The Arborwood Elementary Campus of the Monroe Public Schools’ facilities has achieved Green School status through the Michigan Green Schools initiative.

     Michigan Green Schools is a non-profit agency dedicated to helping all Michigan schools achieve environmental goals which include protecting the air, land, water and animals of Michigan along with world outreach through good ecological practices and the teaching of educational stewardship of students pre-kindergarten through senior high school.

     “All of us Arborwood Eagles are extremely proud to receive this recognition.  Our students realize that what they do has an impact on the environment and this recognition shows the positive effect they are having,” said Arborwood Dean of Students Megan Angerer who led the effort for the Green School recognition.

     To earn this first recognition for the school, Arborwood’s efforts have been many and sustained. 

     Here is a list of the environmentally friendly activities going on at Arborwood which have produced the Green School honor:

--Adopting a portion of N. Macomb St. for students to help maintain and clean

--Recycling paper, printer cartridges, cell phones, pop cans, cardboard, water bottles and newspapers

--Switching from Styrofoam lunch trays to trays made of recyclable materials

--Using recycled napkins for breakfast and lunch.

--Forming student organizations focusing on recycling and gardening, and forming the Green Club

--Adopting an eagle from the Defenders of Wildlife Program

--Building a butterfly garden with the help of funds from the Arborwood PTO

--Energy-saving efforts, such as making a concerted effort to turn off lights in unoccupied rooms

--Encouraging parents to carpool whenever possible

--Publicizing to the children what activities are being done at school and what efforts they can make to help Michigan’s environment

--Celebrating Earth Day and hosting an Earth Day book swap.

     As part of Arborwood’s dedication to the environment, students will plant 14 trees along Riverview Ave. from Arborwood South to Linwood Ave. in ceremonies with the City of Monroe on Friday, April 29.  Working with the Forestry Unit of the City of Monroe, the students will plant seven Cleveland Select Pear trees and seven Pink Spire Crabapple trees in an alternating pattern to blossom white and pink in the spring.