M-DCPS Celebrates Innovative Environmental Efforts at Green Schools Recognition Program Awards

Miami-Dade County Public Schools hosted the first annual Green Schools Recognition Program Awards to recognize innovative environmental efforts among the 75 elementary, middle and high schools that participated.

"This is a milestone because we as a school district are working very hard to go green," said Schools Superintendent Jose L. Dotres. "Today we're celebrating 75 schools that are considered Green Schools, and it is a way of ensuring that our students are understanding environmental stewardship while at the same time having a positive impact on the environment."

In addition to Dr. Dotres, District administrators, teachers and students attended the event at the Thalatta Estate. Master of Ceremonies Ron Magill hosted the awards ceremony intended to recognize the outstanding efforts of the 75 schools who competed, all of which received a participation award.

The top three schools with the most points for their overall efforts in sustainability received the Green School Awards Overall Winners award and received $5,000, $3,000 and $1,000 respectively. Those were:

1^st Place – Air Base K-8 Center

2^nd place – Terra Environmental Research Institute

3^rd Place – Twin Lakes Elementary School

“We’re teaching our kids, cultivating young minds, and future adults that will help create and sustain initiatives that will continue to take care of our planet and the environment around us,” said Principal Alonso Pendergrass from Air Base K-8 Center, which won first place as a Green School Awards Overall Winner. “For this reason, our school will continue being an environmental centerpiece in our community.”

Seven schools were also recognized for outstanding efforts in the following categories:

·         School Grounds Advancement – Biotech@ Richmond Heights Senior High School

·         Resource Conservation – Maritime and Science Technology Academy (MAST)

·         Health and Wellness – Banyan Elementary School

·         Curriculum Integration- Hubert O. Sibley K-8 Academy

·         Community Involvement – Dr. Carlos J. Finlay Elementary School

·         School-Wide Culture – Dr. Rolando Espinosa K-8 Center

·         Innovation – Cutler Bay Senior High School

"As the third largest district in the nation, M-DCPS has extensive facility space and we want to make sure we're being conservative with our resources to benefit the planet," said M-DCPS Sustainability Officer Karly Pulido. "We also want to assure that these lessons are brought from our students into their adulthood.  The only way we can do that is here in our classrooms at M-DCPS and thanks to Green Schools Recognition Program, we now have a clear path to make this happen.”

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TOP CAPTION: Winners receive their awards at the Green Schools Awards Recognition Program.