Systemic Sustainability
1.1 Environmental Curriculum & Instruction
1.1 Environmental Curriculum & Instruction
Elementary & middle schools must provide one example of outdoor/environmental instruction per grade level.
High schools must provide four different examples of outdoor/environmental instruction. These examples can be from any grade level but must show four distinct subject areas/classes (which may include multiple different sciences).
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 Green School Awareness
1.2.1 Schoolwide Awareness - Staff
Demonstrate that all school personnel are aware of your school's Green School status and application process.
Acceptable Documentation: Staff meeting agenda or staff sign-in sheet with date and clear description of an all-staff presentation about your Green School efforts; this can be a showing of the MAEOE presentation video on "What it Means to be a Maryland Green School" found on the portal.
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 Schoolwide Celebration
Demonstrate how your school celebrates being a Green School by hosting a schoolwide environmentally-focused event open to all students.
Acceptable Documentation: Photos of students in all grades participating in activities celebrating Earth Day or other environment-themed holidays such as Earth Hour, America Recycles Day, World Water Day, Arbor Day, etc. and/or detailed event agendas or newsletters describing these celebrations.
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.
1.3 Environmental Professional Development for Teachers
1.3 Environmental Professional Development for Teachers
Demonstrate that 10% of instructional staff have completed an environmental PD. Instructional staff is defined as any staff that manages a gradebook.
- New Schools must have all PD completed within the past 2 years.
- Renewing schools must have all PD completed within the past 4 years.
A teacher who has participated in multiple workshops may only be counted once.
Acceptable Documentation: A certificate of completion from any MAEOE training or recommended PD listed on www.MAEOE.org under Professional Learning or any environmental training provided by your school district.
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.
1.4 Sustainable School Practices
1.4.1 Schoolwide Staff Sustainability
Demonstrate the sustainability practices your teachers, staff, and other personnel have implemented school-wide to make your school green. Any actions involving students belong under Objective 2.
Acceptable Documentation: Photos of practices being implemented by staff and/or policy documents that describe sustainable behaviors such as reducing paper use via double-sided copying or electronic communications, de-lamping or using natural light or task lamps to conserve energy; incentivizing carpooling or public transportation; reducing waste in the staff lounge; etc. You may also include the installation of sustainability features at your school such as solar panels, geothermal heating, water bottle refilling stations, etc.
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.
1.4.2 Systemic Partnership
Demonstrate at least one partnership with a central office or board within the school system that supports part of the Maryland Green Schools Program. Any partnerships outside of your school system belong under Objective 3. Independent schools may partner with their board of trustees, parish office/archdiocese, or funders.
Acceptable Documentation: Sustainability plans, letters from district partners, or completed program applications as well as photos of practices being implemented in partnership with your systemic partner.
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.
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The Neighborhood Design Center during Growing Green with Pride event.
Department of the Environment, PG County
No records were added by the school.
Student Action
Schools must document eight total actions that address at least three of the listed sustainability practices.
These are student actions, not adult actions. Adult sustainable actions can be documented in Objective 1.4.
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
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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.
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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.
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The plants from the district.
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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 Outdoor Learning Structures
2.5 Outdoor Learning Structures
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 Indoor Environments
2.7 Healthy Indoor Environments
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 Participatory/Community Science
2.8 Participatory/Community Science
No records were added by the school.
Community Partnerships
Demonstrate that your school is forming long-term partnerships to foster environmental stewardship and cultivate community wellness through real-world connections.
3.1 Community Partnerships
3.1.1 School Active in the Community
Describe at least one environmentally-focused partnership in which your school is working to benefit your community.
Acceptable Documentation: Photos, newsletters, or social media highlighting students participating in an environmental service project such as a local park conservation project, harvesting produce from a farm or school garden to be donated to a food bank, holding a recurring used clothing drive or book swap for the community, or visiting another school to teach other students about the environment.
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
Describe at least one partnership in which a community partner (different from the systemic partner listed in 1.4.2) is providing any type of Green School services to the school that occur within the classroom, school building, or on school grounds.
Acceptable Documentation: Photos, newsletters, or social media highlighting a local business providing funding or in-kind donations for environmental activities, organizations delivering classroom presentations or assemblies on environmental topics, or organizations assisting with school campus projects such as tree plantings and bird box installations.
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.
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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 Additional Achievements
3.2 Additional Achievements optional
Share any environmentally-related awards, special recognition, certifications, or other achievements that your school, staff or students have accomplished.
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.
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