31 Schools and 4 School Districts Receive Grants for Sustainability Projects

on Jun 19, 2015

Today, Sustainable Jersey for Schools announced the 31 New Jersey schools and four school districts that were selected to receive a Sustainable Jersey for Schools Small Grant funded by the PSEG Foundation. This first cycle of grants will support initiatives including the planning of a green school building, achieving a no-foam cafeteria zone, implementing a district-wide green cleaning program, promotion of water hydration stations, development of school teaching gardens, sustainability education initiatives and more.

Currently, 81 districts and 220 schools have registered to work toward Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification. “This is a win for schools across New Jersey. These grants, funded by the PSEG Foundation, will help support districts and schools as they participate in the first year of the Sustainable Jersey for Schools program,” said Donna Drewes, who co-directs Sustainable Jersey with Randall Solomon. “Grant funding will build capacity and support schools as they embark on sustainability projects.”

This is the inaugural funding cycle for the Sustainable Jersey for Schools program with $100,000 in funding from the PSEG Foundation for school districts and schools to use for sustainability projects. “A core element of the PSEG Foundation is directing funding and resources to schools to aid them in building stronger, more resilient communities,” said Ellen Lambert, President of the PSEG Foundation. “Through our Foundation giving, we support and partner with those organizations that set the pace and empower a brighter future.”

 SUSTAINBLE JERSEY FOR SCHOOLS SMALL GRANTS RECIPIENTS (project descriptions below):

  • Four $10,000 Grant Recipients: Egg Harbor Township School District, Middle Township Public School District, South Orange-Maplewood School District and Barack Obama Green Charter High School
  • Thirty-one $2,000 Grant Recipients: Alder Avenue Middle School, Ann Blanche Smith Elementary School, Ashbrook Elementary School, Barclay School, Bartle Elementary School, Blairstown Elementary School, Bret Harte Elementary School, Cape May City Elementary School, Cherry Hill High-East High School, Clara Barton Elementary School, E.H. Slaybaugh Elementary School, Egg Harbor Township High School, Eugine A. Tighe Middle School, Fairfield Township School, Galloway Township Middle School, Green Hills Elementary School, Grover Cleveland Middle School, H. Russell Swift Elementary School, Hawes Elementary School, Henry C. Beck Middle School, Highland Park High School, Highland Park Middle School, Irving Primary, James Caldwell High School, Middle Township #4 Middle School, Millbridge Elementary School, Ocean City Intermediate School, Rutherford High School, Seth Boyden Elementary School, Von E. Mauger Middle School and Watchung Elementary School.

Proposals were judged by an independent Blue Ribbon Selection Committee. The Sustainable Jersey for Schools grants are intended to help school districts and schools make progress toward a sustainable future in general, and specifically toward Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification.

Recipients of $10,000 Sustainable Jersey for Schools Project Grants

  

School    District

  
  

County

  
  

Project

  

Egg Harbor Township School District

Atlantic

No-Foam Cafeteria Zone Project:  Egg Harbor Township Schools, the largest   district in Atlantic County, uses about 7,300 polystyrene cafeteria trays per   day (1.3 million trays per year). Once used, the trays are not stacked and   put into the trash can, they are discarded by students into trash cans taking   up enormous amounts of space and requiring the use of many trash bags. These   trays are thrown away and exported to landfills and/or incinerators. Grant   funds will be used to decrease cafeteria waste by 50% and eliminate the use   of polystyrene cafeteria trays completely in the future.

Middle Township Public School District

Cape   May

Sustainability Showcase Project: The   grant funds will be used to convert Middle Township Elementary #4 (Middle)   School Courtyard into a Sustainability Showcase for teachers, students,   parents and community members in Cape May. The project involves installing a   shed, polycarbonate greenhouse, rain barrels with drip lines, a 3-part   compost bin, and a variety of native plants and shrubs. These additions will help   teach students about extending the growing season, garden maintenance, low   water gardening, food waste composting, and native plants, animals, and   insects. A garden walkway and interpretive signs will be added to improve tours   to educate students, parents and community members on sustainability.

South Orange-Maplewood School District

Essex

Green Cleaning and Sustainability Program Launch: The   grant award will be used to purchase high-efficiency particulate arrestance   (HEPA) vacuums for district use and fund appropriate training for proper use   of the vacuums as well as professional development in green cleaning in   general. Funds will be used for the purchase of additional recycling   containers for schools to support district-wide green team initiatives.

Barack Obama Green Charter High School

 

Union

Sustainable Plainfield Imagine I and II Project: The   grant will be used to engage 11th and 12th graders in a school wide,   interdisciplinary initiative through which they will be equal partners in the   long-term process of planning and ultimately constructing a green school   building that will also be used as a community learning center in Plainfield,   NJ.

 

Recipients of $2,000 Sustainable Jersey for Schools Project Grants      

  

School

  
  

County

  
  

School    District

  
  

Project    Title

  

Alder Avenue Middle School

Atlantic

Egg   Harbor Township

Water   Warriors: Access to healthy drinking water and water conservation

E.H. Slaybaugh Elementary School

Atlantic

Egg   Harbor Township

Going   Green with H2O Inside and Out: Rain barrel system

Egg Harbor Township High School

Atlantic

Egg   Harbor Township

School   Garden

Eugine A. Tighe Middle School

Atlantic

Margate   City

Sustainable   Dining: Reduce non-recyclable and non-biodegradable waste from the   school cafeteria

Galloway Township Middle School

Atlantic

Galloway   Township

Mr.   B's Backyard Classroom: Support for field trips to Mr. B’s   Backyard classroom

H. Russell Swift Elementary School

Atlantic

Egg   Harbor Township

Grow,   Bloom, Learn Garden: School garden

Ann Blanche Smith Elementary School

Bergen

Hillsdale

School   Garden

Hawes Elementary School

Bergen

Ridgewood

Hydroponic   School Garden

Rutherford High School

Bergen

Rutherford

Courtyard   Restoration and Learning Center

Ashbrook Elementary School

Burlington

Lumberton   Township

Sustainable   Wildlife Garden

Millbridge Elementary School

Burlington

Delran   Township

Rain   Gardens for Recess: A green infrastructure installation/program to promote physical   activity

Barclay School

Camden

Cherry   Hill

Cultivating   Little Green Thumbs: School garden

Bret Harte Elementary School

Camden

Cherry   Hill

Innovating   The Outdoor Classroom

Cherry Hill High-East High School

Camden

Cherry   Hill

Streamlining   of Waste Disposal at East: Outreach campaign to   increase recycling

Clara Barton Elementary School

Camden

Cherry   Hill

Live   Green, Love Green, Go Green!: School garden and outdoor   classroom

Henry C. Beck Middle School

Camden

Cherry   Hill

Working   Together to Save the Planet: Interdisciplinary service   learning project with Plastic Police, Bugging Out (saving the pollinators)   and Air Ambassadors

Cape May City Elementary School

Cape May

Cape   May City

Let's   Go Green: Funding for a waste-audit

Middle Township #4 Middle School

Cape May

Middle   Township

Courtyard   Upgrade: Garden and composting

Ocean City Intermediate School

Cape May

Ocean   City

Go   Green, Red Raiders: Distribution of reusable shopping bags with refillable water   bottle, energy-efficient light bulb, tips on sustainability and more.

Fairfield Township School

Cumberland

Fairfield   Twp

Garden   Education and Health/Wellness Program

Grover Cleveland Middle School

Essex

Caldwell   - West Caldwell

Sustainable   Energy Design Challenges: Teaching sustainable energy

James Caldwell High School

Essex

Caldwell   - West Caldwell

EPC   Service Learning: High school Environmental Protection Club (EPC)/green team will   do service learning projects

Seth Boyden Elementary School

Essex

South   Orange-Maplewood

Strawberry   Fields Teaching Garden: Support for teaching garden and launch   of the green team

Watchung Elementary School

Essex

Montclair

Watchung   Reduces Waste and Increases Biodiversity: Recycling and   biodiversity

Bartle Elementary School

Middlesex

Highland   Park

Outdoor   Learning Classroom

Highland Park High School

Middlesex

Highland   Park

Nature   Explore Outdoor Classroom

Highland Park Middle School

Middlesex

Highland   Park

Going   Green at Highland Park Middle School through Education and Action: Sustainability   education and creation of environmental club

Irving Primary

Middlesex

Highland   Park

Sustainable   Water System/Pollinator Planting Project: Rain barrel and   watering project

Von E. Mauger Middle School

Middlesex

Middlesex   Borough

Courtyard   Beautification: Improvements to encourage environmental citizenship

Green Hills Elementary School

Sussex

Green   Township

Green   Hills Garden: Building a teaching garden.

Blairstown Elementary School

Warren

Blairstown   Township

Summer   Garden Program

 

QUOTES FROM SELECT GRANTEES

“Words cannot express how excited and grateful we are about receiving this grant. This support from Sustainable Jersey for Schools will enable us to include another group of students in our Sustainable Plainfield projects: Imagine I and Imagine II. Through this project, students will gain real world experience, working with professionals throughout the nation and beyond to plan a green school building and community learning center.” - Steven King, Superintendent, Barack Obama Green Charter High School

“We are very proud to have been awarded Sustainable Jersey for Schools grants both as a district, and for one of our elementary schools. These awards will be invaluable as we continue our commitment to teaching students about sustainability, and modeling green practices ourselves.” - James Memoli, Acting Superintendent of the South Orange Maplewood School District

"The future begins here at Ann Blanche Smith Elementary School. It is our mission to educate our students so they can grow up to become global citizens who act responsibly maintaining the resources we have in our beautiful world." - Angela Iskenderian, Principal, Ann Blanche Smith Elementary School

“On behalf of the Clara Barton Elementary School Green Team and the entire school community, we are extremely honored and grateful to receive a Sustainable Jersey for Schools Small Grant.  We look forward to utilizing the grant funds to help refurbish an outdoor classroom courtyard, making our school a more sustainable learning environment for all students and staff.” - Sean F. Sweeney, Principal, Clara Barton Elementary

"Sustainability is a priority in both New Jersey and at the national level and I'm so proud that the students have staff of Egg Harbor Township High School have committed to such an important cause." - Dr. Terry Charlton, Egg Harbor Township High School

“We are excited to receive this assistance in our first year as a sustainable school district! We look forward to accomplishing our goal to significantly reduce the amount of non-recyclable and non-biodegradable waste from our schools’ cafeterias, as well as address the problem of food waste.” - John DiNicola, Superintendent of Schools, Margate City School District, Director of Special Projects/Grants & Accountability Reporting, Director of the Dominick A. Potena Performing Arts Center, Municipal Alliance Chairperson

“Galloway Township Middle School is overjoyed to continue their journey with the Sustainable Jersey for Schools program. This amazing program has already had a monumental impact on our school climate and has encouraged our students to develop innovative methods to reduce waste while adding beauty to our school environment. Being awarded this grant will provide our students the opportunity to continue their work in Mr. B’s Backyard Classroom, with the abundance of learning opportunities that take place in our school’s hands-on, outdoor classroom. Support from Sustainable Jersey for Schools, will enable us to continue to expand this program to include the entire seventh grade science classes, as well as offer our Nature Fest to three schools and our Galloway Township community.” - Paula Junker, Principal, Galloway Township Middle School

“We are so excited to receive the Sustainable Jersey for Schools Small Grant! We look forward to working with students to create an Environmental Club and Green Team to promote environmental awareness within the school and the community. Thank you so much for this opportunity to enhance our sustainability efforts!” - Ms. Donna Malouf, Principal, Highland Park Middle School

"Thank you to Sustainable Jersey for choosing Swift Elementary School to be one of the grant recipients. First Grade teacher Melissa Newhall had applied for the grant in hopes of creating school gardens to expand student understanding of biology and ecology through hands on learning. Classes will have the opportunity take ownership of a raised garden. They will plant, maintain, and observe outcomes throughout the year. The students will enhance their knowledge of the natural world, where food originates, and why clean water, air, and soil are so important. We are so excited to embark on this venture. Again, thank you to Sustainable Jersey for giving us this opportunity!" - Patricia Connor, Principal, Swift Elementary School, Egg Harbor Township

"Middle Township Middle School is excited to take action to implement the ideas conveyed in our grant proposals. We are grateful to have been selected and look forward to using the funds in such a way that sustainability and conservation efforts will lay a foundation for our future. We look to emulate the words of Go Green Initiative founder Jill Buck, when she states,  “It’s not enough to prepare our children for the future…we must prepare the future for our children.” Thank you for allowing us the funds to make strides in setting up a future that will enable us to prosper globally." - Dr. David Salvo, Superintendent, Middle Township Public School District

"Our Millbridge Green Team has been a catalyst for implementing concrete, building wide strategies that demonstrate environmentally friendly practices." -Kimberly Hickson, Principal, Millbridge Elementary School, Burlington County

"We are thrilled to receive this Sustainable Jersey grant. The grant will allow our school to provide outdoor classroom space, hydroponic and aquaponic gardening, and develop plant husbandry and sustainable agriculture concepts for our student body. This grant will foster a continued interest in the environment and vigilance towards the importance of sustainability and how it can be incorporated into daily life." - Frank Morano, Principal of Rutherford High School

“As the Science and Technology magnet school within the Montclair Public School District, we strive to educate all stakeholders (students, staff, families) in being environmentally sound. This grant will allow us to continue on our school wide mission of continuous environmental sustainability throughout the entire school community.” - Joseph Schmidt, Principal, Watchung School, Montclair

“The Barclay Early Childhood Center is pleased to accept the grant from Sustainable Jersey for Schools/ PSEG Foundation. As educators of pre-school children, we feel an urgency to educate our young students in all aspects of sustainability. They are the future stewards of our environment and their generation will hopefully make wise and thoughtful choices for our planet. Little Green Thumbs will provide opportunities for our students to make a connection with their environment. We look forward to the opportunities provided by the funding in order to bring our ideas to fruition.” - Karen Rockhill, Principal, Barclay Early Childhood Center, Camden County