The Notre Dame Marist Academy – Middle Division Environmental Club, or "E-Club," has been busy on campus—and overseas—as it transitions to the next semester.
E-Club members held two bake sales over this semester and with the money raised adopted two tigers through the World Wildlife Fund. This symbolic adoption helps to support WWF's global efforts to protect wild animals—in this case, tigers—and their habitats. According to the WWF, wild tiger numbers are at an all-time low with about 97% of wild tigers lost in just over a century. Tigers may be one of the most revered animals, but they are also vulnerable to extinction. As few as 3,200 exist in the wild today, most located in Asia.
Club members, who designed a new club logo, also continue to recycle weekly in the classrooms and encourage recycling every day during lunch. A recycle center has been set up in the cafeteria for metal cans and plastic bottles.
In addition, a weeping cherry tree has been planted in the Mary courtyard and a Nike rubber shoe collection will begin December 2.
"Future goals include combining with the high school Environmental Club to start the process of earning a campus-wide 'Green School' accreditation," added Kim Smith, middle-school counselor and moderator of the E-Club.
Smith said that if other students would like to join or have any ideas, please contact her in the middle-division counseling office on the main campus in Pontiac.
Follow Notre Dame at @NDPMA.
About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.