Thirteen county public schools have earned either their first or second recertifications as Maryland Green Schools, with Arlington Echo receiving sustainable Maryland Green Center status, the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) has announced.
The green school designation is earned over the course of about two years as schools establish an effective, proactive environmental program that includes getting the entire community involved in becoming more environmentally conscious. Successful schools integrate “green” thinking into every aspect of the school experience, from staff professional development to community celebrations. Recertification occurs every 4 years after the initial certification. Sustainable schools/centers demonstrate consistent green school status for 16 years.
The following schools earned their first recertification:
- Edgewater Elementary School
- Lake Shore Elementary School
- Waugh Chapel Elementary School
- Severna Park High School
The following schools earned their second recertification:
- Belvedere Elementary School
- Central Elementary School
- Hebron-Harman Elementary School
- Jones Elementary School
- Linthicum Elementary School
- Piney Orchard Elementary School
- Rolling Knolls Elementary School
- South Shore Elementary School
- Arundel High School
The following facility was named a Sustainable Green Center:
- Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center
With 129 schools and centers now with Green School status, more than half of AACPS facilities have completed the challenging process to earn the state’s highest recognition of environmental literacy.
Established nearly 20 years ago, the Maryland Green School Program celebrates Maryland’s model environmental education efforts as seen through extensive projects that address at least two of the following areas: energy, water, waste, habitat restoration, transportation, healthy school environment, and/or structures for outdoor learning. After demonstrating a sustained culture of environmental action and awareness, schools are encouraged to seek recertification every four years.