Allen Elementary School: Green Schools Certification Information

Allen Elementary has been certified as a Green School, achieving "Evergreen" Status, through the Michigan Green Schools Program. The program teaches students ecological responsibility by encouraging schools to institute recycling and energy savings programs, learn about alternative energy, become better stewards of natural areas, and support other environmental concerns.

We achieved this special certification by completing the listed criteria. The kids of the 4th grade Allen Pride Team, led by teacher Jennifer York and with the assistance of parent Joan Brush, worked hard to help the school:

1. Maintain a paper-recycling program;

2. Host a talk by a representative of the Ecology Center;

3. Maintain and improve a native plant area;

4. Learn about solar energy by visiting a local home that utilizes solar energy panels;

5. Establish a battery recycling program;

6. Establish a cell phone and printer cartridge recycling program;

7. Observe Earth Day;

8. Hold a poster contest to support ecology concerns and celebrate Earth Day;

9. Begin an ecology club;

10. Visit websites where clicking saves rainforest habitat;

11. Establish a CD recycling program;

12. Plant 10 trees on the Allen Grounds;

13. Maintain a bulletin board on environmental news and the school’s environmental activities;

14. Raise over one hundred dollars to support tree planting efforts in Hartwick Pines, a Michigan State forest in Grayling, Michigan; and

15. Adopt an endangered species (we adopted an Eagle at the Leslie Science Center).

For our efforts, Allen received a flag and certificate to proudly display at the Livingston Washtenaw Michigan Green School Program awards ceremony. In the 2009-2010 school year, we hope to build upon our efforts by conducting energy audits of classrooms.