The amazing 5-year-long neighborhood project, Greenpoint Eco-Schools, comes to an end at the culmination of this school year. A collaborative effort between the Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund, the National Wildlife Federation, four local public schools (P.S. 31 Samuel F. Dupont, P.S. 34 Oliver H. Perry, P.S. 110 The Monitor School, and M.S. 126 John Ericsson), and many community partners, Eco-Schools brought environmental-based educational programming to the teachers and students of Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
Last Wednesday, May 22nd, Greenpoint Eco-Schools celebrated their work and achievements with a Student Showcase and Celebration at M.S. 126. Speakers including Principal Maria Ortega (M.S. 126), Superintendent Alicja Winnicki, and representatives from the NYC Department of Education and the National Wildlife Federation all shared positive remarks about the program and its achievements. Among the dozens of Eco-Schools projects completed over the past five years, some highlights of the initiative include an indoor gardening class, an outdoor garden-playground, farming and cooking classes, and increased awareness of the need to responsibly maintain our planet.
Students and teachers displayed and discussed their most recent projects with pride. MS 126 students made a topographical map of Newtown Creek, and worked on restoring contaminated soil using classroom-grown fungi.
PS 110 students marched in the Youth Strike 4 Climate this past March. PS 34 students designed environmentally friendly costumes in the 3rd annual Eco-Fashion Show, and PS 31 students showed off the produce grown in their hydroponic STEM lab.
From Eco-School’s summary of the event, “The hallmark of the program has been the placement of full-time, paid “Sustainability Coaches” in each of the four schools – an innovative and successful staffing model that could be replicated in schools across the district and the nation.” In honor of the Sustainability Coaches, the National Wildlife Federation planted 50 new trees per coach as a gesture of thanks!
The end of the program does not mean the end of environmental education in our school system! Go Green! BK Festival was last Saturday, and we are excited to report that sustainability initiatives are alive and well in PS 34, MS 126, Bronx Science, and many other local private and public schools.
And do join Greenpoint Eco-Schools and Newtown Creek Alliance this Saturday, June 8th for a community stewardship event, Celebrate Water, Honor the Land at Manhattan Avenue Street End (MASE) Park in Greenpoint. Interested in more eco-actions? Check out Go Green BK’s extensive calendar of green events.
