WVCSD schools receive Green Ribbon Schools award
U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools include Park Avenue Elementary and Warwick Valley High School
Representatives from the Warwick Valley Central School District receive Green Ribbon awards. Shown from left: Frank Brogan, U.S. Dept. of Education; Sharon Davis, WVCSD BOE President; Cindy Leandro, WVCSD Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources; James Yap, WVCSD Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction; Sandra Wood, Park Avenue Elementary Principal; Dr. Larry Washington, Warwick Valley High School Principal; Lynn Lillian, WVCSD BOE Member; Dr. David Leach, WVCSD Superintendent; Adam Honeysett, U.S. Dept. of Education.
Park Avenue Elementary School and Warwick Valley High School were among forty-six schools and six districts recently honored at the 2018 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools ceremony for their innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and costs, promote better health, and ensure effective environmental education.
In addition, six colleges and universities were recognized with the Postsecondary Sustainability Award. Representatives from honored schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions received sustainably crafted plaques in recognition of their achievements.
On hand for the ceremony at the U.S. Commerce Department were Assistant U.S. Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education Frank Brogan, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Education Director Louisa Koch, Director of the Campaign for Environmental Literacy James L. Elder and Director of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council Anisa Heming.
“Today’s honorees can be proud of what they have accomplished in their local communities,” Brogan said. “They have reduced institutional operating costs and helped conserve our precious natural resources, while engaging students in authentic sustainability learning in safe, healthy and inspiring environments.”
“Our children are the hope and promise for our future and an even better future for generations to come,” Koch said. “The U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools recognition awards honor what the students, teachers and staff are doing to make the world a better place.”
“Over the past seven years, U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools have helped to define what it means to be a sustainable school and how to effectively offer environmental education, so it’s my pleasure to celebrate this work annually,” Elder said.
“U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools support students’ development into responsible, compassionate and engaged citizens,” Heming said. “We applaud these outstanding schools, districts and postsecondary institutions for improving educational facilities to promote health and environmental stewardship, and for ensuring students have an opportunity to engage in real-world learning about the natural environment and the world around them. We also commend the U.S. Department of Education’s continued commitment to highlighting these schools’ successes through this program.”
The honorees were named from a pool of candidates nominated by 25 states and the Department of Defense’s Department of Education Activity. The selectees include 40 public schools, including two magnet schools and two charter schools, as well as six nonpublic schools. Forty-five percent of the 2018 honorees serve a disadvantaged student body.