2. Sustainability and Greening at City Schools
Information Session
Tues, Sept 19 – North Ave.
Wed, Oct 18 – Green Street Academy
Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises Chief Executive Officer, Baltimore City Public Schools

3. Agenda Introductions Sustainability Ambassador Green Leader AU
Green, Healthy, Smart Challenge grant
Baltimore Energy Challenge grant
Maryland Green Schools Program
Q&A

4. Sustainability resources
Partners
Working to support sustainability and greening throughout the district, including the Sustainability Plan, utility conservation, environmental literacy, and the
Green Schools Network
Joanna Pi-Sunyer
Green Schools Coordinator
Sustainability resources

5. Partners
Teaches low and no-cost ways to save energy to residents, businesses, and nonprofits, and schools. We have helped communities reduce their energy usage.
The School Energy Hub offers grants to schools for student-led energy conservation projects, supported by an AmeriCorps volunteer.
Becca Bakre
Director
Jelene Feyijinmi
School Coordinator

6. Partners Abby Cocke Environmental Planner
Andrea Calderón Youth Sustainability Coordinator
Develops and advocates for programs, policies and actions by government, citizens, businesses, and institutions that improve the long-term environmental, social, and economic viability of Baltimore City.

7. Cheryl Casciani Director of Neighborhood Sustainability
Partners
BCF is a philanthropic foundation created by and for the people of Greater Baltimore, where many donors join together to make the region they love a better place, today and for future generations.
BCF serves our community in a variety of ways, by building a civic endowment; helping donors plan and implement their charitable giving; and working in partnership with others in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors
Cheryl Casciani Director of Neighborhood Sustainability

8. Meeting Baltimore City’s Sustainability Goals
Education & Awareness Goal #1 Turn Every School in Baltimore City into a Green School

9. Theory of Change Providing resources and incentives to schools
Building Grassroots Leadership
A Green School System in Baltimore
Changing Internal Systems
Developing Partnerships

10. What is a Green School?
Conserves energy and natural resources
Saves taxpayer money
Improves the quality of indoor air
Provides natural light
Allows students and teachers to hear one another
Uses non-toxic products throughout
Teaches kids about the environment and fosters student leadership
Uses the building and grounds as teaching tools
Decreases water use and run-off
Reduces trash through reuse, recycling and composting
Promotes physical activity
Promotes healthy eating
Protects habitat
A school that creates a healthy environment, conducive to learning while saving energy, resources and money

11. The Impacts of Green Schools
Green schools help kids:
Hear
See
Breathe
Move
Think
Feel
Green schools can:
Improve student performance
Reduce student and staff absenteeism
Attract and retain teachers
Improve relationships with the community
Save money

13. Sustainability Ambassador
Each school must appoint a Sustainability Ambassador!
Responsibilities include:
School Sustainability Plan by Nov 15
Recycling
Utility conservation
Optional activities
End-of-year questionnaire
Coordinated by Joanna

14. Recycling Each school must recycle!
Any bin is fine, as long as it’s marked “recycling”
City of Baltimore picks up from every school once a week
Recycling Toolkit

15. Utility Conservation Toolkit
Each school must conserve utilities!
Save money by using less electricity, natural gas, steam and water ($30 million annually)
Engage students about energy and the environment
Reduce our impact on the environment
Utility Conservation Toolkit

16. Each school must use green cleaning supplies and practices!
Cleaning for Health
Why?
Green cleaning products and practices use less toxic materials, improve air quality, and protect the health of workers and occupants
Inside air is often more polluted than outside air
Required by Maryland law and City Schools
Each school must use green cleaning supplies and practices!
What?
City Schools’ staff custodians use Diversey chemicals
Contract custodians and charter schools may use Diversey or choose another approved line
Cleaning for Health Toolkit

17. Information and Application
Green Leader AUs
A teacher may earn between 1 and 4 Achievement Units for being a Green Leader
May be the Sustainability Ambassador or others
Up to 3 teachers at each school
Lead recycling, energy conservation, water quality and/or other projects
Apply by September 29 to Joanna
Information and Application

18. Green Leader AUs - cont’d
Categories of work correspond to the MAEOE Green Schools award program
Examples of documentation:
photos with captions
sign-in sheets for clubs
s, newsletters
links to student work
narratives
Tools - Weebly, Google Sites
One page per category
If multiple teachers at one school, clear documentation of each person’s work
Example:
Southwest Baltimore Charter School

19. Environmental Literacy
Embedding experiences into curricula”
4th grade – Every Kid in a Park
5th grade – Save the Bay, with a schoolyard assessment
7th grade – What lives in the Harbor? with the National Aquarium
Biology – Watershed Investigation
Multiple opportunities for integration with ELA, math, science, arts, and PE

20. Schools with the Green School Award and green grants

21. Green, Healthy, Smart Challenge Grant
Program details:
$1,000-$2,500 per school
Student-led environmental projects
Choose from a menu of projects or design your own
Application is just three pages
Applications accepted on rolling basis until Nov 3; contact Andrea at
Application

22. Student Leadership PowerDown competition winners with BEC staff
Youth Leadership Summit
Baltimore Beyond Plastic rally
Environment Club members

23. Contact Abby Abby.Cocke@baltimorecity.gov
Green School Award
What?
MD Association of Environmental & Outdoor Education (MAEOE) runs the MD Green School Awards Program
Open to all K-12 schools state-wide
Rigorous but non-competitive
Must be renewed every four years
Why?
Higher test scores
Eligible for larger grant awards
Part of school identity and prestige
Recognized state-wide and beyond
Links to additional resources and opportunities
How?
Create a website or powerpoint to show your work
Covers two years of activities in instruction, professional development, student-led sustainability practices, partnerships, and celebrations
Want to learn more?
Contact Abby

24. * Maryland Assn of Environmental and Outdoor Education

25. Partners

26. School Energy Hub Grant
Program details:
Up to $1,000 for student-led, energy-themed projects
Adult Project Coordinator who will lead project, track receipts, submit report, complete online questionnaire
5-10 students; 2 students and Project Coordinator will interview with BEC
Apply by Oct 31 to Jelene
Application

27. Resources for Schools
Student Environmental Leadership opportunities & Service Learning hours
MD Assn of Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) – Green School Award program
Partners can assist – professional development, on- and off-site activities, etc.
City Schools Inside:
Resource Guide for Going Green
Toolkits: Cleaning, Energy, Recycling,
Schoolyard Gardening
Green Leader AU information
Monthly e-blast
Green, Healthy, Smart Challenge grants for student-led greening projects
Baltimore Energy Challenge grants to teach students and community members about energy conservation

28. Points of Contact City Office of Sustainability City Schools
Green Schools Coordinator
Joanna Pi-Sunyer
Energy Specialist
Rajeshri Bachubhay
City Office of Sustainability
Environmental Planner
Abby Cocke
Green Schools Assistant
Andrea Calderón
Baltimore Energy Challenge
School Coordinator
Jelene Feyijinmi

29. Q&A