To all Green Team families;

This letter is to remind you that the Green Team will be meeting tomorrow after school until 4:30.    The Green School is raising money to save the endangered animal the cougar by having a bake sale.  This also a reminder that we are having a bake sale this Friday, December 6th at lunch time 10:40-12:30.  We hope to get one donation from each Green School family.    It would be very helpful to have one or two adults helping the children with the sale.  If you are able to stay some or part of the time please email me right away to let me know.  My email is keeblek@dearbornschools.org.

We also want to tell you about two important projects the Green School Committee needs your help with: recycling and re-purposing.  This year we are striving to raise our level of green school and to teach our students even more ways to protect our earth.  Last year we started with the composting food waste program and we will continue this program, expanding it into classrooms in addition to the cafeteria.

One of the changes we are making is we are collecting recycling materials as well this year.  There is a garbage bag in the cafeteria and one in the staff lounge in which you may place any of your recyclable materials.  Students are being encouraged by their teachers to place recycling materials in bins in their classrooms.

Various staff members have agreed to take home the recyclable materials and place in their containers for the city to pick up.  If you are available to help with this endeavor we would greatly appreciate it.  In addition, if we could have some families willing to have their children bring them home we would greatly appreciate it.  

This is a good time to teach a lesson on sustainability, reducing waste and the science of recycling to your students and children as well.  It would be awesome if we could spark an interest in our children that aids in the reduction of waste.  One person can make a difference; imagine the difference our school community can make.

If you have any questions or are willing to have your child bring home some recycling materials please email me with your child’s name and his or her teacher’s name at keeblek@dearbornschools.org or send in a note with your child his or her teacher.  We are hoping to get a schedule together to spread out the burden.

In addition to our composting and recycling programs this year, the green school committee is taking on a re-purposing project.  We have many students who have clothes that no longer fit and are still in good condition.  We are asking Howe staff and families to donate your slightly used clothes to our school.  Some of our classrooms will launder, fold, sort and categorize the clothes to be used for other students in the school.  We will take clothing items, coats, hats, scarves, gloves and blankets at this time.  Our hope is to reduce waste while helping out our Howe families and community at the same time.  Once clothing items are categorized we will update families and staff via the Blog as to what items we have available.  If we have an overflow of items then we will donate to a nearby shelter.

If you have any questions or are willing to donate items please email Kim Jenkins and we can arrange for the items to be stored here at Howe. Her email address is jenkink@dearbornschools.org or send in a note with your child to his or her teacher.

 

Thank you so much,

Your Green School Committee