Ocean City Primary School Receives $10K Grant From Sustainable Jersey For Schools

OCEAN CITY, NJ — The Ocean City Primary School is one of four schools statewide that received a $10,000 Sustainable Jersey for Schools grant funded by the PSEG Foundation, Sustainable Jersey announced Wednesday morning. The others were John Brainerd Elementary School in Mount Holly, Burlington County; South Orange Middle School in Essex County; and Hedgepeth-Williams Middle School in Trenton. Another 30 schools received $2,000 grants at an event held in Ewing on Tuesday.

The Ocean City Primary School will use their grant to expand their School Garden and Sustainability Education program. The garden and outdoor classroom will be expanded to cater to students in every grade. It will also incorporate math into gardening and sustainability lessons.

The expansion will consist of a butterfly garden, a native bird garden, raised planting beds for vegetables, a composting bin area, benches, a memorial garden, and a grid patio for math and science lessons.

“The grant provides a tremendous opportunity to advance sustainability at the Ocean City Primary School,” Mrs. Scotty Keiluhn, Secretary to the Superintendent of the Ocean City School District, said. “All of our district's campuses are located just blocks from the bay on one side and the ocean on the other, which provides Ocean City's students with a particularly strong affinity with the natural environment and healthy living. The program funded by PSEG Foundation through a Sustainable Jersey grant will encourage every student to take an active part in growing healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables, while also incorporating lessons in science, math, writing, social studies, art and other subject areas. With designated gardens for each grade level, this will truly be a collaborative, school-wide endeavor.”

Ocean City was one of the first school districts to register for the Sustainable Schools for Jersey program when it launched. The Ocean City Intermediate School also has a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat in their courtyard/school garden that they use for an outdoor classroom.

Sustainable Jersey for Schools is a certification program available for New Jersey public schools that want to go green, conserve resources, and take steps to create a brighter future. The nonprofit provides tools, training, and financial incentives to support and reward districts as they pursue sustainability programs.

As a registered school district, Ocean City receives priority access to grant programs and is eligible for even more small grants. A total of 256 districts and 36 schools are registered with Sustainable Jersey for Schools.
Proposals for this round of grants were evaluated by an independent Blue Ribbon Selection Committee.

“To be an innovative state, we must support our teachers, administrators and their respective communities as they shape the future of their students and schools for years to come,” Sustainable Jersey Executive Director Randall Solomon said. “Grant funding will build capacity as schools embark on sustainability projects that directly benefit the students.”

The PSEG Foundation has contributed over $1 million in funding to the Sustainable Jersey Small Grants Program.

“We are proud to partner with Sustainable Jersey to support and help fund projects that provide sustainable neighborhoods, economic development and STEM education to empower a brighter future,” PSEG Foundation President Ellen Lambert said. “By supporting sustainable education in schools, we can help guide children and engage entire communities in the ways to help transform the environment.”

Patch file photo