Page 6 - Wayne Dispatch Pages

Students from three elementary schools in the Wayne-Westland Community Schools
district released salmon they raised into the Rouge River at Goudy Park. This was
part of a science project in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Re-
sources.
WWCS students released

salmon at Goudy Park

By Sarah Shurge tive role in this incredible learning
Wayne-Westland Community journey,” said Karen Dickelman,
Schools students from three elemen- PreK-12th grade STEM Teacher.
tary schools released salmon at All participating students wore
Goudy Park. custom-designed t-shirts created
This happened on Monday, April using Gyotaku art, a traditional
28th, in celebration of the DNR Japanese method of fish printing.
Salmon in the Classroom Project- Homestead Bakery donated 150
Based Learning (PBL) unit, a collab- salmon-shaped cookies for students
oration between Wayne-Westland to enjoy.
Community Schools, the STEM Cen- In addition, attendees received a
ter, and the Michigan Department of copy of a collaborative student-pub-
Natural Resources (DNR). lished book—written by high school
Throughout the school year, par- students and illustrated by third
ticipating students have been raising graders—that chronicles the journey
salmon from eggs in their class- of a salmon.
rooms, observing their growth, and The Michigan Department of En-
learning about ecosystems, responsi- vironment, Great Lakes, and Energy
bility, and environmental steward- (EGLE) led an educational lesson ti-
ship. The students released the tled "The Life of a Salmon.”
salmon into the wild as part of the Wayne-Westland Community
hands-on learning experience. Schools is excited to announce that
“We are extremely proud of our this meaningful, community-sup-
students who have cared for these ported project will become an an-
salmon from eggs and taken an ac- nual tradition in the district.

6 · May 2025 · The Wayne Dispatch