St. Mary Immaculate School earned an Earth Flag from the Will County Land Use Department

EARTH FLAG

This year St. Mary Immaculate School earned an Earth Flag from the Will County Land Use Department, as part of a program run by its Resource, Recovery and Energy Division. To earn the flag SMI had to meet specific requirements of the School Environmental Education Program.

The Ecology Club was responsible for a number of activities that fulfilled the necessary requirements. Meeting twice a month, the 22 students in the club were involved in educating other students in the school about proper recycling procedures. Our school recycles paper, plastic bottles, and cardboard throughout the year.

The club also participated in the Trex Recycling Challenge for the second year in a row. It collected 400 pounds of plastic for recycling, thereby keeping it out of our local landfill. The club also oversaw the collection of unused school supplies at the end of the year. Markers were sent to the Crayola Company to be recycled into fuel. Crayons will be melted and formed into larger crayons for use by students with disabilities. And other supplies were donated to an agency that will give the supplies free of charge to schools in need.

The club also conducted a plant sale at the end of the year, to sell plants that the students had raised from seeds. Proceeds will be used for future projects sponsored by the Club.

Finally, the Ecology Club and the Student Council have partnered with the City of Plainfield to pick up litter on a stretch of Getson Street, near our school. Be sure to look for the metal signs at both ends of Getson, advertising St. Mary Immaculate’s participation in this important service project for our community!

We will fly our flag proudly next school year, as we continue to build our club. The students are working hard, even during the summer, to heed the call of Pope Francis to care for God’s creation.

Ms Schonta Science and Math

St. Mary Immaculate Parish School