Kawameeh Middle School Awarded Eco-Schools USA Bronze Award

Kawameeh Middle School Awarded Eco-Schools USA Bronze Award

Union, NJ.  June 12, 2014 – Students at Kawameeh Middle School are cleaning up their community and finding creative ways to repurpose trash.  Their efforts in reducing waste and consumption through recycling and upcycling have earned them the Bronze Award with National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools USA program. This international program recognizes and provides free resources to schools integrating sustainability into the curriculum and on school grounds. 

Kawameeh Middle School joined Eco-Schools USA in 2013.  This free and voluntary program has been gaining popularity in the garden state with 117 schools registered throughout New Jersey, up from just 43 last year. To win the Bronze Award schools establish an Eco-Team, conduct an environmental audit, develop an Eco-Action plan, evaluate and monitor the plan and include the community.

Through the Eco-Schools program, schools select from ten environmental focus areas or pathways to work on such as energy efficiency, biodiversity, and sustainable foods.  This year Kawameeh Middle School focused on the consumption and waste pathway.  The school’s Environmental Club meets on a weekly basis to collect recyclables and address waste issues in and around the school.  Students are repurposing milk containers and soda bottles from the cafeteria to become planters for beans and vegetables with plans to transfer these plants to an outdoor garden. Several clean up days were also held to clear trash and debris from the Kawameeh Swamp located behind the school.

 “Our students feel a sense of pride in contributing to the health of our local ecosystem.  The Eco-Schools program is an excellent motivator and a wonderful source of ideas and inspiration to educators as well,” says teacher Shawn Sutton.

The school’s commitment to cleaning up their school and surrounding areas earned them a $500 grant from the Wrigley’s Litter Less Campaign.  This Campaign, coordinated by Eco-Schools with the support of the Wrigley Company Foundation, aims to help schools engage in recycling and waste reduction efforts. 

Jennifer Dowd, Eco-Schools NJ Coordinator, NJ Audubon says, “When students take responsibility for the place that they live and learn it gives them the opportunity to own their experience and their education.  These kinds of learning experiences will last far into their education.”

There are 5 registered Eco-Schools in Union County including Bronze award winners Kawameeh Middle School and Barack Obama Green Charter High School as well as Grace Wilday Junior High School, Walter O. Krumbiegel Middle School, and William Woodruff Elementary School. 

“New Jersey has much to be proud of.  With more than 100 Eco-Schools throughout the state, we are creating the next generation of leaders in science, math, and technology that will be fluent in  sustainability,” says Curtis Fisher, northeast regional executive director, National Wildlife Federation.

About Eco-Schools

Eco-Schools is an international program in 59 countries. The program, hosted by the National Wildlife Federation in the United States, and coordinated by New Jersey Audubon in New Jersey now has 117 schools registered throughout the state.  Eco-Schools USA in New Jersey supports and directly aligns with Sustainable Jersey for Schools point-based system.  With support from PSE&G, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the Horizon Foundation, and Spencer Savings Bank Eco-Schools USA is able to provide a staff person on the ground to help New Jersey schools reach their goals.  For more information: http://www.nwf.org/Eco-Schools-USA.aspx