This year WBHS’ Earth Club has a new goal to get West Bloomfield High School to Evergreen Status according to the Michigan Green Schools program.  The Michigan Green Schools Program awards schools on three different levels. To become a Michigan Green School, a school must achieve 10 out of 20 activities listed by the program; a school must complete 15 activities to become an Emerald School and 20 to become an Evergreen School. Activities include recycling, establishing an eco-reading program, hosting an environmental or energy speaker, updating the school’s media center environmental materials, sponsoring an animal, etc. Oakland County became involved in the program during the 2007-2008 school year. For 2012-2013, 174 schools in Oakland County are a Michigan Green School.

West Bloomfield High School is currently at Emerald Status. In the past years, Earth Club has held Earth Day events, established paper and bottle recycling in almost every classroom and lunch room, and installed a solar panel that powers a part of the school. “I’ve been in Earth Club since my freshman year and we’ve done a lot but I’m excited about all the different things the club is doing this year to make the school greener,” said junior Aleena Mirza.

This year, Earth Club has many plans to become an Evergreen School. The club is doubling the amount of activities they have done in the past years. They have plans to lead nature walks, hold informational presentations at the middle schools, sponsor an animal, start ink cartridge recycling, have an “earth” movie night, hold the second annual Earth Fair in April in honor of Earth Day, and so much more. “I’m most excited by the increased involvement – going for evergreen status has made lot of folks active in the club and given more people the opportunity to take a leadership role in the club,” said club sponsor, Joshua Barclay.