Monroe School Wins National Green Ribbon Award

HINSDALE, IL — Monroe School was the only elementary school in Illinois to receive the 2018 Green Ribbon School Award from the U.S. Department of Education. The district said the Green Ribbon Award recognizes schools that save energy, reduce costs, feature environmentally sustainable learning spaces and offer environmental education to boost academic achievement.

“I'm extremely proud of the work we are doing in this area,” Principal Justin Horne said in a release. “Educating our students on sustainability and care for the environment will ensure they have a clean world to grow up in."

For 23 years, Monroe has had a hands-on “Living Classroom Learning Lab” for students, including a prairie, butterfly garden, Japanese garden, vegetable garden, pond and bee habitat, the district said.

“This award is another indication that we are ‘Stronger Together’, which is this school year's theme,” said Horne.

Students in K-5 grades learn the importance of the life cycle and learn that nutritional life begins with plants. Kindergartners plant the vegetables and first graders plant the flowers. Throughout the summer, they visit and watch their plants grow, and volunteers, families and neighbors weed. In the fall, the students collect seeds to replant in spring. Students in fourth and fifth grades then study the biodiversity of the pond and observe and research microbes.

The school also sponsors a student Green Club that audits lunch waste, spearheads recycling and upcycling programs, promotes greener practices such as urging parents not to idle their cars in the school pick-up line and encouraging students to reduce lunch waste. The district said the school has also modified its hot lunch program to reduce waste and installed water stations to refill water bottles.

Monroe School also received the Earth Flag and Water Flag from SCARCE for its green practices. SCARCE is a DuPage County based not-for profit that teaches and encourages sustainable practices.

“Monroe has an ongoing commitment to educate and grow responsible citizens and caretakers of our Earth by demonstrating how we incorporate the three pillars in our building, classrooms and programs,” parent and volunteer Carissa Kapcar said in a release.

The three pillars from the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools are:

1. Reduce environmental impact and costs;
2. Improve the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff; and
3. Provide effective environmental and sustainability education.

Image via Shutterstock.