Salisbury Academy awarded as a ‘Green Ribbon School’ in nation’s capital

Salisbury Academy News Service

Salisbury Academy, a 2024 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School, was honored in a ceremony on July 10, in Washington, D.C. The school was recognized for its innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and costs, promote better health and ensure effective sustainability and environmental education.

Nominated for the award by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, Salisbury Academy is the only K-12 school in North Carolina and one of just 41 schools nationwide to be honored with the recognition.

Salisbury Academy Head of School Beverly Fowler and Director of Marketing and Communications Lizzy Roy attended the ceremony and spent several days connecting with other sustainability leaders in education in a series of round-table discussions.

“Salisbury Academy’s approach to sustainability is one that empowers students in their stewardship, wellness and leadership,” Fowler said. “We are honored to receive this award and energized about our next steps in this journey.”

Key highlights from Salisbury Academy’s Green Ribbon application included:

• A significant reduction in the impact of school facilities on the environment through an LED lighting upgrade; the planting of over 60 trees in their outdoor space; the addition of trails, gardens and wildlife habitats to Salisbury Academy’s outdoor space; strategic, measurable and student-led waste reduction efforts; eco-friendly cleaning products and pesticides; water conservation and a reduction in single-use plastics; a school-wide Zero Waste Recycling Pledge; the use of recycled materials in school projects; and the encouragement and celebration of green transportation.
• Health and wellness successes supporting the nutrition, fitness and emotional wellness of students holistically through: outdoor, play-based learning in younger grades; school-wide routines that incorporate movement; a focus on healthy eating and hydration; an active athletics program; middle school exploratory classes that uplift active lifestyles; the daily enjoyment of campus outdoor spaces; and a comprehensive and engaging wellness class for Upper School students. Mental wellbeing is supported through Social Emotional Learning (SEL) classes, support from school counselors and guest presenters on SEL topics.
• Effective environmental and sustainability education connecting learning across disciplines and to the real world through: intentional 3K-12 environmental curriculum; regular early education hikes and STEAM learning in the Catawba Ecological Preserve; a 3K program built around outdoor learning that follows the seasons of the year; after-school environmental clubs; a middle school green team; Envirothon teams; community engagement campaigns to reduce waste and protect our local watershed; Upper School student participation in a white oak progeny study in partnership with Catawba College’s Center for the Environment, the University of Kentucky, N.C. State University, and the Piedmont Research Station; and a 5-year-running internship program with Catawba College environment and sustainability majors.

Roy indicated that key to the successes listed above is Salisbury Academy’s partnership with Catawba College and their Center for the Environment, another 2024 Green Ribbon Award recipient.

“Catawba College has been a knowledgeable resource for Salisbury Academy and an encouraging source of inspiration,” Roy said. “We attribute much of our success, particularly with the Green Ribbon Award, to the model that Catawba has set for us as a school striving for sustainability.”

On hand for the Green Ribbon Award event at the U.S. Department of Education was U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten; Keishaa Austin, acting principal deputy director of the Office of State and Community Energy Programs for the U.S. Department of Energy; Brenda Mallory, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality; and Janet McCabe, deputy administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, who also congratulated the honorees for their efforts.

The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council offered a reception at the National Press Club following the ceremony. Additionally, numerous agencies, including the Smithsonian, National Park Service, U.S. Department of Energy and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offered events throughout the week to connect honoree representatives with more resources and honor their achievements in whole school sustainability.

At the event, 41 schools, 10 districts, three postsecondary institutions, and one early learning center were honored for their innovative efforts.

“Attending the Green Ribbon Award week and connecting with other leaders in environmental education was an incredible opportunity,” Fowler said. “We are thankful to our community partners who helped us achieve this goal and are eager to put into practice the ideas and insights we gained from the experience.”

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