Stamford Public Schools, Rogers International School Receives Green Ribbon Honors from U.S. Department of Education

Stamford Public School earned a double win last week when the 2015 U.S. Department of Education announced its annual Green Ribbon School awards.

The State Department of Education announced that four schools — including Rogers International School and the Stamford Public School District were among the Connecticut schools selected as Green Ribbon Schools.

The awardees were named last week and in addition to Stamford Public Schools District and Rogers International School, other Connecticut designees include Parkway School in Greenwich, Hartford’s Academy of Engineering and Green Technology, and Westport’s Greens Farms Academy.

Honored schools “greened” their campuses by partnering with local farms to sell produce and promote healthy eating, building a windmill that was shipped to Nepal to power a school, creating a wildlife sanctuary that includes meadows and marshes, and maintaining miles of nature trails, among many other activities.

Here is why the Stamford Public School district won, according to the Connecticut Department of Education:

“They received Green Ribbon recognition for their outstanding focus on energy and resource management across the district resulting in nearly $500,000 in savings a year, while also providing healthy environments for education. “Green” activities include having 12 schools fully vested in the CT Green LEAF program and completing comprehensive self-assessments. Districtwide, Stamford provides curriculum support for STEM showcase events, participation in many outdoor learning activities with environmental partner organizations, creating wildlife habitats. Twelve schools have been recognized as HeathierUS School Challenge Bronze winners for personal health and nutrition support to students.”

And here is what was said about Rogers School efforts:

“Rogers International School in Stamford is a magnet school with an environmental focus, serving 804 K-8 students. Approximately 51 percent of the students in the district receive free- and reduced-price lunch, and 13 percent of the students are English learners. The school provides a unique learning laboratory with its LEED Silver certified building, including rooftop garden, ice storage cooling system, and surrounding marsh and meadows Wildlife Sanctuary. Many lessons are learned outdoors, including a Trout in the Classroom program that releases fish into the Mianus River, fitness challenges, and a service project building a purple martin nesting house for the campus.”

“Connecticut’s young people are among the savviest of next generation environmentalists—it’s imperative that our schools are leading efforts to curb pollution, improve efficiency, and reduce our overall impact on the planet,” Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman said in a statement. “I applaud Connecticut’s 2015 Green Ribbon schools for protecting our environment today and setting us on a course towards a more sustainable future.”

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In total, across the country, 58 schools and 14 districts were honored for their efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health, and ensure effective environmental education, including civics and green career pathways.

This is the fourth year of the Green Ribbon School award program and the third year Connecticut nominated schools for consideration. The honorees were nominated by the Connecticut Green LEAF program, which is free and open to all K-12 schools, both public and private. Through the program, schools receive support to grow greener and focus on “LEAF”: leading, educating, achieving, and fostering healthy, green schools for all.

Currently, 76 schools participate in the program, which operates through a collaboration of the Connecticut Departments of Education, Energy and Environmental Protection, Administrative Services, and Public Health, along with more than 35 environmental and educational partners.

Photo credit: StewartSigns.com.