Auburn School District No. 408
915 4th Street Northeast, Auburn, WA  98002

3/16/07

NEWS RELEASE
Cascade Science Teacher Recipient of King County Executive Ron Sims'
2007 Earth Hero at School Award

Scott Weide, a sixth grade math and science teacher at Cascade Middle School in Auburn, was recently named a 2007 Earth Hero at School by the office of King County Executive Ron Sims. Mr. Weide was nominated by his principal, Dennis Grad, for involving the school and empowering the students to take an active role in protecting the environment.

Students at Cascade Middle School have been restoring salmon habitat along a local stream, Olson Creek, thanks to a King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Waterworks “Small Change for a Big Difference” grant awarded to Mr. Weide.

In September, Mr. Weide and his sixth grade students in Cascade’s Learning Assistance Program traveled by foot to the Olson Creek Farm, an authentic nineteenth century farm, to learn about the process of salmon habitat restoration along the banks of the Olson Creek. Then in December, Mr. Weide’s students built two 24 by 12 feet raised nursery beds and transplanted nearly 100 seedlings donated by Weyerhaeuser. Students have been monitoring and maintaining the planted seedlings with walking fieldtrips to the restoration site at Olson Creek Farm all winter. The final step will occur this spring, when the students will transplant the trees from the nursery to the stream. By June of 2007, Scott’s students will have restored nearly 200 feet of the riparian zone of Olson Creek with native plant species; raised and released 250 Coho fingerling salmon; and collected more than 100 cuttings and seeds to repopulate the school’s nursery so the project can continue in the years to come.

Mr. Weide will be honored at the 2007 Earth Heroes at School award ceremony on Thursday, April 19, 2007, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The ceremony will take place at Maplewood Greens, located at 4050 Maple Valley Highway in Renton.

The Earth Heroes at School Program celebrates students, teachers, staff and volunteers who implement projects at their school or beyond to protect the environment. Each year outstanding individuals, groups and programs in the county are recognized.

For more information contact Amy Spence, public information officer, at (253) 931-4713.