The state recently gave two Grand Ledge Schools the Michigan Green Schools designation. A school can apply for Michigan GreenSchool status if it completes at least 10 of 25 activities said to reduce the school’s carbon footprint.
St. Michael Parish School was the first school in Eaton County to receive the designation and is one of only three Green Schools in the Tri-County area. More than 200 schools in the state have the Green School designation.
Hayes MS in Grand Ledge also got the Green School award after the school’s “Green Team” recycled more than 9,000 plastic water bottles, thousands of dead batteries and CDs, participated in Greener Delta and raised money to adopt several endangered species.
“One of the most important things the Green Team did this year was raise awareness about the environment among other students at our school,” says Sarah Storm, who worked with students on the project. “One example of this is the fact that we had several students ask if they could bring their water bottles from home to recycle them at school because they didn't have curbside recycling where they lived.”
Students also gave draft dodgers to people for Christmas as a way to reduce energy costs and energy consumption.
“I wasn't sure what kind of response I'd get from other teachers or students, but support for the idea was overwhelmingly positive,” Storm says.
The State of Michigan is working to add Ingham County to the Green School designations.
Source: Jennifer Bradford-Vernon, Grand Ledge Schools
Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.
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