Maryland Green School
Welcome to a great adventure for our school, our students, and our community! While there are many "Green School" programs in the country, most are focused on energy conservation alone. The Maryland Green School Awards Program is a holistic, integrated approach to authentic learning that incorporates local environmental issue investigation and professional development with environmental best management practices and community stewardship (maeoe.org).
Atholton became an official Maryland Green School in April of 2009 after two years of amazing school-wide environmental instruction and initiatives. It is our goal to continue operating as a MD Green School. Proudly, we were recertified as Maryland Green School, after four additional years, in April 2013. To view a detailed account of how we reached our 2013 recertification goal, click on the link to our Green School portfolio below.
Atholton became an official Maryland Green School in April of 2009 after two years of amazing school-wide environmental instruction and initiatives. It is our goal to continue operating as a MD Green School. Proudly, we were recertified as Maryland Green School, after four additional years, in April 2013. To view a detailed account of how we reached our 2013 recertification goal, click on the link to our Green School portfolio below.
ATHOLTON'S AMAZING ELECTRONIC GREEN SCHOOL PORTFOLIO:
FOR AN AMAZING LOOK AT HOW ATHOLTON HAS BEEN COVERING MULTIPLE OBJECTIVES IN MAINTAINING ITS MD GREEN SCHOOL STATUS, HAVE A LOOK AT OUR SPECTACULAR GREEN SCHOOL PORTFOLIO. WHILE IT REMAINS A CONTINUOUS WORK-IN-PROGRESS, YOU WILL CERTAINLY GET A GLIMPSE AT ATHOLTON'S COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT. CLICK HERE!
Below is just a sampling of some of the great GREEN initiatives AES has engaged in over the years:
AES Beautification & Textile Drop-Off Day - March 20, 2013
Kicking off the week, AES held its annual AES Beautification Day on Saturday, April 20th - a day for students, staff and family members to work as a community to beutify the school grounds. AES staff and families showed up with gloves and tools to weed, edge, mulch, and trim Atholton's native gardens and to spread wood chips throughout the Outdoor Classroom. During the month of April, Atholton has worked with Community Recycling Kids to collect gently used textiles for needy communities throughout the world. C.R. Kids has provided a pod for donated bags. The goal is to collect 7,500 pounds of textiles. AES Beautification Day served as a community textile drop-off day as well. March 20th was a beautiful day to come together as a community, doing something wonderful for others and for our school!
AES Panther Learns About Water Conservation!
As part of Atholton's Water Conservation Week activities, all students were shown a student-made movie during Technology class called "AES Panther Learns About Water Conservation." This short video touches on several best management practices we should all keep in mind for conserving water. Hats off to Jane R., Elisabeth M., and Chad M. in fifth grade for an outstanding job! The Panther is now very well informed, and so are the students of Atholton!
Storm Drains Carry a Message of Conservation
One of this week's meaningful Water Conservation Week activities was to get the two storm drains on Atholton's grounds, both in the back parking lot, painted with a message of conservation. AES fifth grade Green Ambassadors did fabulous work getting the job done. Special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Morrill and Mrs. Linthicum for their assistance. Once the drains were dry, Green Ambassadors took each class outside to see what they had done and to teach them why it is important to keep pollution from making its way down the storm drains. They also took the classes down the path to our stream to show them the connection between the storm drains and our local waterways. Way to go, Green Ambassadors!
AES Beautification Day - A Beautiful thing!
What an amazing feeling it is to work as a community to do something GREAT! In celebration of Earth Day, and in continuation of our commitment as a MD Green School, many members of the Atholton community came out to beautify the front of the school by planting native plants, weeding, mulching, and getting the fifth grade's gift of a native Serviceberry tree in the ground. Next time you pull up to Atholton, have a look at how beautifully GREEN it looks. And keep your eye out, because as these native plants begin to bloom, it will become even more beautiful! Way to go, Atholton folks! Special thanks to Garden Gate Landscaping for helping to provide native plants, equipment, and labor: http://www.gardengate.net/.
ATHOLTON'S OUTDOOR CLASSROOM!
With a Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grant awarded to Atholton in May of 2011, we were on our way to creating a new learning place for all to use and enjoy. Big thanks to Lowe's, Garden Gate Landscaping, Bartlett Trees, HCPSS, BG&E, and all of our outstanding AES volunteers who came out on June 3rd, No Child Left Inside AES Outdoor Classroom Construction Day, to play a part in constructing our new jewel in the woods. Together we can accomplish anything!
STUDENT TALENTS SHINE DURING AMERICA RECYCLES DAY SCULPTURE EXPO!
WOW! Hopefully you had the chance to see the amazing display of talent during the America Recycles Day Sculpture Expo. From gigantic battling bugs to parties of penguins, we had it ALL! Participants were awarded with a certificate of participation signed by Mrs. Balter, and their photo was taken to document the outstanding turn-out of participants. We know it's a busy time, so thank you for supporting the efforts of your child's creativity. During American Education Week, numerous spectators were seen admiring the unique recycled creations. Way to go, creative recyclers!
AES Waste-Free Star of the Week
So many of you continually send your children to school with waste-free lunches containing reusable and recyclable items, and you're doing it EVERY day of the week, not just on Waste-Free Wednesdays. In an effort to recognize students who are keeping so much trash out of our local landfill, Atholton's Waste-Free Star of the Week program is in its second successful year! If you pack your child a waste-free lunch, be on the look-out! You're child may just come home with color-printed photos and a letter explaining what to do to be featured as our next STAR! THE SEARCH IS ON!!! Thank you for all of your efforts! To get a close-up look of our current Star, visit the Waste-Free Star of the Week bulletin board in Atholton's cafeteria. You can also see the current star in the Panther Press as well on the Green School tab of the AES website.
AES Green Team
If you are interested in becoming a part of Atholton's Green Team, we would love to have you join us! Please fill out the form below, and I will be happy to contact you to explain how you can be a part of our team!
A Photo History of Atholton's Transformation into a MD Green School:
By clicking on a photo, viewing the caption as well as moving through the photo collection is possible.