. Chickadees and tufted titmice like coneflowers, serviceberry, elderberry, trumpet honeysuckle, Aster flowers, bayberry, dogwood berries, goldenrod, sumac and sunflowers. Some of the native plant berries that Carolina wrens like to eat are sumac, bayberry, Virginia creeper and even poison ivy! By planting these plants in your yard, you will see more birds and help the birds, too.” – Artwork and writing by Isla Ihnacik, seventh grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“Caring for the environment is an honorable thing to do. As the years pass, it’s no doubt that the Earth isn’t in tip-top shape. However, no matter who you are, you can make a difference. I remember on Earth Day 2022, my family and I decided to help clean up the environment. You can do this with your family and pick up litter around your neighborhood. If you’re not a fan of trash, you can care for the animals in the environment. St. Francis of Assisi said, ‘If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, then you have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.” – Nicolas Olekson, eighth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“You can make a big difference in helping the environment by reducing the amount of trash you produce. If you take your lunch to school, make it ‘garbage free’ by using reusable containers. Waste can come in all forms. When you turn on a faucet, make sure you turn it off all the way. Make sure you turn off electricity when finished. Recycling helps protect the environment by stopping waste from ending up in landfills.” – Kenny Boren, fourth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“We can take care of the environment by not letting water run in your sink or bathtub. We can take care of our environment by not over-using electricity, like keeping the lights on for an elongated amount of time. We can take care of the environment by participating in community clean-ups. We can take care of the environment by taking care of all animals.” – Artwork and writing by Declan McCabe, fourth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“Why do we take care of the environment? It’s simple, really, we take care of the environment because God gave us this as a gift. How would you feel if you gave someone a special gift, and they destroyed it? You would be sad, right? Secondly, we are not getting more of it. If we destroy it all, we cannot get it back. That is why we take care of the environment.” – Corben Brauns, fifth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“You know, love and serve God, right? Well, serving God is also helping his creations. That means we must care for his creations. Thus, I recommend that we don’t hunt for sport or trophies. We should hunt for food and survival. We can also take steps to protect God’s creations like the Earth. Right now, the Earth is facing climate change, pollution and certain pesticides poisoning birds and creatures of God’s creation.” – Charlie DiBonaventuro, fifth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“Like Pope Francis, we need to care for God’s creation. We need to learn that God created our planet for us to live in and enjoy it, and not to destroy it. We can do many things to save God’s planet, like throwing trash away when we see it on the ground. Recycling, turning off all electronics overnight, don’t throw away paper, turn off the tap when brushing, etc. So please save God’s planet!” – Artwork and writing by Kalina Dillard, sixth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
St. Patrick’s School, Rockville, Maryland
Artwork by Andrea Figallo, eighth grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
“The Earth is a magnificent place! It is a perfect place to eat, sleep and play. It is a wonderful place for the animals. There are beautiful lakes, rivers, oceans and waterfalls. This is an amazing world! The most important thing is God made it for us. We need to do a better job of keeping the earth clean. No matter what, we are lucky that God put us on Earth.” – Writing by C.J. Butler, third grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
Artwork by Greta Veith, eighth grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
Artwork by JJ Stringer, eighth grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
Artwork by Isaac Rackiewicz, fourth grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
Artwork by Zoe Goehring, sixth grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
“God created the mountains and the beautiful sunsets that I love.” – Writing by Logan Gilchrist, third grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
Artwork by Chloe Cruz, eighth grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
Artwork by Auden Lombardo, eighth grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
Artwork by Molly Wessling, eighth grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
Artwork by Mantar Koumtingue, fifth grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
Artwork by Gaby Orellana, eighth grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills
“In my artwork, I depicted elements of nature. I showed Jesus, trees, mountains, the Earth and a blue sky. This was because we were asked to show elements of nature and God’s creation. So I drew Jesus in the center. To me, God’s biggest and most beautiful and meaningful creation of all is Jesus. Around him, I drew trees and mountains and the Earth… Acknowledging God’s creation through artwork, music and maybe even simple prayer is a good way to show your appreciation for all that He has done for us.” – Artwork and writing by Tobi Ingram, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills, Maryland
“My drawing depicts an important aspect of God’s creation, and I included many elements from nature, including trees, animals and flowers. I did this to depict the beautiful and serene aspects of nature that we humans don’t often realize. Lastly, I included a cross. The cross brings the drawing together and shows how God is the center and creator of all of nature’s beautiful features.” – Artwork and writing by Rexton Ebai, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills, Maryland
“The theme I chose for my drawing was God’s creation. I decided to draw God holding the world in His hands because of how it symbolizes God’s care and control over creation. The Earth represents the world in its entirety – nature, humanity and life. The hands seem gentle yet strong, emphasizing the nurturing yet powerful nature of God as the Creator and our Father. The rays extending from behind signify the glory and presence of God surrounding the Earth, showing that all creation is under His watchful guidance and protection, even in the vast unknown void of space. In relation to God’s creation, the image symbolizes the idea that the world is not just a random occurrence but is intricately and purposefully held together by the divine power of God.” – Artwork and writing by Luke Lares, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills, Maryland
“My drawing shows Jesus’s heart in the form of the crown of thorns that He wore when he was being crucified. Surrounding His heart are vines, the vines represent our lives and all the living things on this Earth. Jesus died so that everyone could be cleansed of their sin, because of this we all have a special connection with Him. I put the vines around the crown of thorns to show that even though Jesus might not be here physically with us, there is no obstacle that can keep us away from Him. In the drawing, Jesus’s heart is surrounded by thorns, I did this to show that there are going to be times when we all face obstacles when we are trying to better our relationship with Jesus, but eventually we will overcome those obstacles and become one with Jesus.” – Artwork and writing by Kamatu Mansaray, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills
St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
“The environment was created by God for us. He put us on Earth to care for His creations. Without the environment, we wouldn’t exist. God put us on Earth for a reason. It is our job to take care of the environment. It is not our job to destroy the Earth. If we destroy the Earth, we are destroying God’s beautiful creations. That is why we care for the environment we are given.” – Artwork and writing by Isabella Thanh, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville, Maryland
Artwork by Julia Toumi, seventh grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
“The Earth is a beautiful place filled with plants, animals, water, land and people, so we should try and protect it at all costs. We could help the Earth by recycling what we can and composting. Never waste water, and walk to places that are nearby. The Earth is becoming warmer the more we put gas in the air, and the summer of 2024 was the hottest summer ever. We need to try and protect our planet.” – Caroline Wright, seventh grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
“Humans and animals all share God’s creation. We can help protect our environment, including the oceans where the majority of animals live. By polluting our oceans with plastic and chemicals, we are harming sea creatures and coral reefs. We can take action by picking up trash in the ocean and by recycling plastic. It is our duty to take action and take care of the ocean.” – Alaina Leung, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
“The Earth is very important to our health. Keeping the Earth clean can help us work together as a community and be like a family. If the Earth is dirty, then it would all come down to us humans. I can inspire other people to clean parks, forests and other public areas. If that is done, then people can enjoy clean oceans and fresh air.” – Abigail Getachew, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
“When God formed the world, he made animals special creatures that live on Earth… As our society has developed, some have forgotten why God put them on this planet and are destroying habitats. One type of amphibian affected is the blue poison dart frog, a small but mighty frog from South America…” – Artwork and writing by Tania Rivera, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
“In the beginning, God made the world. Humans were expected to take care of this world. Even though by now it was done long ago, we still have the duty to fulfill. That means we still have to take care of this world and everything in it. But nowadays, people pollute the Earth with many things. But it is our task to stop that from happening and to guard God’s creation against harm.” – Artwork and writing by Jacob Sadorra, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
“God made a beautiful creation, and people should take care of it. One way you can take care of God’s creation is you can clean up trash. Trash is terrible for the environment and is killing all of the animals on God’s planet. You can save many of God’s animals by cleaning up trash and putting a stop to pollution.” – Artwork and writing by Milly Abdo, sixth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
“Manatees are magnificent creatures and are extremely adorable. Sadly, manatees are close to being endangered. One way to stop them from reaching the endangered list is whenever you’re at a beach, you can pick up any trash that you see. This helps keep manatees’ habitat clean. Litter in the ocean also destroys their food which can lead to a sad and starving manatee. Manatees can also get helplessly stuck and entangled in trash. It may not seem like a lot, but every piece of trash that someone picks off the beach is a piece of trash not in the ocean.” – Lily Nolan, sixth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
“God gifted us this Earth, and we cannot destroy it. On the right, I wanted to show what our Earth will come to look like if we do not care for it. The left side shows what our Earth is meant to be. We only have one chance, so we need to start to take care of our planet. Every little thing makes a difference, and we need to start now. In Jeremiah 2:7, we are advised to protect the Earth and not to destroy it: “I brought you into fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable.” – Artwork and writing by Willa Tran, sixth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
“I painted this to show a healthy ecosystem that this animal would need to survive. The ecosystem this cougar and many other animals live in will not remain healthy for long due to deforestation and forest fires. This shows we need to make a change in how we live to keep nature healthy and alive. That is why I painted this, to bring awareness.” – Artwork and writing by Brennan Rump, eighth grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
“My painting is a picture of a sunset on top of a mountain, and I painted this because I like sunsets. This shows how pretty mountains and sunsets are. This reminds me of how big our world is, and we should take care of it. Sunsets represent God’s beauty and how special it is to everyone. Mountains are also part of nature and are beautiful. This is why we should protect and take care of nature to see more beautiful creations like this.” – Artwork and writing by Dia Bautista, eighth grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
“I painted a whale shark because I saw that this animal is a beautiful part of God’s sea creations and also is endangered and decreasing in numbers…” – Artwork and writing by Veronika Eslava, eighth grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
“Jesus is the perfect role model for taking care of the environment, as he shows us through his words and actions. Being a shepherd, Jesus took time to care for the sheep and tend to its needs. He shows us through this that we should preserve and protect all God's creations on earth.” – Parisa Gambhir, sixth grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda, Maryland
Artwork by Claire Andonyadis, sixth grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
“I painted these ducks because I have always loved ducks… Ducks help the environment by helping to control algae growth in wetlands and water ecosystems. Ducks are really important animals in God’s world.” – Artwork and writing by Maddie Perraut, eighth grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
“I made this artwork to show that even in an unhealthy world, there are moments of joy and bliss. I attempted to capture that feeling by showing two dogs frolicking in the autumn leaves. To me, moments this pure almost always involve God's nature.” – Artwork and writing by Elise Gomez, eighth grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
“The Maryland darter is a species of fish that might go extinct. It is right now endangered, because of the growth of urbanization in Maryland. It was last seen in 1988, 36 years ago...” – Artwork and writing by Sarah Juzbasic, sixth grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
“Red pandas are important to this world because they are the only species of their kind and are ambassadors for a landscape that supports over 500 million people, nearly 10 percent of the global human population! Red pandas are also known as the lesser panda, and they are native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. I want all animals to be safe and happy in their ecosystems, so I made the background light blue to show the red panda being happy!” – Artwork and writing by Reagan Perraut, sixth grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
Little Flower School, Great Mills
“When people go to the beach, they should put snacks and drinks in reusable containers. They should pick up trash on their way to the beach and once they are on the beach. When swimming, they should also look for trash. They should make sure not to disrupt any natural habitats. Don’t forget to have fun!” – Artwork and writing by Elizabeth Wagner, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills, Maryland
“Always take care of God’s creation, because He did this for all of us… We care about God when we pick up trash, when we recycle, when we don’t pollute the water, when we don’t pollute the air that we breathe, when we decrease cutting down trees and respect the animals that God created. So pray to God for everything He made for us. When we take care of God’s creation, we show respect and love for Him.” – Alexian Luna, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“Caring for the environment is extremely important! We can all help by recycling things like paper, plastic and glass so these do not end up on the streets and in landfills. Turning off the lights when we leave our house or rooms makes a big difference too. This goes the same with turning off the water when doing activities such as brushing our teeth or doing the dishes. Picking up litter in parks and neighborhoods helps keep our environment clean, healthy and beautiful. Not only do trees and flowers look pretty, but they are also the only things giving us oxygen. Boy, if we didn’t have plants, I wouldn’t be writing this. Learning about animals and their habitats helps us as a community to understand the importance of protecting our environment and the animals that inhabit it. If everyone does their part, we can keep the Earth healthy and happy!” – Desmond Murillo, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“Since day one, God designed our beautiful world. He wanted us to dwell in the world and speak of peace, but now we are cutting trees down and littering. Nature does not look the same. People litter, and it causes animals to die. We need to protect God’s Earth before it is ruined.” – Artwork and writing by Parker Burgan, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“I help the environment by not littering and by recycling. In my old school I was on the green team…” – Olivia Pavel, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“Giving up plastic will help the world. A lot of animals are dying from trash and plastic. For instance, fish get stuck in the water bottle packing that is plastic. Giving up plastic does not only help animals, but it also helps the ocean, rivers and lakes. People can recycle more and not litter. Littering leads to trash getting into the water and killing animals.” – Liam Winters, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“To me, the greatest thing God created is the Earth. We need to take care of it. There is only one, and we do not get a second chance. If we do not take care of it, we are in bad shape, so take care of the Earth.” – Caitlyn Primm, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“I think we need to protect the beaches. A lot of people just trash them or do not worry about their actions. I don’t think this is what we should do. Beaches and the animals on them are beautiful, and we should let them be. A lot of the reasons sea life is going extinct are because no one thinks about the consequences of their actions. I believe this needs to change.” – Artwork and writing by Stella Holiday, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“I picked the sea because there are many animals in the water like fish, shrimp, turtles, and many more. Some of us have them as pets. If we keep throwing plastic away when we can reuse it, then you are not helping the poor animals.” – Peyton Daley, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“We need to protect the forest... Each day we cut down more and more trees that help us, the animals, and the Earth. If we don’t start something soon, we will lose whole forests. We can help by recycling more and planting more trees. If we help the forest, we help the whole world.” – Hadley Day, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
Artwork by Lynne Gonzales, seventh grade, Saint Columba School, Oxon Hill
“It’s sad seeing all these bad things that are destroying our environment, and we have fewer people trying to cure it. Global warming, (air and land) pollution and water pollution are all things I see almost every day. How we can help the Earth is by recycling our plastic materials, planting more trees instead of chopping them down, and by saving water and electricity.” – Artwork and writing by Maya Hipolito, eighth grade, Saint Columba School, Oxon Hill, Maryland
“We can take care of our environment by taking care of God’s beautiful creations. I love growing flowers any chance I get. Their beauty and gentleness remind me of God’s grace and love that He gives us. My mother and grandmother also like growing and nurturing flowers. I try to help and observe the beautiful orchids growing in our house. When I look at them, I think about how we’re all different, just like flowers.” – Julianna Contreras, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
Artwork by Evelyn Marcial, eighth grade, Saint Columba School, Oxon Hill
“A way we can care for the environment is by not littering. People litter almost every day. It’s starting to get really bad, and we have to do something about it. It’s our job to keep God’s creation clean. He made us this beautiful place called Earth so we have a place to call home and not trash it. I encourage everyone to stop littering so we can keep our beautiful sea animals alive and keep our home clean.” – Artwork and writing by Angel Peterson, eighth grade, Saint Columba School, Oxon Hill
“Litter that is left on beaches or simply thrown outside can harm organisms. The trash that’s left on the beach can end up in the ocean. It can harm the sea animals in the water… People can help the environment by throwing their trash into trash cans. Also people can recycle glass, plastic, paper, cardboard and aluminum cans.” – Artwork and writing by Rocco Rodriguez, sixth grade, Saint Columba School, Oxon Hill
“God gave us a wonderful world. We should take care of it, not destroy it.” – Artwork and writing by Leena Gonzales, seventh grade, Saint Columba School, Oxon Hill
“We should care for the environment because many animals, God’s beloved creatures, are being threatened and endangered. It is our duty and responsibility to care for the creatures and the Earth that God has given us. So many creatures like bandicoots, hispid hares, owls and many more species are losing their homes to deforestation, pollution and reckless behavior. Even simple actions like planting trees, recycling, conserving energy and water and so much more can make the biggest difference. God cared for us and gave us this wonderful planet, now it’s time to give back to Him and care for it.” – Artwork and writing by Haleigh Estrella, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
St. Ambrose Catholic School, Cheverly
Artwork by Eleni Villa-Lucas, fourth grade, St. Ambrose Catholic School, Cheverly, Maryland
Artwork by Violette Reyes, fourth grade, St. Ambrose Catholic School, Cheverly, Maryland
Artwork by Madison Dickerson, fifth grade, St. Ambrose Catholic School, Cheverly
Holy Trinity School, Washington
Artwork by Eleri Burns, fourth grade, Holy Trinity School, Washington, D.C.
“When you use plastic cups and just throw them away, it ruins the beauty of the ocean. There is a clump of trash in the ocean that is the size of Texas. God did the hard part, creating it, all we have to do is maintain it. If God created everything, the least we can do is keep it clean. Think of it as the rent we pay for living.” – Maeve Chandonnet, fifth grade, Holy Trinity School, Washington
Artwork by Josephine Pusateri, fourth grade, Holy Trinity School, Washington
“There are many ways to care for the environment. One way is to pick up trash from the street. Another way is to be careful and throw away your trash and don’t litter. Lastly, you could use less paper which might inspire others to do the same so we don’t cut down as many trees.” – Brooklyn Royal, fifth grade, Holy Trinity School, Washington
Artwork by Anna Nealon, fourth grade, Holy Trinity School, Washington
“We can take care of God’s creation by cleaning up for ourselves, not littering and also by taking care of other people and by being kind and thoughtful to others. By keeping God’s creation clean by not littering we give wild animals a wonderful place to live.” – Carlisle Roth, fifth grade, Holy Trinity School, Washington
Artwork by Zane Jobe, fourth grade, Holy Trinity School, Washington
St. Michael’s School, Ridge
Artwork by Franklyn Flores, third grade, St. Michael’s School, Ridge
Artwork by Liberty Carkhuff, third grade, St. Michael’s School, Ridge, Maryland
“We should care for God’s Earth and all living things.” – Brooklyn Janney, third grade, St. Michael’s School, Ridge
“God told us to take care of our home.” – Jase Cooper, fourth grade, St. Michael’s School, Ridge
Artwork by Ava Dockins, third grade, St. Michael’s School, Ridge
Artwork by Carson Dotson, fourth grade, St. Michael’s School, Ridge
“I want to take care of God’s Earth, so it will be a good place to live and learn.” – Jerquan Logan, fourth grade, St. Michael’s School, Ridge
Artwork by Sidney Griffin, fourth grade, St. Michael’s School, Ridge
Artwork by Harper Handy, fourth grade, St. Michael’s School, Ridge
Artwork by Franklin Rivas Campos, third grade, St. Michael’s School, Ridge
Artwork by Callie Thomas, fourth grade, St. Michael’s School, Ridge
St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
Artwork by Emma Gilbert, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown, Maryland
“We need to clean up the Earth, because it is the only one we have. We can do this by picking up trash, not littering, recycling, using less plastic and reducing the use of fossil fuels. Pollution is breaking away a layer in the atmosphere called the ozone layer. The ozone layer helps protect us from the sun’s rays. When we pick up trash, it helps save animals’ lives. For example, if you admire turtles, pick up trash so they don’t eat it and get sick.” – James Brewer, fifth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
Artwork by Ava McCuen, sixth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
“St. Francis of Assisi was the patron saint of caring for the environment. He shows us that caring for the environment is really important. There are many ways we can care for the world around us. You can pick up trash and recycle it. You can also plant flowers and trees.” – Artwork and writing by Claire Collins, fifth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
Artwork and writing by Audrey Moore, third grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
“Caring for the environment is a way to care for the Earth. One way to care for the Earth is recycling, putting items like cans, glass, plastic, cardboard, magazines and newspapers in a recycling bin where then it gets reused. Another way to help the environment is by not wasting water. To save water, you can turn the water off when brushing your teeth. And one more way you can help the Earth is by not using cars. Instead you can walk, bike, scooter or carpool.” – Ellie Zagrodnichek, sixth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
Artwork by Camila Castillo, first grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
“The environment is very important, and it is equally important that we keep it clean. We can do that in a couple of ways such as cleaning up litter. Litter is such an eyesore and harmful to the planet. If you see litter, please pick it up. It does not take much of your time and would help the environment so much. Another way is recycling. Recycling is a great way to help the environment. If you just take a little effort to put an empty water bottle into the recycling bin, it would help a lot. Finally, you could go to the beach and pick up trash. A lot of trash gets thrown into the ocean and can wash up on a beach or harm an animal.” – Brody Rison, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
“I can care for the environment by throwing trash in the trash can.” – Noah Potter, second grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
“I give plants water.” – Ryleigh Graham, first grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
Blessed Sacrament School, Washington
Artwork by Julia Mishra, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“God spent seven days creating the Earth for us and filling it with light and darkness, sky and sea, land and vegetation, the sun and the moon, the fish and birds, and animals and people. He gave us this gift because He loves us and wants us to have a special home to live in until we go to heaven to be with Him for eternity. We should be grateful for God’s amazing gift and show our thankfulness by respecting and caring for the Earth. We can do that by not littering and by picking up trash we see on the ground. We can also respect the animals that share our planet with us. Conserving water, recycling and using electric cars are other ways that we can care for the Earth and make sure that it stays the same for future generations.” – Grace Milano, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“We should care for God’s Earth because He cares about us, and that’s why He made us this world so He could show us He loves us. God wants us to care for the Earth. That means not littering, and recycling and caring for others…” – Annie Lamade, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
Artwork by Madeline Dugan, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“God made the world that we are all living in, and it is beautiful, but we need to take care of it to keep it that way. I think we can care for the world by feeding the animals and taking care of them. Another way we can care for the world is by trying to prevent ocean pollution. If you are at the beach, and you happen to see a plastic bottle floating by, throw it away.” – Betsy Brant, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“God made this beautiful Earth. It took him seven days, and we should take very good care of it. We can take care of God’s Earth by not littering and by helping others out. When you do something good or kind for people or the Earth, God will thank you, and you will have a special feeling inside of you. You will get rewarded with God’s love.” – Kearney Doyle, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington
Artwork by Blake Pearce, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“Many people don’t know what it really means to help the Earth. If you pick up trash on the ground or start composting, you are getting a little bit closer to God each time. St. Francis of Assisi helped the animals and did things to help the Earth all the time. This is why he is a saint and is up in heaven with God. The Earth does not look how it used to look when God created it. Let’s try to be more like St. Francis of Assisi and care for the Earth.” – Ella Vorrasi, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
Artwork by Kate Sullivan, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of caring for the environment. He reminds us that we should respect the Earth and do everything we can to keep it clean and healthy. I live near a busy park that always has lots of people. There are fields, a creek, a basketball court and playground. There are trash cans at the park, but sometimes they overflow or people just leave their garbage around. I like to care for God’s Earth by picking up trash and pulling things out of the creek. Another thing I do to care for the environment is recycling. My family puts cans, newspapers, glass bottles, old magazines and scrap paper in the blue recycling bin. The truck comes on Tuesday and collects all the things for the week. At school, we bring water bottles and fill them at the fountain instead of wasting plastic. We recycle paper in every classroom and turn the lights off when we go outside for recess. These are some examples of things that I do to care for God’s Earth and the environment. Thanks to St. Francis of Assisi for the reminder.” – Jack Boland, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“It took seven days for God to create this amazing Earth for us… We should be thankful for God because he gives us 24 hours a day. A few things we should do to care for God’s Earth is to pray every night, go outside and enjoy the nice breeze, learn more, don’t litter, and show you care. One thing we should do to thank God is to do one good deed for him every day. This is how we could care for God’s Earth.” – Lila Judge, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
Artwork by Leo Chaban, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“Caring for God’s wonderful Earth is one of the sweetest things anyone could achieve. God made so many things that we sometimes don’t pay attention to. For example, if you like chicken, eggs, milk and water, these are all things that wouldn’t be possible without God. He made the world, gave us 24 hours a day, three meals and a wonderful home. All God needs in return is some faith, worship and caring for the world he gave us.” – Noah Hailemariam, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
Artwork by Sarah Yilma, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“We should care about the Earth, because God worked very hard to create it. We can protect the Earth by recycling and not littering… (and) by doing community cleanups for parks and plants and trees.” – Thomas Wisbrun, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
St. Peter School, Capitol Hill
Artwork by Grace Holifield, first grade, St. Peter School, Capitol Hill
Artwork by Theo Guinan, first grade, St. Peter School, Capitol Hill
St. Thomas More Catholic Academy, Washington
Artwork by Aiden Lewis, St. Thomas More Catholic Academy, Washington, D.C.
Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings
“St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals. He loved and cared for all God’s creatures. St. Francis of Assisi teaches everyone to appreciate and take care of God’s creations.” –Charlotte Connolly-Schultz, fifth grade, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings, Maryland
“God’s creation is so beautiful, and we are so blessed to be in the presence of anything made by God. God loves and cares for us. With different things made by God we thrive. We praise God for doing all of these things for us.” – Astrid Eggleton, fifth grade, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings
November 2024 Junior Saints topic
In November, we celebrate Thanksgiving. For the next Junior Saints, students are invited to draw a picture and write about what or who they are thankful for. The drawings and writings should be emailed to ZimmermannM@adw.org by Friday Nov. 15, 2024 to Mark Zimmermann, the Catholic Standard’s editor, and they should include the name, grade and school or parish of the student printed clearly.
Due to time constraints involved with reviewing the volume of submitted work, it is requested that schools or parish religious education programs limit their entries to 10 drawings and 10 writings from their students. The best formats to send are jpegs for artwork and word documents or pdfs for writing, if possible. Please no long essays. Thank you!
