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Welcome to West Goes Green!
This year the West School community is working together to promote
environmental and ecology awareness and initiatives. This website will reflect
the efforts of the Recycle Club, the Lunch/Recess Council and all the students
and staff working at lunch and in other areas of the school to Go Green!
 
West Earns Green Flag Award!
In recognition of the West School community efforts to
REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE
the Center for Health, Environment and Justice awarded West School
with this Green Flag which now hangs proudly in the front hallway.
This award is a result of the efforts of the Recycle Club members
who researched and completed a detailed survey and application
about West's Go Green efforts last fall. Congratulations West School!
The Illinois EPA Recognizes West School's Green Initiatives!
This year West School participated in the Governor's Green Youth Award Progam
sponsored by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Schools across the
state submitted project applications. Although our "West Goes Green" program
did not win first place this year, we were selected to receive an Honorable Mention.
Stop by the Green Corner to see our Green Youth Award Certificate!
Go Green Family Night!
On April 3, many Glencoe families attended an evening of wonderful
hands-on learning opportunities which will help make their homes and
lives Greener! There were many things to do and see. There was a guy
named Ricky Recycle who taught us how to recycle. There was Green - O,
which is like a bingo game and there was a bag decorating station. The bags
were decorated with green themes and then Whole Foods will use them
for groceries on Earth Day. There was a raffle for the class shoe art project.
There were also recycled compact discs to make into picture frames. The Wild
Life Discovery Center came and and brought real wild life from the area to
West School. They brought snakes and different kinds of bugs. Then the EPA
(Environmental Protection Agency) showed us useful things about recycling.
Finally there was a planting station. We planted seeds for zinnias, sweet peas,
lettuce, peas, and marigolds. West Go Green Night was a success and we had
loads of fun! (reported by Sydney from the Recycle Club). Other activities included:
- A local screech owl and a snake from the Wildlife Discovery Center and The Backyard Nature Center
- Recycle club members demonstrated lunchroom recycling and collecting organics
- Sample bags and cleaning products from Simply Green
- AMSAN and SWANCC demonstrated products made from recycled materials
- Environmental tee shirts for sale
- Sample food from GREEN BAG LUNCH, a school lunch provider
 
Demonstrating our lunchroom composting efforts and playing green games in the LLC!
 
Tasting healthy food in green packaging from Green Bag Lunch and planting seeds
 
Greeting a local area snake and learning how take care of our local prairie plants!
Now that you know so much about Going Green -
TAKE A GREEN QUIZ!
Click here!
More...
The Recycle Club!
The Recycle Club meets every Monday morning at 8:00 with Mrs. Berkley and Ms. Burgess
and we welcome new members. We make posters to remind students and staff
what can be recycled and we come up with tips to help us recycle. We work with
the Lunch/Recess Council in the lunchroom to help everyone throw out less garbage
and collect organic waste for composting. Our compost was used to plant a garden
that members take care of. We hope you will join us in all of these efforts!
Join Us For Spring Planting At West!
On Sunday, May 18 at 12:30 pm, bring your family and join the Recycle Club
for spring planting in the West garden. We will plant the seedlings the club
started over the winter. Bring gardening gloves, and a trowel if you have them
and join the green fun!
 
Last October, we planted bulbs in front of the school and now they are blooming!
Recycle Your Old Crocs Here!
West School is collecting old Crocs for recycling. We are giving them to SolesUnited
to recycle and turn into new ones. The workers at SolesUnited grind them up and
recycle the rubber forming it into brand new shoes. These shoes are going to be sent
to people around the world for their first pair of shoes. Some of the places that they
have been sent to are Chile, El Salvador, India, Pakistan, Kenya, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.
We will be collecting them until May 15th. Please drop them off at West School.
Making Posters For Green Corner
Club Hosted Green Breakfast For New Members!
On Monday, December 10, the Recycle Club sponsored a breakfast of green
glazed donut holes and encouraged new students to join. Mr. Tanner,
the business manager for the school district and a former park ranger at
Bryce Canyon National Park spoke to the group about ecology in our area
and the effects of using salt to melt ice. Two students from New Trier High
School also attended to learn about West's environmental initiatives.
More...
GREETINGS FROM THE GREEN CORNER
In the Green Corner we collect: pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House,
gym shoes (to be made into running tracks), and batteries,
cell phones and ink cartridges for recycling. Students also contribute
West Goes Green recycling tips in a suggestion box.
 
During the winter months in the Green Corner we collected the plastic water bottles that are
used and thrown away at West. These bottles end up in a landfill. Bring your water
in a reusable bottle instead. Watch this website for the reusable
West School Water Bottle sale. (Proceeds benefit PlayPumps International)
Learn more about water in our world:
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It's Spring! Welcome Nature In:
Make herb pots with used cans and watch your herbs
grow all summer! Wash and dry a used aluminum can.
Punch holes in bottom of can with a screwdriver
and hammer (with an adult). Paint the outside of can with
Liquitex Basics Gesso. Then paint with your favorite
colors/designs (use acrylic paint). Spray with acrylic sealer.
Put a layer of pebbles in bottom, add potting soil 2/3 full.
Transplant an herb plant. Add more soil, water, and put
in a sunny window. Soon you can taste your yummy herbs.
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More...
IN THE LUNCHROOM!
Every day the students in the lunchroom are making a difference for our environment.
Students recycle all material from their lunch that can be recycled including empty milk cartons.
In addition, organic waste is collected for compost. "Organisizers" volunteer to take the organic
waste to the composter.
NEW JOB ROCKS LUNCHROOM!
In addition to the students' weekly responsibilities of "table cleaner" and "floor sweeper"
the new job of "recycle monitor" has been added. These monitors assist the students
in selecting what items from their lunch can be recycled or used for compost.
Students are also encouraged to bring lunch in a reusable "Cool Container" every day but
especially on "Wonderful Whopper of a Waste Free Wednesdays!"
 
Ms. Schwetz's class (1st place in 4th grade), Mrs. Fischer's class (1st place in 3rd grade)
are our new"Wonderful Whopper of a Waste Free Wednesday" Winners!
"Cool Kids...Cool Containers" Winners! More...
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