School’s Description
West Middle School continues to strive to make our building “green” as well as to teach our 850+ students about environmental responsibility. We have been recognized as a Michigan Green School for the past four years, attaining Emerald or Evergreen status each year, and will continue to pursue this goal.
Points of Pride
● As one of the pilot schools for the Rochester Community Schools recycling program, we have implemented recycling in the classrooms, cafeteria and cafeteria kitchen for paper, plastics, metal cans and cardboard.
● We continue to recycle printer cartridges, batteries, cell phones, compact discs, DVDs, eyeglasses, newspapers and magazines.
● Our PTSA has formed a student environmental group, The West Eco Warriors. Comprised of students 6th through 8th grade, the club has;
● Built and used solar cookers to make s’mores
● Received white pine seedlings provided by Oakland Schools to plant at home
● Hosted the Clinton River Watershed Council’s “River Critters” program
● Collected shoes for ShoeBox Recycling
● Constructed a “quilt” made from recycled materials
● Hosted MSU Extension Tollgate Farm and made a “wormatorium”
● Will collaborate with the two other Rochester middle schools for a CRWC stream clean up event in April
● We are continuing to update the media center’s environmental materials by subscribing to E The Environmental Magazine and allocating funds for curriculum based environmentally themed books.
● The Eco Warriors will be symbolically adopting an animal to be chosen in a “change challenge” through the Howell Conference and Nature Center.
● We have planted an eastern redbud sapling provided by Oakland Schools.
● West was able to donate unused food to Forgotten Harvest before the December holiday break and will again donate before spring break.
● All of our eighth grade science students take the Cool Schools Challenge home energy audit and also take part in the CRWC Stream Leaders program, testing various aspects of the health of the Clinton River watershed.
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