Like most students, Ms. Remillard's fifth grade class at Minot Forest Elementary loves Fridays... but not for the obvious reasons.

Every Friday the students collect paper, cardboard, magazines, and plastic from around the school to separate them before putting them outside by the dumpster to be collected by the Wareham Recycling Center.

Lacey Remillard, who is affectionately called Ms. Rem by her students, began the project with her class five years ago.

"I used to volunteer at the recycling center," Remillard said, explaining why the project was important to her.

During her first year, all but one of the teachers at Minot Forest participated. Starting the next year the school was at 100% participation and has remained so. Remillard's program is so well known in the school that more than half the class knew about it before the school year began. Remillard said a lot of students want to be placed in her class just so they can participate.

Of course, it isn't all fun. The students are quick to tell how sometimes the younger children will throw used tissues in with the recyclables, how they get numerous paper cuts, and how Ms. Rem tells them if they're not getting hot and tired while sorting the products they aren't doing it right.

Student Makenna Tavares said it is hard work, but it's worth it to make a difference. Many students tattoo their arms with the recycling symbol in green marker or wear green T-shirts in order to feel like a team on Fridays.

In fact the students enjoy the program so much that it's what Remillard takes away if they misbehave for substitute teachers or disturb other classes when they're walking down the halls.

"They can be 'fired' for the week," Remillard explains, adding that the fired student or students have to sit in the corner and read while the rest of the class gathers the recyclables and takes them outside.

The fun aspects of the program far outweigh the occasional dirty tissue or paper cut, students say. Remillard taught the class the old idiom, "one man's trash is another man's treasure," so students save things such as folders and magazines that interest them.