The little school nestled in the heart of Ndilo has for the past two months been a part of the Green Schools Project.

Kirsten Sangris, Grade 5, fills in the bars indicating the K'alemi school has achieved Environmental Bronze Status for the Green Schools program. The school completed 20 of 100 projects to reach the bronze level. - Chris Puglia/NNSL photo

An international program, sponsored by the Alliance to Save Energy, it has caught on among the student population.

"They've been awesome, they were digging under the school to collect pop cans," said Steve Smith, a teacher.

There are 100 projects in total that schools strive to achieve before they can be proclaimed Green Schools. To date K'alemi has completed 20 projects earning them bronze status in the program.

Smith is optimistic that over the next two years they will achieve Green School status.

"The program sets students up for success. It allows students to demonstrate a responsible, reflective attitude about what they can do to help creating a sustainable environment. As a school dedicated to the preservation of Dene culture, this program also fits in with our Dene Kede curriculum. We strive to educate the students about respecting and preserving the land from which they've depended on for thousands of years," said Smith.

The Grades 5, 6 and 7 classes have been modelling the project to the younger classes and evidence is clear that the program is working.

Earlier in the year the school rounded up over 1,000 cans in just one week to be recycled.

While being interviewed for this article a little girl from the Grade 1 class dropped a pop bottle into one of the blue recycle bins in Smith's classroom.

"Two months ago she would have just thrown that away," he said.

Getting involved is easy.

"Many schools are already doing environmental activities and don't realize it. Crafts that reuse egg containers, milk jugs, and other recyclable items all count as projects toward the goal of becoming a green school. The students take ownership, write up the project report, they all sign their names, and denote why the projects are environmentally friendly," said Smith.

The students have enjoyed the projects. "It's cool, it's fun. It saves the environment," said Rainer Erasmus.

The 10-year-old Grade 5 student said prior to the program he didn't give much thought to recycling.

Now, he and his classmates are helping to promote the idea through the school.

For more information, go to www.ase.org/greenschools.