local educational environment
Peninsula School District's two elementary schools are the only schools in Washington State to be recognized as Green Leaders this year under the U.S. Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools Program.
Artondale Elementary School in Gig Harbor and Evergreen Elementary School in Lake Bay are among 41 schools, 10 school districts, three higher education institutions and one early learning center designated as Green Ribbon Schools. The awards were recognized for innovative efforts that reduce environmental impact and utility costs, improve health and wellness, and provide effective sustainability education, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Education. The award winners were selected from candidates nominated by 24 states.
Students run through the outdoor education area at Evergreen Elementary School on December 13, 2022. Christina T. Henry
school celebrates earth day
The Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction will manage award selection. OSPI representatives congratulated students and staff at a celebration held at each school on April 22, Earth Day.
“It is a great honor for our schools to receive this recognition for their efforts and accomplishments across the state and nationally,” said Superintendent Krestin Bahr. “This is the result of teachers, administrators, and parents coming together to give students the tools they will need in the future for the good of our planet.”
artondale achievements
It helps that Artondale and Evergreen have new school buildings that will be completed in 2021. Their long-term application shows that school staff and students are also going above and beyond in the areas of health and effective sustainability education.
For example, Artondale participates in a reusable tableware program, reducing waste and saving approximately $1,800 annually, according to the U.S. Department of Education's Green Ribbon School Information Page. This page contains highlights of the 2024 winners.
“Fitness is at the forefront of our students' daily lives and an important part of our staff's health. Our students are outside more than the district mandates, and healthy lunches and snacks are provided.” stated in the announcement.
Artondale students are connected to real-world problems. Examples include annual wind turbine competitions and salmon habitat restoration projects.
Sophia Sundquist high-fives Olly the otter on the first day of class at the newly constructed Artondale Elementary School building on November 22, 2021. The new primary school was one of only 41 schools in the country to win the Ministry of Education's Green Award. Ribbon award winner. Christina T. Henry / Gig Harbor Now
Evergreen appears outdoors
At Evergreen, 64% of students meet federal guidelines for free or reduced lunch. This indicates that the majority of families have low incomes.
The school is committed to equitable access to high-quality STEM education through an outdoor learning environment that engages all grades in outdoor learning, exploration, food growing, composting, and habitat research. The school hosts an outdoor learning transitional kindergarten program.
Evergreen students raise and release salmon, restore native plants, and develop a sense of connection between the environment and civic responsibility. “Students not only feel like they belong here, but they also know they are making a difference,” the program's information page says.
The school's wellness practices include counselors and success coaches who visit each classroom to teach the month's personality traits, weekly student yoga groups, and a wellness coordinator who meets regularly with staff to discuss stress management strategies.
Districts will be awarded in 2022
Evergreen Elementary School, Pioneer Elementary School and Swiftwater Elementary School in the Peninsula School District have been named 2022 Green Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education.
The DOE will invite the award winners to a ceremony in Washington, D.C. “so other schools can learn from their practices.”
The program hosts the Green Strides School Sustainability Resources Hub with a toolkit that all schools can access.
The program is consistent with the Biden administration's recently announced efforts. The White House hosted a Summit on Sustainable and Healthy K-12 School Buildings and Sites on April 26, according to the DOE.
The U.S. Department of Education's Green Ribbon School Awards do not provide federal funding to states, districts, or schools.
