91社区 Pine Jog Transforms Annual Green Schools Celebration
91社区 took a new approach this year to honor winners of its 2020 Green Schools Awards.听聽Foregoing a traditional ceremony, the center created a series of more than 30 award videos to showcase the exceptional efforts of local schools that are 鈥済oing green鈥 as participants in the center鈥檚 nationally recognized Green Schools Recognition Program (GSRP).
鈥淚n these challenging times, it is especially important to celebrate these schools,鈥 said Ray Coleman, executive director of 91社区 Pine Jog. 鈥淏y their example, they are teaching students and families how to grow their own food, conserve household resources, improve their health and well-being, restore neighborhood habitats, and use creativity to solve complex challenges in our natural world. These schools are sowing the seeds for a more resilient, sustainable future for all of us.鈥
A record 134 public and private schools in Palm Beach and Martin counties earned 鈥淕reen School鈥 status from 91社区 Pine Jog this year for their efforts to take a holistic, school-wide approach to environmental stewardship and sustainability. Participants represent聽38 percent of all schools, and nearly half of all district-run schools, in Palm Beach and Martin counties.听聽Coordinated in collaboration聽with the School District of Palm Beach County (SDPBC) and the Martin County School District (MCSD), the GSRP is funded by 91社区 Pine Jog, with additional support from the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County and Florida Power & Light.听聽The program relies on local organizations, agencies and businesses to serve as school mentors, application judges, and award sponsors each year.
Participants had just submitted their green school applications when schools were forced to transition to remote teaching this March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.听聽The program鈥檚 annual awards ceremony, which draws nearly 400 teachers, students, and school leaders each May, was one of countless milestone events squelched by the virus.听聽
鈥淲e knew we would have to be innovative to celebrate our 2020 awardees,鈥 said Anne Henderson, director of education at 91社区 Pine Jog. 鈥淭hey had already done such incredible work to green their schools this year.鈥
Rather than an聽online ceremony, the center opted to create individual award videos that could serve as an ongoing resource for participants.听聽Award sponsors enthusiastically pitched in to pre-record their presentations for each of the awardees, and program staff incorporated photos from each school鈥檚 application to illustrate their unique initiatives. All award videos (linked below) will remain archived on 91社区 Pine Jog鈥檚 website.
聽鈥淭hese videos showcase the best of our schools鈥 green accomplishments,鈥 Henderson said. 鈥淏ut they also serve as a toolbox of ideas for other schools. We hope schools will continue to view them and find inspiration for new green initiatives and partnerships, even beyond our two counties.鈥澛
Each award comes with a聽cash prize, totaling more than $14,500 distributed by 91社区 Pine Jog to Palm Beach and Martin County schools and individuals for their exceptional green school programs and practices. All cash awards are intended to help local schools continue to grow their green projects next year.听
Top award recipients were聽聽winning first place and $2,000;聽聽taking second place and $1,000; and聽聽receiving third place and $750.
In addition, Judge鈥檚 Choice Awards recognized specific categories. Award sponsors, amount, winning schools and specific categories are as follows:
- Audubon Society of the Everglades awarded $500 to聽聽for habitat improvement.
- Before It鈥檚 Too Late awarded $250 to聽聽for overall green school culture.
- City of West Palm Beach Office of Sustainability awarded $500 to聽聽for the WPB Green My School Award.
- Environmental Quality, Inc., awarded $250 to聽聽for student-led initiatives.
- Florida Federation of Garden Clubs District X awarded $250 to聽聽for habitat improvement.
- Florida Power & Light聽awarded $500 to聽聽for energy conservation.
- FUNraising Dollars awarded $250 to聽聽for green fundraising.
- The Garden Club of Stuart awarded $250 to聽聽for gardening.
- A Green Angel (Anonymous) awarded $250 each to聽听补苍诲听聽for best green school videos.
- Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful, Inc., awarded $300 each to聽聽for the Go Native Award and聽聽for the Rookie Green School Award.听
- Loggerhead Marinelife Center awarded $250 to聽聽for the Blue Leader Award.
- Loxahatchee River District鈥檚 River Center awarded $250 to聽聽for water conservation.
- Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County awarded $500 each to聽听补苍诲听聽for best vegetable gardens.
- Oleander Garden Club of the Palm Beaches awarded $300 to聽聽for outstanding school garden.
- School District of Palm Beach County鈥檚 Wellness Task Force awarded $250 to聽聽for health and well-being.
- Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group awarded $500 to聽聽for the Foot & Pedal Power Award.
- Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County awarded $500 to聽聽(first place) and $250 to聽聽(second place) for solid waste reduction and conservation.
- Susan Toth Outstanding Outdoor Environmental Education Award of $500 went to聽.
- West Palm Beach Garden Club awarded $250 to聽聽for the Molly Sims Best Butterfly Learning Garden Award.
The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County (SWA) sponsored four additional awards to recognize facilities and food service personnel for their significant contributions to school sustainability efforts.听
, head custodian at Highland Elementary School, was named Green Facilities Staff Member of the Year and received $500.听聽, head custodian at Boca Raton Community High School, received $250 as the runner-up for this award. The Green Food Service Staff Member of the Year was聽, cafeteria manager at Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School, who received $500.听聽, cafeteria manager at Orchard View Elementary School, received $250 as the runner-up in this category.听聽
, an eighth-grader at Palm Beach Day Academy, was named the Green Student of the Year and awarded a $500 scholarship for dedication to greening his school.听聽, principal of H. L. Johnson Elementary School, was nominated by her school for Green Principal of the Year and was awarded $500. Green Teacher of the Year was awarded to聽聽of Atlantic Community High School who聽received $500 for her exemplary commitment to green learning.听
To learn more about the Green Schools Recognition Program and awardees, contact Anne Henderson at聽ahender8@fau.edu聽or Lauren Butcher at聽lbutcher2013@fau.edu.听
Pine Jog Environmental Education Center is a unit of the College of Education at 91社区. Established in 1960, Pine Jog is dedicated to developing, researching, and disseminating highly effective educational programs and services that cultivate environmentally literate and engaged citizens.听聽For more information, contact Pine Jog at 561-686-6600 or visit聽.
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