Gordon Russell Middle School
Gresham, Oregon

Students and staff at Gordon Russell Middle School, inspired by their dedicated principal, set their sights on becoming a Premier Oregon Green School several years ago. The principal established a permanent written policy statement in the teacher handbook which reads, “Recycling is not an option at Gordon Russell Middle School. As staff, we must model responsible environmental and civic behaviors that demonstrate a thoughtful concern for our futures.”

The principal (a former high school biology teacher) presented a session entitled “The Biology of a Worm Bin System” as part of a school district custodian’s best practices workshop, and the school provided “starter worms” from its worm bin to several other schools in the area.

An elective environmental class was established whose students spearheaded the actual recycling activities at the school and participated in many conservation related classroom activities. These students worked hard to provide outreach to the community. They assisted the City of Gresham’s Watershed Management Division by placing “Do Not Dump, Drains to Kelley Creek” markers alongside storm drains in their neighborhood. They also distributed water quality related information to residents. Later, the class worked with the City’s Wastewater Division and delivered “Freeze the Grease” kits and literature to families in the area.


When asked how the school has changed as
a result of Oregon Green School certification efforts, the assistant principal stated, “It has made students, staff and our local community understand the importance of recycling, reusing and waste reduction. The program instilled a culture of responsibility at Gordon Russell Middle School.”

Photo: Neighborhood storm drain marking project
educates residents about protecting water quality
in local streams.