The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) recently recertified Berry Elementary School, Henry E. Lackey High School and Thomas Stone High School as 2024 Maryland Green Schools. Eight other schools achieved Sustainable Schools level by MAEOE this year. Gale-Bailey Elementary School achieved Sustainable Bronze level due to the schools’ participation and support of the Green Schools program for 18 years.
Schools must apply every four years to retain Green Schools status and this year 16 CCPS schools have the status. This is a 12% increase from 2023. The CCPS schools that have the status include Arthur Middleton, Berry, Dr. James Craik, Gale-Bailey, J.C. Parks and William B. Wade elementary schools; Theodore G. Davis, John Hanson, General Smallwood, Piccowaxen, Milton M. Somers middle schools; Henry E. Lackey, North Point, St. Charles, Thomas Stone and Westlake high schools; and the Robert D. Stethem Educational Center.
The Maryland Green School program honors schools for their commitment to developing stewards of the Earth and reducing environmental impacts. The theme for this year is Healing Ourselves as We Heal the Earth. The program “provides a platform for schools to present environmental literacy and student connections to academics and their local environment,” Laura Johnson Collard, executive director of MAEOE, said.
The Green School application process takes two years to complete and requires schools to demonstrate efforts to integrate sustainable practices, classroom integration of environmental issues, conservation practices and examples of existing community partnerships to enhance environmental learning. Schools must apply for recertification every four years and continue to demonstrate environmental education efforts.
The Maryland Green Schools program also is aligned with the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement goals and supports the Maryland State Department of Education graduation requirements. Thirty-four percent of schools in Maryland have active Green Schools, and 45 Green Centers.
MAEOE will celebrate Green Schools and Green Centers at the 25th annual Maryland Green School Youth Summit set for May 30 at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis. Visit www.maeoe.org for information on the Green Schools program.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,765 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).