Students soaked beans and dissected the beans in order to determine each part's function. Students then recycled plastic bags from breakfast in order to create a pocket for their personal greenhouses. Students wrapped soaked beans in damp paper towels and placed them in the recycled bags. Students decorated their personal greenhouses and placed them on the windows so the sunlight would be available.

Padonia Fourth Graders participated in a hands on science lesson outside during the Soccket Solution Unit. The students were able to use the solar balloon to see how solar energy from the sun turns into kinetic energy within the solar balloon. The students were able to explore their investigating through feeling and seeing the solar balloon in action.

The fifth grade students went on a field trip to Oregon Ridge Nature Center to participate in a field study where they investigated the biodiversity of a local park. This trip went along with the 5th grade BioBlitz curriculum. After the field trip the students were able to bring the knowledge back to their schoolyard and collect data for the biodiversity in the school area.

The second grade team wrote letters to the Padonia International staff to collect recyclable two liter soda bottles. The second grade students wanted to use the soda bottles to create games of bowling in PE class. The students were able to collect two liter soda bottles, paint them, and use them to play games of bowling in physical education class. This allowed the students to participate in recycling, repurposing, and enjoy a new game in class.

Students in Mrs. Denobrega's pre-k class helped create a mural to go along with their "Our Environment" unit. The reused newspaper to create coral reefs. They also used other recycled materials to help create their mural such as egg cartons and scraps of paper from the copy room. While creating the mural the teacher taught the students about the importance of reusing scraps and items we would often throw away.

Ms. Stuller's class connected their English Language Arts lesson to nature by participating in a nature walk after their read aloud. The students collected data on what items they could find in nature within the school yard. The located how many acorns they found, different leaves, pinecones, and if they saw any squirrels.

The students in Mrs. Santangelo's first grade class took their learning outside when learning about using tally marks. The students used twigs to help them practice using tally marks when counting by 5s. This also allowed students to think of items they can use in nature at home as well when completing any math problem. They were able to connect the math curriculum to the nature that surrounds them.

Padonia International Elementary staff was introduced to the Green School application process at a Monday afternoon staff meeting. The presentation was presented to the staff on September 11th, 2023.The staff was informed on ways they can support the school's recertification process and folder in the shared drive on ways they can document what they are doing in their classroom. The staff helped the Green Team come up with a school wide celebration and ways they can support their students being involved in our green school.

The "Padonia International Creation Station" hosted hands on learning using recycled materials for each activity. The activities that were taking place at this event were as followed; earthquake simulator, solo cup stack, spaghetti and marshmallow towers, mosaics, and recycled marble runs. All of these activities were created to celebrate the schools passion for recycling and investigation with science.

The school is celebrating Earth Day by doing a school wide Earth Day Dress Up Day. This day is an event where all of the Padonia students are dressing up as something in nature. This day is used to spread awareness for Earth Day and excite students about all of the Earth Day activities that are being done in and out of the classroom. After celebrating Earth Day in school there will be a school wide cleanup around the school grounds.

This week was created to celebrate as a whole building. On Monday we turned our lights out for twenty minutes to conserve energy. On Tuesday we participated as a school as a trash free Tuesday. On Wednesday students wore green to support the Earth and going green. On Thursday the students wore animal prints and were able to read stories about different animals in our environment. Lastly, on Friday students spent a portion of their English Language Arts class reading outside.

Padonia teachers attended the 4 out of the 5 sessions. Through this summit we were able to apply and receive a transportation grant through MAEOE. The grant allowed our Green Team member to take a field trip to the MRF in Cockeysville and learn about recycling.

Students and parents participated in a community wide clean up for 2 years. Students removed trash from the perimeter of the public library, tennis court, man made lake, basketball court and baseball field.

Green Team members wanted to encourage the appropriate storage and disposal of masks, so they created signage to reduce inappropriate mask waste; thus keeping masks out of the water drains and Chesapeake Bay.

From 2021- 2023, Padonia water fountains were out of commission, so students needed to fill cups from water coolers. In order eliminate additional waste from plastic cups and plastic water bottles, students from Ms. Kelly's third grade class created signs to encourage students and staff to bring reusable water bottles to school. This helped keep cups and bottles out of Maryland Recycling Facilities.

As part of our "Science Spirit Week" students used natural light, lights from computers, and classrooms lamps for 20 minutes. They also enjoyed read alouds outside to minimize indoor energy.

In order to reduce energy, students would earn 30 minutes of reading with flashlights on Fridays. When "Flashlight Friday" incentives took place, lamps, overhead lighting, and devices were turned off.

Padonia students participate in classroom responsibilities. One responsibility that students can earn is the "Tech Liaison." Each week a specific student in each class is responsible for unplugging LED lights, as well as turning off lamps and Promethean Boards.

As part of our science "Fall Festival" in October of 2023, students opted to bring in reusable containers when bringing lunch to school.

Padonia students separate food, trays, and trash in order to reduce solid waste. This has been a school wide initiative that began in 2021.

Students in the Green Team reused the bags we get our school breakfast in to make green houses. These green houses were displayed in the classroom and the students took them home to talk to their families about growth within a green house.

Students used 2 liter soda bottles to create bowling pins. The students painted the inside of the soda bottles and used them to create a game of bowling.

The students at Padonia International Elementary came to school on a Saturday to weed, add compost, and remove trash from the already established butterfly garden. This maintenance was important in keeping our butterfly garden flourishing.

Students planted native plants to Maryland in the areas surrounding the flagpole in the front of the school yard.

Students used trash grabbers to dispose of trash surrounding the school yard in order to maintain a healthy environment we spent years creating and maintaining.

Maryland SNAP-Ed is a federally funded program within the University of Maryland Extension that creates healthier environments and improves the health and wellbeing of limited income families across Maryland. This year, SNAP-Ed is partnering with BCPS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) and the BCPS Office of Early Childhood Programs to offer the Edibles ABCS program to select schools, complete with tastings provided by FNS and offered through each school’s cafeteria. All food for tastings will come from FNS, therefore students will be tasting items that are offered through the cafeteria during the school year.

Third grade students approached Mr. Degroat about having a "Fit Kids Club". Once Mr. DeGroat agreed,students in grades 3, 4, 5 participate in FIt Kids Club Tuesday mornings at 8:00 am. Students play a variety of sports, as well as exercise prior to their 6 and 1/2 hour school day.

Padonia's Student Council approached a staff member about starting a Soccer Club in 2021. Once Mrs. Moreau agreed to running this club, Fourth FIfth grade students began participating in two different sessions of Soccer Club each year. Students stretch, run and practice soccer drills.

Fourth Grade Students approached Mrs. Eng to begin a Basketball Club. As part of the 2024 SPring incentive, Basketball Club will be offered to fourth and fifth grade students.

The students from Padonia partnered with Baltimore County Litter Blitz to team up with students from Dulaney High School to clean the area around the Cockeysville Library, the County Home Park, and the Padonia International Grounds. Baltimore County Litter Blitz is organized through Clean Green Sustainable Baltimore County. This partnership has continued since its start in 2022.

Padonia International has a partnership with Tried But True clothing consignment. The business has partnered with Padonia to ensure that our students have gently used coats, clothing for school concerts, every day clothing. This allows clothing to be reused and limits clothing in the landfills.

The Maryland Book Bank donated used books to the students at Padonia International Elementary School. These books were donated for kids to take home and read of school break. This gave students the opportunity to recycle books instead of buying new.

Padonia has established a strong partnership with Home Depot that has continued since 2017. Through this partnership Home Depot have donated soil, seeds, trash bags, gloves, trash grabbers, flowers and garden supplies. These donations have allowed our students to create and maintain a butterfly garden and salad table. We are so thankful for this partnership.

Padonia International Elementary School won an award from the office of the food and nutrition services of Baltimore County Public Schools for composting over 10,000 lbs of leftover school lunch.

We received an award from MAEOE for funding a field trip for the Green Team to go to the Maryland Recycling Facility in Cockeysville. This allowed the students to learn more about recycling and how we can take what we learned back to our school community.