Eco-Extraordinaires June 2017

Check out this month’s local leaders in green.

Do you know a DuPage County organization or person that deserves some green kudos? Email [email protected] to explain who you think should be one of our next Eco-Extraordinaires.

Maercker Intermediate School Honored as 2017 U.S. Green Ribbon School

Westmont – Maercker Intermediate School was designated a 2017 Green Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. They are one of only 48 schools honored nationwide for the award. SCARCE is grateful to have worked with Maercker in many of their environmental efforts and for the eco-enthusiasm of their teachers, staff, and students. Maercker was the first school to earn the Water Quality Flag through SCARCE and DuPage County Stormwater Management. Maercker and SCARCE continue to work together to reduce their environmental impact and enhance their environmental awareness.  Check out pages 66-67 of the write up (linked in title) to learn more about all the awesome work Maercker has done for it’s people and the planet. Keep up the great work!

Westmore Elementary School Earns their Ecology Flag

Lombard – Westmore Elementary School earned their Ecology Flag in May. As part of the program, the school tackled their food waste by starting a sharing table for  uneaten food and composting of food scraps from the lunchroom. The school has also made efforts to conserve energy and water by making sure both were shut off when not in use. Westmore received their flag in a school-wide assembly attended by District 45 Superintendent Anthony Palmisano and DuPage County Board Member Liz Chaplin.  The ceremony concluded with a song written by 4th graders and sung by the entire school. Watch the video below (allow to load for about 20 secs). Awesome job Wildcats!

Madison Elementary School Re-Certifies their Earth Flag & Earns an Ecology Flag

Wheaton – Madison Elementary earned the Ecology Flag and  re-certified of their Earth Flag. Every 5 years, SCARCE offers re-certification for schools that have previously earned a flag in order to bring new staff and students up to date.  Madison a step further this time by zeroing in on food waste: they started a sharing table in their lunchroom and collect fruit and veggie scraps for composting in the school’s outdoor bins. Madison is the first school in their district to have a sharing table at both breakfast and lunch. The flag presentation was part of an all-school assembly and was attended by DuPage County Board members Amy Grant and Grant Eckhoff. The student Conservation Committee showed a video that they created about their eco-initiatives at school including eco-art pieces. Way to go Madison!