Six schools in the Tahoma School District were given recognition by King County for their successful conservation practices from the county’s Green Schools Program.

The program has served a growing number of schools each year, with 100 schools participating in 2009-10, 120 in 2010-11, and 154 in 2011-12.

The program has three levels which involve students and staff in learning about and practicing conservation of natural resources.

This spring, Tahoma School District became the first school district to be recognized as a Level Three Green School District by completing the level’s water conservation criteria.

The district also completed Level Two during this past school year by focusing on energy conservation.

All eight Tahoma School District schools have completed Level One and Level Two, and five of the schools also have completed Level Three.

The schools that completed Level Two were Rock Creek Elementary School, Tahoma High School and Tahoma Middle School.

The schools that completed Level Three were Cedar River Middle School, Lake Wilderness Elementary School and Shadow Lake Elementary School.

The award-winning King County Green Schools Program provides hands-on assistance, recycling containers and stickers, and the ongoing support schools need to engage students and staff in conservation actions.

Simple steps, such as turning off lights in unoccupied rooms and recycling paper, bottles and cans, add up to big benefits.In addition to providing schools with the hands-on help they need, the Green Schools Program offers a website, www.kingcounty.gov/GreenSchools, with helpful tools and resources.

King County also provides an elementary school assembly program, classroom workshops and support for student green teams.

Schools and districts interested in the Green Schools Program can contact dale.alekel@kingcounty.gov.