Green Schools: JFK and Roosevelt Recognized
(Ferndale Schools Press Release, April 30, 2013)
John. F. Kennedy and Roosevelt Primary Schools each achieved the Green School status this year, with JFK earning the title: #1 Green School in the County!
The Oakland Schools Green School initiative committee reviews and awards designations to schools each year based on their “Green Activities.” Designations include Green, Emerald, and Evergreen where each level carries a certain number of points, Evergreen being the highest.
There were 174 total schools receiving designations this year. Each school is awarded points based on the following criteria: percentage of school population involved in green activities, green issues addressed, the quality of the work, the impact activities have on a variety of groups (grade levels, staff, parents, community), and uniqueness.
“I’m so pleased that John F. Kennedy is the #1 Green School in all of Oakland County,” said JFK Principal Derek Adams.
This is the fifth consecutive year that JFK has received this status, and fourth for the more prestigious Evergreen status. JFK’s recycling program involves students, parents, and staff, and recycling bins are located in every classroom and in multiple common areas. Students sell recycled crayons, recycled notebooks and used books, and parents and staff members have a “Green Team” that oversees all the recycling programs. In addition parents with student help tend Michigan Native and vegetable/herb gardens. JFK’s coordinators are Susan Christin and D’Anne Mcneil.
Roosevelt’s coordinator is Anne Kelly. Kelly says Roosevelt, which has received an award for the fourth consecutive year, has a good recycling program for paper, plastic, ink cartridges, batteries. They also sell recycled pencils and have had speakers come in this year to “speak to kids about being more consciously aware of what they are doing and how they contribute to saving the planet.”
Establishing good recycling routines in the school was the most difficult part of such a volunteer effort said McNeil. “Now that those are established, we can focus on other activities or recycling different items,” says McNeil. Christin notes that the Native Garden now has a Certified Monarch Way Station and a Certified Wildlife Habitat. Both schools received recognition this week at a ceremony at Oakland Schools in Waterford.
For more on Ferndale Public Schools visit http://www.ferndaleschools.org.