E3 Washington Showcase News Articles (Newest to Oldest)
Green Ribbon Schools and District Sustainability Awardees Announced
Download 0.5 Mb.
|
- Navigate this page:
- E3 Washington Green Apple Awards Nominations NOW Open
- Students Engaged through Port Susan Estuary Project
- Council of Educational Facilities Planners Award Goes to Environmental and Sustainability Education Teacher
- Nisqually River Education Project Expanded to All Yelm Fifth Graders
- Winter Evening with Peter Senge
- E3 Washington Continues Success with Supporting School Districts
- 2013 E3 Washington Statewide Summit a Success
- NatureBridge Recipient of NOAAs Environmental Literacy Grant
- Donors Choose Website Helping Teachers Students Get Connected to Resources
2013 Green Ribbon Schools and District Sustainability Awardees Announced 
OLYMPIA (April 22, 2013) — The second annual U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools honorees and inaugural District Sustainability Awardees, nominated by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, were announced today by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, along with Chair of White House Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley and Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Bob Persiacepe. Kent School District is among the 14 inaugural honorees of the District Sustainability Award and Glacier Park Elementary (Maple Valley), Sacajawea Elementary (Vancouver), Tahoma Senior High (Covington) and The Evergreen School (Shoreline) are among the 64 schools announced as 2013 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools. The selected districts and schools are being honored for their exemplary efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health and ensure effective environmental education, including civics and green career pathways. “These Green Ribbon awards are the result of concerted efforts to reduce environmental impact and increase efficiency,” said Randy Dorn, superintendent of public instruction. “Their work shows that we can provide students and staff with healthy places to learn and work, cut costs and, at the same time, provide enhanced environmental education opportunities that better prepare students for the future.” “Today’s honorees are modeling a comprehensive approach to being green,” said Secretary Duncan. “They are demonstrating ways schools can simultaneously cut costs; improve health, performance and equity; and provide an education geared toward the jobs of the future. In fact, the selected districts are saving millions of dollars as a result of their greening efforts. And the great thing is that the resources these honorees are using are available for free to all schools.” In addition to the Green Ribbon Schools, Washington state has designated one school and four school districts as Green School and District Leaders for their achievement in at least one of three pillars: (1) environmental impact and energy efficiency, (2) healthy school environments and (3) environmental and sustainability education. The Green School Leader is Discovery Elementary, Mukilteo (Pillar 3), and the Green District Leaders are Olympia (Pillars 1 and 2), Vancouver (Pillars 2 and 3), Mercer Island (Pillars 1 and 3) and Tahoma (Pillars 1 and 3). More Information: U.S. Department of Education press release (http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/second-annual-us-department-education-green-ribbon-schools-announced-first-ever-) U.S. Department of Education official blog (http://www.ed.gov/blog/2012/07/ed-green-ribbon-schools-gets-a-facelift-for-2012-2013)
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is the primary agency charged with overseeing K–12 education in Washington state. Led by State School Superintendent Randy Dorn, OSPI works with the state’s 295 school districts and nine educational service districts to administer basic education programs and implement education reform on behalf of more than one million public school students. OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equity and Civil Rights Director at (360) 725-6162 or P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200. OSPI Contact Kristen Jaudon Communications Specialist Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction 360.725.6032 kristen.jaudon@k12.wa.us Web Link: U.S. Department of Education press release (http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/second-annual-us-department-education-green-ribbon-schools-announced-first-ever-)
Deadline for submission: April 19, 2013. Don’t delay--nominate an outstanding student, educator, or organization today! E3 Washington is pleased to announce the opening of nominations for the 2013 E3 Washington Green Apple Awards for Excellence. Receipt of these awards is a great honor for those who are nominated and selected and help others learn about the inspired and innovative programs offered across Washington. Those nominated will be honored at a gala Summer Evening Event in late June at E3 Washington’s Seattle office in the Seattle Innovation Center. The deadline for nominations is April 19, 2013! E3 Washington is seeking nominations for the below awards categories in environmental and sustainability education. You do not need to be a member of E3 Washington to be recognized, and individuals and programs may self-nominate. All nominations should be made by midnight April 19, 2013. For more information go to: Award Categories:
Nomination Deadline: April 19, 2013 Award Announcements: May 24, 2013 Web Link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WLCYS9W
Working collaboratively with local organizations, students at Summit Expeditionary Academy explored the dynamic estuarine habitat through the lens of the salmon life cycle, the food web, and energy flow within Port Susan Bay. Extensive field work was conducted to learn about the organisms that comprise the complex food web, the effects of tidal flushing, and for a comparison of natural marsh and the landscape altered by human activities. After a site visit to The Nature Conservancy's Port Susan Restoration Project, students began an intensive 3-week writing exercise to develop a concise informational postcard, which was mailed to 7,500 residences in their community. According to the Summit Expeditionary Academy, meaningful Field Work with estaurine scientists and environmental experts ignited a passion for student research, the restoration project, and the drive to inform their community of the extraordinary work being done to restore Port Susan. Visit the following sites for more information: www.stillaguamish.com www.nature.org/washington www.padillabay.gov
Mike Wierusz, a sustainable engineering and design teacher at Northshore School District's Secondary Academy for Success was the grand-prize winner of the 2012 Council of Educational Facilities Planners International (CEFPI) Innovative Educator - Environmental Based Learning Award. Wierusz won the award honoring the Mobile Green Learning Lab that he and his students created and secured funding for. This award provided $2,000 to further support his project. The mobile learning lab is a student-driven project that will enhance science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) literacy in the Northshore School District. Through the use of interactive hands-on displays and an in-class wind lab, high school students will teach elementary students about energy. And, elementary students will walk away from the experience with a greater appreciation for the application of science and math to solve real world problems. For more information go to: http://sedlabs.org/ In 2008, the Washington Chapter conceived the Washington Chapter of Council of Educational Facilities Planners International (CEFPI) Innovative Educator Environmental Based Learning Award. The primary goal is to honor Washington State teachers making an impact on their students by utilizing educational environments in new and innovative ways incorporating classrooms, out-of-doors learning settings, or public buildings or spaces. Award applications are now available. One to two finalists selected will receive a $1,000 cash award along with the recognition that comes with this award. Completed applications and all accompanying documentation must be submitted by April 1, 2013. Questions may be directed to: Mark Foster at markfo@mckinstry.com> or (206) 965-0529. Download the Award Packet and Instructions at: http://media.cefpi.org/pacificnorthwest/washington/2013EducatorAward.pdf http://www.cefpi.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3309 Web Link: http://sedlabs.org/about/instructor/
Submitted by Sheila Wilson, Program Coordinator, Nisqually River Education Project This fall, every fifth grader attending school in the Yelm School District will get an up close education about the Nisqually River Watershed. This year the Yelm school district will include every 5th grade class in the Nisqually River Education Project (NREP). The project is a part of the Nisqually River Council and receives support from the Nisqually Indian Tribe. Many of the 5th grade Life Science Standards will be addressed, including the topics of Ecosystems and Structures and Functions of Living Organisms. It also provides an opportunity for students to plan and participate in scientific investigations within a real world context. “It is amazing to see such an incredible dedication from an entire school district to environmental education," said Sheila Wilson, NREP coordinator. Each student involved in NREP will learn about environmental quality in their local watershed, including a field trip where they'll take on water quality testing. “They'll also have the opportunity to choose between a habitat restoration projects or a salmon carcass tossing activity”, Wilson said. To be able to bring the extra 200 kids and eight teachers into the project, Wilson added an extra teacher training day and brought in help from The Evergreen State College. "Without all the help from Evergreen, there's no way we could've expanded so quickly," Wilson said. Students from Evergreen’s Mount Rainier program are assisting the Yelm teachers with the field trips
Peter Senge is a world-renowned systems change leader and the author of The Fifth Discipline and The Necessary Revolution. As the featured speaker of the evening, Peter will be discussing what he has learned about K-12 education and the changes necessary for 21st century learning. The Winter Evening included education, business, tribal, agency, and community leaders discussing ways in which sustainability and systems learning are taking root in Washington schools and communities. The Event was held at the McKinstry Innovation Center in Seattle, WA.
With grant funding from the Boeing Company and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, E3 Washington and partners were busy this past winter and spring 2012 supporting three school districts (Seattle, Cle Elum-Roslyn and Tahoma) to develop Leadership Community of Practice teams to work on a school district “problem of practice” and address this problem through environmental and sustainability education! The Washington State Environmental and Sustainability Literacy Plan itself a joint project of E3 Washington and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, was approved in July 2011. Utilizing the goals and strategies in the E3 Washington and other plans, it was developed utilizing Theory of Change and systems dynamics modeling to achieve goals and strategies. The plan was completed in order to position Washington to qualify for federal (and other) funding for teacher and informal educator professional development and other strategies to ensure that students in Washington have ample opportunities to increase their environmental literacy and enhance their academic achievement through real-world, integrated, project based learning. E3 Washington was recently informed that the Boeing Company will continue its support of this grant-funded program in 2013 and will allow it to expand to include three more districts. The Pacific Education Institute’s role will be increased in this second phase of the project as well. We are thrilled with this news and excited about supporting the implementation of the recently developed district plans and expanding support to three more districts for a total of six in 2013! Web Link: http://www.e3washington.org/goals/
On January 25, 2013, over 100 key players in environmental and sustainability education met at South Seattle Community College to discuss how to communicate and collaborate more effectively, to raise the level of environmental and sustainability education for all in Washington State and beyond. Local businesses, government and natural resource agencies, school districts, zoos and aquariums, museums, Tribal nations and so many more powerful organizations and individuals participated to make this event a success. Keynote speaker Dr. Peter Senge dialogued with summit participants on organizational learning and collaborative communication, followed by break-out sessions to reflect upon "powerful practices" among participants' learning communities. Participants also dialogued on current progress and future work to achieve E3 Washington's "Get Together" goal: "Join schools, campuses, and community resources for student achievement and a sustainable future". The program culminated with a large group discussion, showcasing the day's insights and plans for 2013-2014 and beyond. The connections made and insights learned during E3 Washington's 2013 State Summit are moving the entire E3 Washington network forward in our collective vision to build a system of education for sustainable communities, for all. "Collaboration is the only thing that creates deep change" - Peter Senge
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced today the results of its recent competitions for education grants to enhance science education activities in classrooms, aquariums, museums and other institutions across America. A total of $4.5 million in grants from the NOAA Office of Education’s Environmental Literacy Grants Program will be awarded to support six unique, multi-year projects. Projects are designed to increase stewardship and informed decision-making within a diverse pool of educators, students and the public to help promote environmental literacy. The selected projects will partner with NOAA’s research laboratories, national marine sanctuaries, Climate Program Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Weather Service, Pacific Services Center, Coral Reef Conservation Program and Sea Grant. “NOAA’s Office of Education is proud to partner with such an impressive group of organizations,” said Louisa Koch, director of education at NOAA. “It is only with the help of institutions such as these that we can successfully engage the public in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics while supporting NOAA’s mission of science, service, and stewardship’.” These multi-year projects will focus on engaging formal and informal educators along with K-12 students. Project activities include formal K-12 educator training programs to help teachers incorporate NOAA data and other resources into experiential learning activities; service learning programs for K-12 students that combine standards-based learning with stewardship activities in students’ local communities; and professional development to enhance informal science educators’ effectiveness in increasing public understanding of complex ocean topics. Recipients include:
Awards were selected through peer-reviewed processes from a total of 104 applications received. NOAA’s program offices and research laboratories work closely with applicants to ensure projects incorporate the agency’s unique assets and current oceanic and atmospheric research in order to increase the awareness and utilization of NOAA’s work in education projects. Congress established NOAA’s Environmental Literacy Grants Program in 2005. NOAA is planning to release a new funding opportunity in late winter 2013. A comprehensive list of awards and more information on NOAA’s Office of Education funding opportunities is available online. NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Visit us at www.noaa.gov and join us on Facebook, Twitter and our other social media channels. “As the largest education partner of the National Park Service, NatureBridge serves more than 40,000 youth and adults annually across four campuses in California and Washington State national parks. NatureBridge will implement Environmental Literacy for All: Creating Comprehensive Environmental Service Learning and Professional Development for Diverse K-12 Students and Teachers. This program will add critical new components to NatureBridge’s environmental education model to empower the next diverse generation of environment- and climate-literate citizens.” Says Stephen Streufert, Director of Olympic Park Campus, NatureBridge. Utilizing the four campuses, including in Olympic National Park, programs will seek to focus on two objectives:
Teachers all over America have discovered an innovative way to support student learning. DonorsChoose.org is a creative tool for public school teachers to seek support in funding classroom project requests. In 2000, Charles Best, then a social studies teacher, created DonorsChoose.org because he was aware of the scarcity of learning materials in our public schools and he sensed that many people would like to help but were frustrated by a lack of influence over their donations. DonorsChoose.org is a way for individuals to directly connect with classrooms in need. At DonorsChoose.org public school teachers are able to create free accounts and post their classroom project requests. Donors are able to browse the project requests and give any amount to the ones that inspire them. Once a project reaches its funding goal, DonorsChoose.org will deliver the materials to the school. DonorsChoose.org is big on “citizen philanthropy” and allows the same level of choice, transparency and feedback whether a donor gives $1 or $1,000. Donor’s not only get photos of their chosen projects taking place, but a thank you letter from the teacher and a cost report showing how each dollar was spent. In Washington, the projects range from sketch books to enrich student’s outdoor science learning throughout the year, rocks sets and solar system models so students can explore and move to a deeper understanding of the world around them, to reusable water bottles so students can educate and work together in an effort to eliminate the plastic bottles being sent to landfills each year. The results that DonorsChoose.org has facilitated are amazing. Over 205,000 classroom projects have been funded, over 5,000,000 students have been impacted, and over 525,000 donors have contributed to our public school classrooms. Please see DonorsChoose.org for more information and support worthy teachers today! Web Link:http://cdn.donorschoose.net/docs/DonorsChoose_org-NationalOverview.pdf
|