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A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
5
December 13, 2012
C
ANTON
- N
ORTHVILLE
- P
LYMOUTH
Changing the world
Students are finalists at national contest
New deputy chief named
Soup Swap set to aid Salvation Army
The Green It Up Team of third through
fifth graders at Northville Public Schools'
Amerman Elementary School has been
honored as one of 30 national finalists in
the fourth annual Siemens We Can Change
theWorldChallenge.
The challenge - which aims to empower
young people to create solutions to today's
environmental problems - is the premier
national environmental sustainability com-
petition for grades K-12. Through project-
based learning, students learn firsthand
about science and conservationwhile creat-
ing solutions that impact their planet. As
part of the challenge, students alsomust put
together guidelines for howother schools or
communities can repeat their project.
At Amerman, theGreen It UpTeamchal-
lenge focused on finding ways to make the
school more green. To do this, the team is
creating a green roof for the school with the
goal of conserving energy, reducing gray
water, and creating a space to grow edible
plants and saffron, as well as providing a
place for birds to land. The team is current-
ly in the process of raising funds for the
green roof project and planting seeds to
grow the plants for the trays that will com-
prise the green roof.
As part of the project, the Amerman
Green It Up Team also has begun compost-
ing the school lunch waste with the goal of
decreasing the amount of garbage thrown
out each day and producing nutritious soil
to be used to grow plants for the green roof
trays. As a result, school lunch waste has
been reducedby about 7 pounds a day.
As a 2011-12 national elementary school
finalist in the Siemens We Can Change the
World Challenge, Amerman received a
recognition banner to hang in the school
and each member of the Green It Up Team
received a national finalist certificate.
“Through this experience these students
have become engaged with the environ-
ment in ways that give them confidence to
problem-solve and make positive change in
their world,” said Amerman third grade
teacher and Green It Up Team mentor
Khris Nedam. “Teamwork is emphasized
throughout the challenge, which is a very
positive element because problem-solving
environmental issues can only be done
when you bring together individuals from
different specialties, interests and perspec-
tives.
“Students use science, math, reading
and language arts concepts to create sus-
tainable environmental improvements that
other students in other schools can use,”
the teacher said.
The Green It Up Team projects are part
of an overall ecological initiative at
Amerman that includes the installation of
solar panels at the school to reduce energy
cost, membership in the Friends of the
RougeRiver, and the designation since 2008
as aMichiganGreenSchool.
Third and fifth grade students from Amerman Elementary show off their recognition banner
awarded to them as finalists in a national We Can Change The World contest.
The Village Potters Guild and the Over
theGrill Gang Chefs' Clubhave joined forces
with the Plymouth Canton Educational Park
culinary Team and The Salvation Army to
help celebrateNational SoupSwapDay.
The art project begins on Jan. 5, 2013
when individuals can come to the guild to
paint designs on a bowl of their choice
which will include a large selection of
shapes and sizes. Members of the guild will
then glaze and fire the bowls so they are
ready for theSoupSwap on Jan. 26.
Individuals can choose one of the sched-
uled days and times to come and paint their
bowls there are bothmorning and afternoon
sessions available on Jan. 5, 11, 12 and 21.
The cost of the painting session is $15 per
person, although families can become
involved with a fee of $15 for the first two
members and $10 for each additional family
member.
Those who would like to decorate more
than one bowl can do so at a cost of $10 for
each additional bowl, limited to four. Bowls
decorated by guild members will also be
available on the day of theSoupSwap.
On Soup Swap day, the Over the Grill
Gang Chefs' Club and The high school culi-
nary team will be preparing soups for par-
ticipants to purchase. The cost of the soup,
to enjoy at the studio or to take home, is $3 a
cup.
To register for the Soup Swap Bowl
Painting sessions at the Village Potters
Guild, located at 340 N. Main St. in
Plymouth (behind the Crossings
Restaurant), or for more information, call
(734) 207-8807.
Canton Township Fire Department
Captain Gregory Sprys-Tellner has been
named as Deputy Fire Chief with the
department.
Sprys-Tellner began his new position
Nov. 26, and formally received his new
badge at the Canton Board of Trustees
meetingDec. 11.
Sprys-Tellner, 46, holds a Bachelor's
Degree in Business Administration from
Clearly University. He was hired in 1987
as a firefighter, and was promoted to cap-
tain in 2010. During his career, he earned
his paramedic license, and has received
numerous fire investigation certifications
while assigned to the Fire Prevention
Unit as an
inspector.
In his new
role as deputy
fire
chief,
Sprys-Tellner
will assume the
duties of fire
marshall over-
seeing the Fire Prevention Unit. He will
also be responsible for executing the
extensive fire service and paramedic
training programs of the department.
The deputy chief also assists the fire
chief with administrative tasks and proj-
ects as needed.
Gregory Sprys-Tellner