We recently received the following letter from Wayne County Michigan Green Schools.  It was addressed to Rebecca Tate, director of the Consortium Green School Initiative.

Dear Rebecca:

I received and reviewed your Michigan Green School application. 
Congratulations! Because of the hard work from the teachers, students and
parents, Consortium College Preparatory High School has received the 2012
Michigan Emerald School designation, by completing at least 15 energy saving and
environmental tasks.  The efforts you made to complete the tasks are
very impressive.  I especially enjoyed learning of your plans
for a Green Roof.  I urge Consortium College Preparatory High
School to continue with the energy saving and environmental tasks and hope you
encourage others to follow. 
 
I will stay in contact with you regarding your certificate, banner, and the
recognition ceremony, which will be held later this spring.   Please
note that if you already received a banner you will be receiving an annual decal
to place on your banner.
 
Please let me know if you have any questions.
 
Thank you,
Nancy Gregor
Wayne County Michigan Green School Co-Coordinator

Consortium Students Participate!

The Smithsonian Institution's Tree Banding Project, a citizen science program that contributes to research about tree biomass tracks how trees respond to climate. Citizen science programs involve students and teachers like you contributing to ongoing scientific work. Students around the globe will monitor the rate at which their local trees grow and learn how that rate corresponds to Smithsonian research as well as comparing their work to other students world-wide. Once involved, you will help to create the first global observatory of how trees respond to climate! As part of this program, you will be contributing vital information to an important ecological study.

The Smithsonian Institution's Tree Banding Project is part of Shout, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution, TakingITGlobal and Microsoft Partners in Learning. The Shout program offers:

Online events hosted by the Smithsonian Institution that feature some of the
world’s leading scientists and environmental experts as well as representatives
of other fields who bring diverse perspectives to the issues at hand. Sessions
can be watched live in real time or in archived format in order to accommodate
all time zones.
 

Access to Microsoft’s Partners in Learning Network, a global community of
educators who value innovative uses of information and communication technology,
in order to share environmental education resources, experiences, and best
practices with teachers around the world.

Engagement of students in TakingITGlobal's online community, which provides
resources, action tools, as well as the complimentary use of content-rich
virtual classrooms and collaboration spaces designed to deepen environmental
understanding and stewardship, enhance the development of 21st century skills,
and facilitate continued communication with Smithsonian experts.

The www.shoutlearning.org
website that ties these elements together and provides access to additional
tools and resources to support a range of "student challenges" – calls for
deeper involvement that can range from capturing and sharing scientific data to
developing youth-led initiatives for positive change.