Students in Intermediate French class read and analyzed articles in French about sustainable energy. Then they created posters about the different types of sustainable energy in French.

8th grade students went on a field trip to Dundee Creek to explore the ecosystem, water quality, and native species in the area. They collected water samples and examined pH and salinity of the water.

8th grade students went on a VIRTUAL field trip to Dundee Creek (during the COVID shutdown) with Joe Davis and Matt Budinger to learn about the natural ecosystems, water quality, and native species in Maryland.

Students in all grades participated in a recycled art fashion show using recycled materials to create fashionable pieces. Students worked on these pieces for 4 weeks!

7th grade students went outside and learned about the flora and fauna on campus in order to create posters to use for next year's new 6th graders who will learn about ecosystems and native species at CMS.

Students learned about climate change and how this is affecting weather. They designed hurricane houses that can withstand high winds.

8th grade students in Ms. Gill's American History class learned about Maryland and the state bird, state flower, tree, and symbol in order to examine the significance of nature and how it relates to history.

In honor of America Recycles Day, PE classes did recycle relays for all grade levels. Students had to take cards of items and run them down to the bins (either recycled or not recycled) to learn about which items can and cannot be recycled.

7th grade students in art class created underwater ecosystems to learn about the different types of plants and animals that live in the ocean ecosystem. Students had to research their underwater ecosystem first before creating their artwork.

6th grade students participated in a biodiversity scavenger hunt to find the difference between living and nonliving factors in their environment.

6th grade students participated in a weathering and erosion scavenger hunt around the school campus to investigate how much our school grounds have changed over the years and the effects this plays on the flora and fauna.

6th grade ELA Special Education students participated in a Philosophical chairs activity to discuss the effects of hurricanes and climate change. Students are reading "Zane and the Hurricane" in ELA.

Students in Ms. Kachik's World Cultures class examined the effects pollution has on the Ganges River and what are the solutions to stop it.

Students had to research light waves and explore alternative forms of energy in order to create posters about wind, solar, and hydroelectricity.

Students researched native Maryland species in order to create a wanted poster to showcase why native species are important to our ecosystem. Students had to find out the habitat, population numbers, environmental and human threats to the species and then come up with an action plan on how to help increase the population of this native species.

Students in the FALS and CALS Special Education program visited the Maryland Zoo and National Aquarium in order to learn about animal habitat, nutrition, and conservation strategies.

Presented a Google slideshow updating staff on the green practices our school has done in the past few years and the Green School application process.

A few years ago, CMS had a Green School Committee who was in charge of gathering evidence of environmental changes and practices around the school. This committee consisted of teachers, staff, and one parent. Then COVID hit and shut everything down. Now that we have less BCPS mandatory meetings, we have not been able to reorganize a Green School Committee.

Earth Day 2021 was called a "Hybrid Earth Day" because this was just after the COVID shutdown. We had only been back in the building for 3 weeks before Earth Day so only half of the students were in the building and the other half were at home, online. We developed a "school wide" Earth Day event where each student and teacher could choose an activity that worked for them whether they were at school or at home. The email letter below outlined the events teachers could do with their students, books they could choose to read, and the slides that were posted on the announcements. The pictures are of some of the Earth Day activities that students participated in.

CMS did a school-wide Earth Day celebration where every grade did either a trash pick up around the school (at different times during the day) or an Earth Day Scavenger Hunt. Classes also took a "pledge" to do at least one green activity during the year. Our principal, Mr. Carney, did a school-wide announcement out in front of the school as well. Our advisory classes were also able to choose from an "Earth Day Choice Board" to do environmental activities and games (see Google slide attached).

This year students at CMS participated in a school-wide Lights Out event in honor of Energy Awareness month and Halloween. During the last 15 minutes of school, all classes turned all their lights out. Then, when the lights came back on, teachers talked about the importance of energy conservation using a pre-selected video, an energy usage quiz, and a slideshow.

Our Green Club created a bulletin board to display all the wonderful environmental/green things going on around the school. The bulletin board was displayed in the front lobby for two months for every student and staff to see as they walked by.

Virtual workshop incorporating DEIJA approaches into Environmental Education training with Lacy Consulting Services and MAEOE.

Environmental Literacy training with MAEOE to incorporate environmental education standards into the curriculum.

Natural History Society of Maryland presented a red carpet event called, "Sharkfest" to learn about the ecology, habitat, anatomy, and evolution of the shark.

Nature Forward presented an online training for recertifying green schools called, "Simple Strategies for the Green Classroom".

MAEOE sponsored a 5-part training series about using the outdoors as a classroom with an emphasis on evaluating the school grounds for outdoor learning.

Attending the Field Ornithology workshop at the Audubon Hog Island Camp coming up for the summer of 2023.

Participated in 4 planning sessions for the BCPS Goes Green program that ran during the 2020_2021 "virtual" school year. Headed up the Events and Forums committee that was run by Matt Budinger.

Attended the BCPS Camp Puh'tok Site Visit and Field Trip Preparation PD Session to learn about the opportunities available to bring students outside and learn about nature and Native American traditions.

Ms. Flemmings took a Discovery Ed training called "Ignite My Future" to learn about STEM education and career options in the computer science field.

Jennifer Wong participated in the Maryland Watershed Educational Experiences and Outdoor Education seminar in order to learn about promoting outdoor education in her classes.

Our Green Club removed trash and installed leaf packets to clean up the stream and create habitats for stream animals.

Students created signs to promote awareness for water conservation that encourages others to bring their own water bottles to school to fill up!

A rain barrel was installed in the CMS courtyard to help conserve water. The water from the rain barrel will be used to water the native plants put in this year.

Students used templates to remind teachers and students to use natural light instead of electrical lights in order to save energy. They also created wind turbines and researched the benefits of wind power.

Green Club members took a tour of the boiler room and learned about the energy it takes to run a school. They also got some great energy saving tips from two experts from the Office of Facilities Support who came to give a talk to them.

CMS students participated in the 2020 Clean Air Partners poster contest "virtually" by submitting their artwork online into the contest. Three students won "honorable mentions" in the contest (see attached posters).

Every year from 2019 - 2022, CMS has participated in America Recycles Day on November 15th. The pictures below are a sampling from each year. In 2021, we had a "virtual" America Recycles Day where students participated remotely.

Students participate in "Trash-free Tuesdays" to reduce the amount of waste in the cafeteria.

Students organized a battery recycling drive and collected batteries throughout the year. All the batteries were taken to the Waren Road electronic waste area to be recycled.

Students in the art classes repurposed materials to make art out of. Students also used their love of nature to take photos of while they were virtual!

Students collected milk and juice containers in the cafeteria at lunch and rinsed them out to create planters. These planters will be used to plant flowers to give to teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week.

Science classes took a walking field trip to the outdoor classroom and creek on our CMS campus to study habitats.

Students in the Green Club removed invasive plants and replaced them with native plants in our courtyard to attract bees and Monarch butterflies.

During the COVID shut down, our Green Club continued to run virtually. Bird feeder kits were delivered to each member and were then created together online. Students hung their bird feeders at their homes and community parks.

During the COVID shut down, our Green Club continued to run virtually. Bird house kits were delivered to each member and were then created together online. Students hung their bird houses at their homes and community parks.

Students helped clean up the outdoor courtyard in order for it to be used as an outdoor classroom for our smaller classes and Special Education classes.

Students regularly use the courtyard as an outdoor classroom or to have lunch.

Students collected trash in the CMS outdoor classroom by the stream to get it ready for classes to use during the school year.

Students in different art classes used the outdoors to get inspiration and draw different things in nature.

Students in 6th grade science classes studying the effects of weathering and erosion around the campus. They used all of Cockeysville's outdoor space and the enjoyable sunshine to explore these effects.

Students participated in the Walk and Roll to School day in October 2022. CMS has a large number of students who either bike or walk to school on a daily basis.

Students engaged in healthy lifestyle choices by participating in the running club at Cockeysville.

Students engaged in healthy lifestyle choices by participating in the running club at Cockeysville.

Students in Green Club created green cleaners to distribute to teachers around the school in order to promote healthier air quality in the classrooms.

CMS partnered with Padonia International Elementary to participate in the Baltimore County EcoBlitz and clean up litter in our community.

CMS teamed up with the Central Girl Scouts of Maryland to participate in the Project Stream Clean at the Loch Raven Reservoir.

CMS partnered with Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education to present online forums during the COVID shutdown that had middle schools deliver environmental messages to elementary schools.

Paige Demski visited CMS to talk to our Green Club about how to compost and the benefits of composting.

Each year (except the COVID shutdown years) Cockeysville Middle School students have participated in the Youth Summit. In May of 2022, we attended the Virtual Youth Summit that was presented by MAEOE.

Maddie Essig from Dulaney High School gave many virtual presentations to our Cockeysville students about the impact of plastics in the environment.

During "Hybrid Earth Day" in April of 2021, CMS was the award winner for all the middle school participants in the BCPS Green 60 Challenge which showcased environmental efforts throughout the school.

Green Team Teacher, Jennifer Sheggrud was awarded the Green Team Teacher Stipend for all of her hard work with the Maryland Green Schools Program.

Green Team Teacher, Autumn DeBorde was awarded the Green Team Teacher Stipend for all of her hard work with the Maryland Green Schools Program.