Announcement:
We are a Green School!
Welcome to a great adventure for the Strathmore community! The Maryland Green School Awards Program is an integrated approach to authentic learning that incorporates local environmental issue investigation and professional development with environmental best management practices and community stewardship. The Strathmore community has worked hard the past two years in partnership with the GreenKids program to achieve this honor. Representatives from the school will attend a celebration and awards ceremony in June to officially receive this honor. Below is a list of some of the incentives awarded to schools who achieve this honor:
• Maryland Green School flag • Statewide and local county/city recognition • Visibility as a model for other schools and for the local neighborhood • Gifts designed to jumpstart the quest for recertification • Free gift of a native MD tree ** Check out the Green Schools page at the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) website for more info.
"Students, staff and parents develop a solid understanding of basic environmental issues and develop an increased awareness of the interdependence of environmental factors.”
These words summarize our commitment to the school community as we begin our partnership with the Audubon Naturalist Society ANS through the GreenKids program. The two-year grant provides a variety of resources including visits from a naturalist to deliver lessons supporting the science curriculum, support with the SERT program, professional development opportunities, and financial provisions for special projects. A long-term goal of the program is to use this partnership to aid us in the two-year process of becoming a Maryland Green School.
GreenKids Naturalist, Lauren Simpson and her team from the Audubon Naturalist Society have been planning with staff for classroom lessons and field experiences. In October, fourth graders participated in a Stream Study to make real-world connections to their ecosystems unit in science.
While the courtyard was in full bloom Mrs. Tryens and her students continued to monitor the comings and goings of our growing turtle family. In addition, our courtyard has been officially recognized by the National Wildlife Federation as a Certified Wildlife Habitat. Congratulations go out to our entire Strathmore Greenkids team (including the turtles!)
GREENKIDS UPDATE
Strathmore’s Green Team is in full gear. This team of student volunteers is working hard to ensure that our school community is as green as can be. In February, they clearly labeled waste containers in the lunchroom and took a temperature survey of the school building.
GreenKids staff has helped teachers implement Green lessons in the classroom. Learning that common household cleaners contain harmful chemicals, third graders created their own "greener cleaner" from natural products. Fifth graders will be exploring energy usage in their "Watt’s UP?" lesson, and fourth graders will be visiting the Audubon Naturalist Society (ANS) in the spring.
Also this spring, ESOL students from several grades will participate in GreenKids "Salad Science" program in partnership with the ANS, Riderwood Senior Living Community and the Montgomery Master Gardeners. They will work throughout the spring to grow salad greens in a container garden during the months of April and May. The project will culminate with students harvesting and washing the lettuce and enjoying a salad party.
