UPDATE: Prospect Sierra Named National Green Ribbon Award Winner

Updated Monday, April 22, 4:45 p.m.

From the Office of Tom Torlakson:

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson applauded four California schools — which included Prospect Sierra School  — and a school district for receiving “Green Ribbon” recognition from the U.S. Department of Education today for promoting environmental awareness on campus while preparing students to succeed in the emerging green economy.

The 2013 U.S. Green Ribbon winners are: Oak Park Unified School District, Oak Park, Ventura County; Charles Evans Hughes Middle School, Long Beach, Los Angeles County; Journey School, Aliso Viejo, Orange County; Redding School of the Arts II, Redding, Shasta County; and private school, Prospect Sierra School, El Cerrito, Contra Costa County.

Students at Prospect Sierra designed and implemented a 180-gallon rainwater harvesting system to serve the school garden. Students also planted trees in a multi-year creek restoration project, and enjoy meaningful outdoor learning experiences at every grade level. Prospect Sierra is recognized by the National Association of Independent Schools as a model "School of the Future."

In reponse to a request for comment from Patch, Prospect Sierra Head of School Katherine Dinh said,

We are very honored to be recognized as the only private school in California, and one of only 64 schools in the nation as a Green Ribbon School. This acknowledgement by the United States Department of Education represents years of hard work among our entire school community to practice care for our environmental and to teach ecoliteracy to our students. We hope to be a model for other schools, and would be glad to mentor teachers and principals on how to become a greener school. It takes full commitment, and it's completely worth it!

“I am proud of these schools and districts for earning their green ribbons by reducing environmental impacts while increasing awareness of the fragile world we live in,” Torlakson said. “Students who have had the chance to improve the air, or grow a vegetable, or capture the rain will never look at the world the same way again. I hope all California students get this chance to learn how to protect the Earth and all those who live here.”

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools is a federal recognition program that started in September 2011. Honored schools exercise a comprehensive approach to creating “green” environments through reducing environmental impact, promoting health, and ensuring a high-quality environmental and outdoor education to prepare students with the 21st century skills and sustainability concepts needed in the growing global economy.

 U.S Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan made the announcement of the winning schools during a news conference this morning as the nation celebrates Earth Day at Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School, in Washington, D.C., one of the 2013 honored schools.

Sixty-four schools were honored for their exemplary efforts during this second-annual event to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health, and ensure effective environmental education, including civics and green career pathways.

The list of selectees includes 54 public schools and 10 private schools. The public schools include seven charter, five magnet and four career and technical schools. The schools serve various grade levels, including 40 elementary, 23 middle and 19 high schools are among them, with several schools having various K-12 configurations, from 29 states and the District of Columbia.  More than half of the 2013 honorees serve a student body more than 40 percent of which is eligible for free and reduced-price lunch. 

The list of all selected schools and districts, as well as their nomination packages, can be found here.  A report with highlights on the 78 honorees can be found here.

Each participating state can nominate one district and up to four schools, one of which must be a private school. One must also be a school with at least 40 percent of its students eligible for free and reduced-priced lunch.

California's participation in the program is a key recommendation of Torlakson's Schools of the Future Task Force. The group brought together educational, environmental, business, and community leaders to encourage the use of renewable energy sources and other sound environmental practices at schools across California.

The California Department of Education reviewed each application for the program based on schools' demonstrated progress toward reaching the goals of the U.S. Department of Education's Three Green Ribbon School Pillars: Pillar I: Reduce environmental impact and costs; Pillar II: Improve the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff; and Pillar III: Provide effective environmental and sustainability literacy, incorporating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education (STEM), civic skills, and green career pathways.

For more information, please visit the California Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools Award Program Web page or Torlakson's initiative at Schools of the Future.

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