By Susan Bromley
Staff Writer
Brandon Twp.- Just in time for Earth Day, Brandon Middle School has been named a ‘Green School.?
On April 28, the middle school will be officially recognized by Oakland Schools through the Michigan Green School program. The school has received the highest rating of green in the program? an ‘evergreen? designation. for achieving 20 different goals (see a complete list at www.thecitizenonline.com), including planting a tree, organizing a cleanup of Kearsley Creek, adopting an endangered species (a blue bird), creating a native Michigan garden, using an energy savings program, hosting an ecology club, and participating in several different recycling projects.
‘We’re really excited,? said BMS Teacher Jennifer Brady of the designation. ‘I think it’s amazing that the kids pulled together and made it a priority. The yearbook kids really took charge of the program. They were responsible for advertising, taking bottles out to the recycling bin… They did it all, it was amazing.?
The yearbook staff chose as their theme this year, ‘Blue is the New Green,? and had shirts made up saying ‘Go Blue, Live Green,? since the school color is blue. The shirts were purchased by students and teachers alike. This past Thursday, students planted a tree donated by Wojo’s Greenhouse and the winner of an Earth Day poster contest will attend the presentation at Oakland Schools April 28 when BMS receives the official designation as a green school.
Students will receive a flag at the presentation that they will then display at BMS that declares the school as ‘green.? The designation must be renewed annually by meeting a list of requirements.
‘As a teacher, it’s my responsibility to let students know what is important,? said Brady. ‘If they don’t learn it now as seventh and eighth graders, there will be nothing left as adults and it will be more work for them to take care of the environment then.?
Brandon Middle School students are seeking help from the community with two of the projects that helped them receive the green designation:
Lend a green hand from 5 p.m.-8 p.m., May 7 at the Brandon Middle School parking lot, 609 S. Ortonville Road, by bringing the following items to recycle: jewelry, cell phones, ink jet printer cartridges, laptops, net books, mp3 players, digital cameras and video cameras, GPS devices, radar detectors, and Kindle and Sony book readers. For more information call: 248-627-1830 or email: jbrady@brandon.k12.mi.us.
The Brandon Youth Conservation Council has organized the Kearsley Creek Cleanup, planned for 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., May 8 with the help of the Flint River Watershed Coalition. The cleanup will involve three different sites along the waterway, mostly on school property’near the Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School, 300 South St., the Brandon Middle School, 609 S. Ortonville Road, and Brandon High School, 1025 S. Ortonville Road.
Volunteers will collect trash along the shoreline and some adult volunteers will wade into the creek to remove debris.Students will not wade in the water for safety and liability reasons.Following the cleanup, at 12:45 p.m., a lunch is planned for all volunteers in the middle school cafeteria. Lunch and t-shirts are being provided through the Toyota H2O grant, a partnership between Toyota and 4-H. To sign-up, visit http://tiny.cc/kerslycleanup or contact Dave Green at Brandon Middle School, 248-627-627-1830, ext. 1325.