Four Washington schools and one Washington school district recently earned recognition in the second annual U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools program. The honors were announced earlier this month by Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality; Bob Persiacepe, Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education. The schools and school district here in the Evergreen State joined 60 other schools and 13 other school districts in receiving the coveted national salute.
The Washington schools are Glacier Park Elementary School, located in Maple Valley, in the Tahoma School District; Sacajawea Elementary School, located in Vancouver, in the Vancouver Public Schools school system; Tahoma Senior High School, located in Covington, in the Tahoma School District; The Evergreen School, located in Shoreline, and the Kent School District, located in King County.
Schools and school districts all across the land were honored for their:
- Exemplary efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs.
- Strong promotion of better health.
- Effective environmental education, including civics and green-career pathways.
Young people, as well as their teachers and school-administrators are hailed in the programs for being “exemplary in reducing environmental impact and costs; improving the health and wellness of students and staff; and providing effective environmental and sustainability education, which incorporates STEM, civic skills and green career pathways,” according to the U.S. Department of Education website. Here are some e-resources to help folks implement programs promoting energy efficiency, developing a healthy school environment, and strengthening environmental awareness.
- Green Education Foundation: International Green Schools Programs.
- Foundation for Environmental Education: Eco-Schools Program.
- North American Association for Environmental Education.