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The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education Certifies St. Mary’s Elementary School as a Maryland Green School

The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) recently announced that St. Mary’s Elementary School has been certified as a 2019 Maryland Green School. Maryland Green Schools are part of a national and international community of sustainable green schools.  Our students are becoming better stewards of our Earth’s resources and developing a greater understanding of their own local environment. There are 614 active Maryland Green Schools, over 27 percent of all Maryland schools.

The Maryland Green Schools program encourages educational opportunities for preK-12 schools that increase awareness and understanding of environmental relationships that impact public health and the local community. The program is aligned with Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement 2014 goals and supports Maryland State Department of Education graduation requirements and standards.

Over the past two to four years, St. Mary’s Elementary School has demonstrated and documented a continuous effort to integrate sustainable environmental management practices, environmental education curriculum, professional development opportunities, and community engagement into our daily operations. This award signifies that our school has made a commitment to developing stewards of the earth and reducing the environmental impact of our school.

“Our state has one of the strongest Sustainable Schools programs in the Nation. Students, teachers, school personnel, parents and community partners work together to create a positive learning environment. Student actions are essential to becoming a Maryland Green School,” said Laura Johnson Collard, MAEOE Executive Director. “Schools that participate in the program save energy; reduce waste; conserve water; and create and restore habitat. More and more teachers are using the school grounds as an extension of the classroom; getting students outdoors is crucial for their connection with the environment.”

MAEOE will celebrate with Green Schools, Green Centers and schools that are interested in knowing more about the program at the Annual Maryland Green School Youth Summit on May 30, 2019, at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis.

To learn more about MAEOE and to see the full list of Green Schools and Green Centers, visit www.maeoe.org.
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