Systemic Sustainability
1.1 Curriculum and Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
1.1 Activities
Elementary & middle schools: At least one example of outdoor and/or classroom environmental investigations instruction per grade level.
High schools: At least one example in at least four subjects for high school; can be non-science subjects, but can also be multiple science subjects, for example chemistry and biology.
All: include a brief explanation.
Ms. Kirkman talked about the importance of individual contribution to the climate change. She asked her child development students to design posters that reflected the need to take steps on climate change and care for the Earth.The students drew posters and contributed towards the earth day.
Students creating posters in Ms. Kirkman's class.
Posters were displayed on various display boards all around the school on the Earth Day.
Ms. Holloway guided the ART students to recycle milk cans and convert them into planter pots. The students painted the cans and these were later used in the Farmer's market by the Green team. The cans represented the students' own design and creativity towards Nature. These can were created by her Special needs students.
Students decorated the recycled milk cans to created planter pots.
These cans were used to plant marigold, tomato seeds and were distributed in the farmer's market.
Mr. Sor talked about Climate change in his IB Spanish class and its issues concerning globally. The entire lesson was based on climate change. The students had to listen to the audio and write about it. They had an engagement question based on it .heir classwork assignment was also on the issues of climate change.
Mr. Sor's Spanish class on Global warming.
Ms. Mahajan's IB students worked on their diorama projects to create an ecosystem and demonstrate ONE environmental issue plaguing the environment. The students demonstrated and expressed wonderful creativity in demonstrating the ecosystem as well as the environmental issue plaguing it.
The students created dioramas on ONE environmental issue plaguing the environment.This was about the polar ecosystem and the climate change melting the polar ice caps.
Around 150 Environmental Science students and the IB ESS students worked in groups to create action projects on climate change.The students designed their climate change action projects on varied topics from measuring their own carbon footprint to student mental health due to climate change. They worked on exploring the residential, community and the school's recycling behaviors.
The Environmental Science students designed their climate change action projects about energy audit.
The Environmental Science students designed their climate change action projects on mental health. They took surveys of their peer group.
The IB Environmental Science students designed their climate change action projects 0n Plastic pollution and the teenage behavior.
1.2 Professional Development
1.2.1 School Wide Awareness of Green School Certification
All staff are aware of the Green School application process. A MAEOE Green Leader or school Green Team leader should present information at all-school staff meeting.
At the pre-service staff meeting in the beginning of the school year, introduction to the Green school and the certification process was discussed. mrs. Mahajan talked about Central HS being a Green School and how sharing Green Team s work would be a part of evidence for the recertification process.
At the pre-service staff meeting in the beginning of the school year.
Principal's agenda for the pre-service staff meeting.
This is the documentation of the pre-service week agenda shared by the Asst. Principal Ms. Davis.
This is the screen shot of the email sent by the principal for the pre-service week agenda.
1.2.2 Environmental Education Professional Development
At least 10% of teachers have participated in an environmental education PD in the past 2 years (if first time applicant) or 4 years (if a re-certifying school).
For the staff of 50 members, we had the Litter management workshop from the DoE, PG County. A Zoom meeting was conducted during the Department meetings. Jan 18-Feb 8,2023
For the staff of 50 members, we had the Litter management workshop from the DoE, PG County. Ms. Tiaa Rutherford was the presenter. A Zoom meeting was conducted during the Department meetings. Ms. Rutherford talked about various waste management activities the district has initiated. The staff enjoyed her workshop and had active discussions. Jan 18-Feb 8,2023
Zoom Meeting- Litter management Section, Prince George's Department of Environment reviews Marine Debris Program information
Sign-in of the attendees for the PD by Litter Management Manager from the DoE.
For the staff of 50 members, we had the Litter management workshop from the DoE, PG County. A Zoom meeting was conducted during the Department meetings. Jan 18-Feb 8,2023
Staff sign in during collaborative meetings.
For the staff of 50 members, we had the Litter management workshop from the DoE, PG County. Ms. Tiaa Rutherford was the presenter. A Zoom meeting was conducted during the Department meetings. Jan 18-Feb 8,2023
Staff sign in during collaborative meetings.
For the staff of 50 members, we had the Litter management workshop from the DoE, PG County. Ms. Tiaa Rutherford was the presenter. A Zoom meeting was conducted during the Department meetings. Jan 18-Feb 8,2023
Staff sign in during collaborative meetings.
For the staff of 50 members, we had the Litter management workshop from the DoE, PG County. Ms. Tiaa Rutherford was the presenter. A Zoom meeting was conducted during the Department meetings. Jan 18-Feb 8,2023
Staff sign in during collaborative meetings.
For the staff of 50 members, we had the Litter management workshop from the DoE, PG County. Ms. Tiaa Rutherford was the presenter. A Zoom meeting was conducted during the Department meetings. Jan 18-Feb 8,2023
Staff sign in during collaborative meetings.
For the staff of 50 members, we had the Litter management workshop from the DoE, PG County. Ms. Tiaa Rutherford was the presenter. A Zoom meeting was conducted during the Department meetings. Jan 18-Feb 8,2023
Staff sign in during collaborative meetings.
For the staff of 50 members, we had the Litter management workshop from the DoE, PG County. Ms. Tiaa Rutherford was the presenter. A Zoom meeting was conducted during the Department meetings. Jan 18-Feb 8,2023
Staff sign in during collaborative meetings.
For the staff of 50 members, we had the Litter management workshop from the DoE, PG County. Ms. Tiaa Rutherford was the presenter. A Zoom meeting was conducted during the Department meetings. Jan 18-Feb 8,2023
Staff sign in during collaborative meetings.
1.2.3 Additional Professional Development optional
Received earlier than 4 years ago. Information should include dates, length of time, teachers' names, grade levels, and numbers of teachers.
These additional professional development activities do not count in the 10% requirement in 1.2.2.
People, Oysters, and the Bay Workshop, SERC.
- The workshop was held at the Reed Education Center located on SERC campus. The workshop, Oysters, bay and the People was a 2 day workshop. It talked about various topic ranging from life cycle of oysters to outdoor education. We visited an Oysters seeding factory too.
The invite email for the workshop.
Meeting the Oysters.
Learning the Anatomy of Oysters.
Mussel Restoration Program with AWS.
Mussels in the river.
Restoration at AWS.
learning to measure the Mussels.
1.3 Sustainable Schools
1.3.1 School-wide Environmental Behavior Change
Demonstrate the non-student driven sustainability practices your school has taken school-wide to make your school green. If there is student involvement, the actions should be documented under Student-Driven Sustainability Practices in Objective 2.
Compost. We have a school garden and the staff members contribute towards it. they bring their compost from home and dump it in the garden compost. They were appreciated on the Green News and celebrations.
email complimenting the staff members for contributing towards composting.
Staff bringing in materials for compost at school.
1.3.2 Systemic Partnership
Demonstrate one partnership within the school system that supports an aspect of the Maryland Green School Program. This partnership needs to reach beyond your individual school to the "higher" or central office level.
Schmidt Center: Provided recommendations to 'Growing Green with Pride" Department of the Environment, PG County. Smithsonian and the WWF. Stream team
Smithsonian and WWF as partners
The Neighborhood Design: Received 80 plants and 18 trees from the district under the Growing Green with pride program.
The Neighborhood Design Center during Growing Green with Pride event.
Department of the Environment, PG County
1.4 Celebration
1.4 Celebration
At least one school-wide, annual environmental event with a brief description of the celebration, the number of students involved.
The students celebrated the Earth Day, Apr 22,2022. They did trash cleanup, made posters for awareness.
The students celebrated the Earth Day, April 22,2022. They did trash announcement on the PA system in 6 different languages. They also did Trash cleanup, made posters for awareness.
Students putting up posters and banners.
Students announcing the celebration in different languages.
Students announcing the celebration in 6 languages.
Conducting a trash clean up in the woods.
Student-Driven Sustainability Practices
Schools are required to submit information and documentation for actions in all Eight sustainability categories These actions must be from three or more practices.
These are student actions not adult actions. Adult sustainable actions can be documented in Objective 1.3.1
2.1 Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention
2.1 Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention
Around 20 students of the Green team conducted a stream trash clean up on April 20, 2022.
trash clean up
trash clean up
2.2 Energy Conservation
2.2 Energy Conservation
Students took action to bring awareness to Conserve energy at the school. They performed investigatory action projects and assessed the school's energy conservation.
Action Project by students
Investigated various classrooms
Created a visual data.
2.3 Solid Waste Reduction
2.3 Solid Waste Reduction
The students collected plastic bottles and created fences around the flower beds.
re-Using plastic bottle for boundary of garden bed.
re-Using plastic bottle for boundary of garden bed.
The students conducted a trash audit with the Smithsonian in order to plan for their future action for the school. Around 40 students participated in this event.
Students listening to Dr. Coyle for trash audit.
The students separating the lunch trash.
Students measuring each component of the trash.
The Green team cleaned the recycle bins, put recycle bins in the hallways and put up posters all around the school to make Central Hallways Trash Free.
The students collecting plastic from classroom.
Collecting plastic from the hallway.
Putting empty recycle bins in the hallway.
2.4 Habitat Restoration
2.4 Habitat Restoration
The Green Team received plants from the Home Depot to make their school more green.
Creating new habitats on empty spaces.
Creating new habitats on empty spaces.
The school received 80 plants and trees from the district. Around 150 students participated in creating new habitats.
Before the planting.
Students working on the empty spots in the school premises.
The plants from the district.
Students planting Trees.
Filling empty spaces with Plants.
Working with the Forestry Dept. and learning to plant and mulch.
Learning to plant and create new habitats.
2.5 Structures for Environmental Learning
2.5 Structures for Environmental Learning
No records were added by the school.
2.6 Responsible Transportation
2.6 Responsible Transportation
No records were added by the school.
2.7 Healthy Home/School Environment
2.7 Healthy Home/School Environment
The Green team organised a Farmer's market and gave out fresh vegetables to the staff and students for free. The Farmer's market even continued over the summer.
The produce! bell peppers, green chillies, squashes
Tomatoes, squashes, green chillies.
Using tires to grow green peppers.
A free farmer's market at school. Marigold plants, tomato plants
2.8 Citizen Science / Community Science
2.8 Citizen Science / Community Science
No records were added by the school.
Community Partnerships, Awards and Special Recognition
Community partnerships are important for schools to be successful in building long-term sustainable practices.
3.1 Community Partnerships
3.1.1 School Active in Community
At least one sustained partnership where the school is active in the community.
The students did trash clean up on the cabin branch road.
Trash Clean up.
They restore and protect our local watershed. With the students they work on-
1) Clearing litter and other natural debris (Mostly tree trimmings) from the litter trap installed on Cabin Branch road. 2) Sorting litter cleared from the river by category (Gloves will be provided) 3) Recording counts and weights of items we will clean from the river. 4) Assist our team with photo and video documentation of watershed activity
student bringing an iron wheel near the trash trapper.
Students working to collect trash from around the trash trapper.
Students getting ready to work for the river.
3.1.2 Community Active in the School
At least one sustained partnership where the partner is active in the school.
The Smithsonian and the WWF entered into the partnership with Central High School's Green team. They come after 2 weeks and work with the students.
The Green team partnered with the neighbourhood design and the forestry department to create new habitats in the school.
Dr. Coyle and Ms. Jessica Lung with the green team.
Ms. Tiaa Rutherford from the DoE, visited the Green Team for a workshop on Litter management.
Ms. Tiaa Rutherford from the DoE, visited the Green Team for a workshop on Litter management
The students participated in the District's initiative of growing green with pride. The Neighborhood Design Center and the Forestry Department collaborated to make the event a super success.
Ms. Laura Robinson working with the Green Team.
Joe's stream Team came to the school and provided stream litter management literacy to clean the stream in the neighborhood.
Community partners from the Stream Team were at school to provide stream water litter management literacy.
3.2 Awards and Special Recognition
3.2 Awards and Special Recognition optional
Information here enhances your application. If your school or students have received awards or special recognition, include a few sentences describing the activity, grade level, number of students who participated, and date.
Good Morning Washington, in collaboration with PGCproud, did aTV piece on Ms. Mahajan, the green Team leader from Central High School. Ms. mahajan was the first in the series on PGproud introduced by the district.
Interview with Good Morning Washington, in collaboration with PGCproud
The article by PGproud.
Central High School's Green team and Environmental Science students were recognised for their contribution towards recycling by the District's program sponsored by Camp schmidt.
The award ceremony via zoom.
