Salina Intermediate School

Dearborn Green Schoolyards at Salina Intermediate

The Dearborn Green Schoolyards initiative is a result of the district and City of Dearborn’s commitment to clean air, clean water, and clean energy sources for all citizens. Our focus is to connect our children to nature through nature-based learning, to educate them about their environment, and help them learn how to continue to conserve environmental resources.  Our children need support to strengthen their physical, mental and emotional health through time spent outdoors. For more information and a review of the Green Schoolyards booklet, click here.

For FOX 2 News update click here.

Salina Intermediate has a beautiful garden where students work every day. The garden was donated by University of Michigan/Dearborn and Wayne State University and the district. The school team has a campus plan for expanding their Green Schoolyard. Green Schoolyards are outdoor environments that strengthen local ecological systems, provide learning opportunities, and foster a wide range of play and social opportunities while enhancing health and well-being. These schoolyards include trees, gardens, rain gardens, landscaping and play spaces, and resources designed for the students and the community. See these links for examples of nature playscapes and outdoor classrooms. Green Schoolyards also provide space for community members to use during non school hours.

The Green Schoolyards priority goals are Nature Playscapes for children to explore and play, climb, crawl, spin, swing, slide, and develop balance, flexibility and agility-all foundations for learning. Outdoor Classrooms are also a goal and these shelters will allow children to learn outside.

Many community organizations contribute to Green Schoolyards. Click here for a video on the benefit that the InterCultural Community Center in Dearborn (ICCD) hosted to support benches for Green Schoolyards. ACCESS is a partner in Green Schoolyards along with the City of Dearborn.

Individuals and groups can contribute financially at the green link below.

The school also has a volunteer program for many different activities. The Green Schoolyards team is always looking for partners to support the nature-focused learning initiative. Activities could be working in the garden, spending time with the students, being with children during outdoor time or other activities. In-kind donations are welcomed.

Contact Principal Eman Ahmed at ahmede@dearbornschools.org. or Assistant Principal Lena Abdrabbah at abdrabl@dearbornschools.org.

The Dearborn Education Foundation is helping our schools collect funds for this project. Please consider making a donation on the link below. See the table below for acknowledgement of the generous friends and partners who are helping to make the dream of outdoor education and play for Salina children a reality. Their generosity and vision are valued.

Circles of Giving

Golden Tree Circle
$100,000+
City of Dearborn
Friends of the Rouge
University of Michigan/Dearborn/Wayne State University: DSHINES Gardens
Silver Birch Circle
$50,000-99,999
Cleveland Cliffs
CMS Energy Foundation
Dearborn Sausage
Bronze Tree Circle
 $25,000-$49,999
Dearborn Community Fund: POP Mural
Sequoia Circle
$10,000-$24,999
ACCESS: Musical Garden
Home Depot: Garden supplies
Evergreen Circle
$5000-$9,999
Edw. C. Levy
Partner Circle
$0-$4,999
Southender (alumni)
InterCultural Community Center of Dearborn: Fundraiser for benches
Players Guild: Bench
Boy Scouts: Bench
The Exchange Club of Dearborn
Friend Circle
In kind donation
Friends of the Rouge- 200 Trees, Rain Garden Intermediate
Home Depot-Garden Supplies
Players Guild: Bench/Elementary
Boy Scouts: Bench/Intermediate
University of Michigan/Dearborn Wayne State University: DSHINES Gardens
ACCESS: Musical Garden
Dearborn Community Fund: POP Mural
Edw. C. Levy: future concrete removal

The Salina Story

Kickoff Slide Show

Strategic Plan

Concept Map of Green Schoolyards

Benefits of Nature

Children’s Nature Network

Resources for Connecting Children and Nature

Nature playscapes (examples)

Outdoor Classrooms (examples)