Congratulations Green Schools!
Green Schools of Excellence
Jupiter High School
Jupiter High School has been a renowned environmental school in Palm Beach County for nearly two decades and this year was no exception! Jupiter has an environmental academy, where students learn about ecological issues through community service and in-depth field studies. For example, students have completed the academy-required 200 community service hours by volunteering their time to help conduct the longest on-going ichthyology study in the region for the Jupiter Inlet Loxahatchee Initiative. But Jupiter students do not just study ecosystems in Florida, they gain a global perspective on environmental issues by traveling internationally to places like Costa Rica, Belize and Panama. This year, inspired by the Green School Recognition Program, the academy has expanded its efforts and tried to educate and make environmentalism and sustainability a school-wide mission through school ground enhancements and educational campaigns. . Jupiter High school has established themselves as a school where environmental practices are modeled and where an environmental conscious is nurtured among all members of its school.
Morikami Park Elementary
Although this is only Morikami Park Elementary first year with a green program, it has made impressive gains. Environmental issues are integrated into the school’s curriculum through the student’s weekly TV broadcasts on “Green News”, a special math and science lab program that emphasizes the environment, and unique Earth Force activities for after-care students. Morikami has also initiated special partnerships that will help further their environmental aspirations. They have contacted and met with Dream in Green, which is an organization that may be able to bring huge energy savings to PBC schools. Also, they have a business partnership agreement with Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in the works. Morikami has definitely made incredible achievements this year!
Pine Jog Elementary School
Pine Jog Elementary is a unique public school, which integrates a cutting-edge green building design and a comprehensive teacher training to provide a full academic curriculum through the paradigm of environmentalism and resource conservation. Pine Jog Elementary uses its LEED Certified facility, native gardens and trails, and hydroponics garden as laboratories, where students can learn about conservation and preservation. The students at Pine Jog Elementary are at the forefront of its school’s environmental efforts, especially the student group called OWL (Our World LEEDers). Students are in charge of solid waste disposal, examining rainwater collected, analyzing energy conservation using a computer monitoring system, and even leading nature tours off campus. Pine Jog Elementary is making sure that the leaders (LEEDers) of tomorrow are instilled with values of stewardship and conservation.
Green Schools of Quality
Jupiter Middle School
The TreeHuggers, an environmental club at Jupiter Middle School of Technology, are not only saving trees to help the Earth, but a lot more too! Jupiter Middle School saves energy by creating a culture of sustainability and participating in a school-wide campaign to save 8000-kilowatt of electricity per month. Additionally, the recycling program is one of the best in the district- they can recycle anything from crayons to batteries! The students at Jupiter Middle School of Technology learn about environmental issues by educating its community through its campaigns like selling CFL light bulbs and reusable bags within the community. They also partnered with local environmental organizations; for example, the TreeHuggers helped sell green license plates to raise money for Busch Wildlife Sanctuary. More than just the leaves of the trees are looking greener at Jupiter Middle School of Technology.
St. Andrews School
St. Andrew’s School believes that “going green” is a continual process that is about making choices and taking actions that benefit the environment. Sustainability is a priority at St. Andrew’s School. It has installed solar tubes into the classrooms and hallways, dual function water-saving toilets, and many native gardens. Additionally, the school has tried to reduce its environmental impact by using “green” cleaning products, eliminating lunch trays, and recycling paper and plastic products. The students at St.Andrew’s learn about ecological issues through an extensive and interdisciplinary curriculum approach. It is obvious that St.Andrew’s School is taking the appropriate, and much lighter, steps towards a more sustainable future.
Don Estridge High Tech Middle School
Many of the environmental projects at Don Estridge were initiated by its student-driven environmental club called the Green Dragons Club. The Green Dragons began and implemented the recycling program at Don Estridge and then expanded it to include the recycling of e-waste by partnering with local business partners. Additionally, the club has raised money and identified plants and places for natural areas around the school and future restoration projects. Lastly, the students at Don Estridge have learned about environmental issues by performing service learning projects and through interdisciplinary studies. The hard work of the club has triggered everyone to get involved at the school in green initiatives and to realize the importance of responsible stewardship.
Palm Beach Day Academy
Palm Beach Day Academy believes that everyday actions to reduce human impact on the environment make a difference. Palm Beach Day Academy has a culture of sustainability that promotes recycling, energy efficiency, car pooling, bike riding, and waste reduction. Teachers from a variety of subjects play an integral part to “greening” the school by integrating environmental concepts in their curriculum, field trip planning, and using the natural areas on campus as outdoor learning labs. The students, teachers, and faculty at Palm Beach Day Academy have shown that they care about the environment through their actions, both inside and outside the classroom.
Roosevelt Middle School
Roosevelt Middle School has an excellent Environmental Science (E.S.) Magnet that has been working with the administration, faculty and students to make the school as eco-friendly as possible. The students in the magnet excelled at initiating and implementing sustainable innovations for its school. Some of the ecological projects at Roosevelt this year include a native-plant butterfly garden, an eight-columned hydroponics garden used to for the students and community, and recycling programs for both paper and solid waste. It is evident that Roosevelt Middle is invested in sustainability.
Coral Sunset Elementary School
Coral Sunset Elementary is proud to have numerous programs in place that promote green living. Coral Sunset teaches about environmental restoration and ecological concepts using the four native gardens as an outdoor learning lab. Coral Sunset also focuses on The Three R’s by educating the staff, students and parents about ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Additionally, the school’s “Power Ranger” program, which is charge of electricity usage in the classroom, makes Coral Sunset one of the top schools at conserving electricity. Coral Sunset knows that with the help of its students they can make the future “greener”.
Green Acres Elementary School
Green Acres Elementary is highly invested in greening its school. Green Acres has three environmentally themed groups on campus, the Ecology Club, the Gardening Club and the Green Team, which are leading the school towards a greener future. The Gardening Club has actively enhanced the school grounds and their community by planting native trees and shrubs and by participating in public beautification service projects. Meanwhile, the Green Team leads energy conservation efforts by educating others about how to “go green” and by running the school’s recycling program that it uses as fundraiser for more green projects. Green Acres is certainly working hard to make sure their acres of the world are green!
The Benjamin School
The Benjamin School has made a number of changes over the past few years in its effort to become “greener” and make its campus and curriculum reflect the environmental values of its founder, Marshal Benjamin. In order to educate its students about the importance of sustainability and good stewardship of natural resources, the Benjamin School has conducted an interdisciplinary and school-wide study of the Everglades, implemented school grounds enhancement projects related to energy saving and waste reduction, and partnered with organizations to learn more through field trips and guest lectures. Soon the level of environmental consciousness at the Benjamin School may be as legendary as its founder’s.
Timber Trace Elementary School
At Timber Trace, becoming a “greener” school is a priority! The students at Timber Trace have developed a butterfly garden to enhance their school grounds and to use as an outdoor learning environment. Likewise, classes are also assigned an “Adopt a Spot” on campus and are in charge of keeping it clean. In order to conserve energy and become more sustainable, students and teachers at Timber Trace actively try to reduce, reuse and recycle by creating sustainability jobs for students like “Lights Helpers” and “Computer Helpers”, who are in charge of turning off lights and computers. Lastly, Timber Trace incorporates environmental concepts into the curriculum through several environmentally related field trips and service projects. Timber Trace is certainly leaving a lighter trace on the Earth.
Green Schools of Promise
St. Juliana Catholic School
Saint Juliana has set upon their journey on the “Green Brick” Road. Students from all grades participate in school ground enhancement because the students maintain the butterfly garden and the vegetable garden. They also get to taste the sweet rewards because the yummy produce is used and consumed in cafeteria lunches. Additionally, all grades have a special curriculum unit called “Green Alerts” that teach the students how to be responsible stewards of the earth. Saint Juliana will be returning to a home that will be more sustainable than the one they left when they started their journey down the “Green Brick” Road.
Grassy Waters Elementary School
Grassy Waters Elementary is committed to the preservation of natural resources, reducing the amount of energy and waste, and teaching its students to be good stewards of the environment. Grassy Waters and its students exhibit their commitment by maintaining a native plant garden, installing rain barrels, eliminating toxic cleaning chemicals, and partnering with local environmental organizations like the Solid Waste Authority. Grassy Waters is doing a good job of living up to their ecologically-minded name!
Marsh Pointe Elementary School
Although this is only Marsh Pointe’s first year of having a school-wide sustainability program, it has already made really impressive gains! It has developed a “Green Team”, which puts safety patrols in charge of implementing and sorting paper, plastic, glass and aluminum recycling. Additionally, Marsh Pointe’s mission statement includes creating “ethically responsible” citizens, which is certainly evident by the public serve projects that the students complete. Marsh Pointe has many goals for the future and next year including a community celebration of Earth Day called “Ecopalooza”, a vegetable garden, a composter , and expanding its recycling program. The future is beginning to look greener because of Marsh Pointe’s efforts.
Sacred Heart School
Scared Heart Catholic School has implemented many green activities to demonstrate their commitment to their mission of “Going Green to Protect God’s Earth”. In an effort to make their antiquated facilities more sustainable, Sacred Heart has installed energy efficient light fixtures, water saving sensor flush systems, and raised garden beds next to the already existent butterfly garden. Additionally, Sacred Heart has transformed their cafeteria by installing an energy efficient dishwasher, switching to reusable cutlery and dishware, initiating a recycling program, and using composters for any food waste. Students were involved and learned about green issues through these projects as well as through in class environmental studies and field trips. Sacred Heart is certainly not antiquated anymore; it is progressive!
Solomon Schechter Day School of Palm Beach County
Solomon Schechter believes that every organism within in an ecosystem is important and should be valued and preserved. The students at Solomon Schechter learn about different organisms by monitoring an ant farm, bird feeders, a fish aquarium, and plants located at their school. Students experience environmental issues by attending field trips and performing service learning projects off campus as well. Lastly, students at Solomon Schechter value the environment by celebrating and studying their Jewish culture and the many writings and practices it has that teach the importance of preservation. By the actions Soloman Schechter takes, it is obvious that they truly value the Earth
S.D. Spady Elementary School
S.D. Spady is a very green Montessori School. It has a butterfly garden called the “Peace Garden” with many native plants that also serves as an outdoor learning classroom. The Recycling Club, made of 25 students, is in charge of the recycling program at the school as well as producing their own original commercials and movies to promote green living. Furthermore, environmental issues are integrated into the curriculum at all levels through ecological studies, service learning activities, and an Earth Day celebration. S.D Spady’s biggest project, however, is its auction where students sell recycled crafts, home made “green cleaners”, salsa from the school’s garden, and recipe books in order to raise money for the school and to promote “going green”. It looks S.D. Spady is getting just about everyone to “buy” into sustainability!
Summit Christian School
Summit Christian has great enthusiasm and dedication towards green initiatives. Summit Christian has a student run recycling program as well as many other school-wide projects. Students oversee native plantings, energy conservation, and community service activities. Students at Summit Christian are offered a special program called “Winterim” where they can participate in “real world” work force activities and have the freedom to choose environmental jobs. In the near future, Summit Christian plans to save energy by installing its first Sun-Dome and to save water by installing two rain barrels that will be used for irrigation. Summit Christian is doing a great job by producing and implementing creative solutions to the current environmental dilemma!
Bak Middle School
Bak Middle School understands that there is only one Earth, so it is their mission to be stewards of the environment. Bak Middle School has enhanced their school yard by creating a butterfly garden and even a gazebo for wildlife viewing. Additionally, Bak Middle School saves energy by establishing a student group called Green Team Patrols, who make sure lights, computers, and other electrical equipment are turned off when they are not being used. Bak Middle School is also the first Palm Beach County School to print its yearbook on recycled paper. Bak Middle School is certainly doing its duty to keep their campus a model of green responsibility!
Palm Springs Middle School
The student run Going Green Environmental/Recycling Club is leading the way and making Palm Springs a greener school. The Club partnered with the SWA to initiate the school’s very first recycling program and then delivered many emails, memos, and announcements to educate the rest of the school about recycling. The environmental club also enhanced its school ground by planting natives. The environmental club plans to do more beautification projects with the money it worked hard to raise through various fundraisers. The students and faculty at Palm Springs should be very proud of their work.
