Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Who is the Greenest of them all?
Folger McKinsey! Striving to Be AS Green As Can Be!
Reflection is vital to success and is a key stage of learning. It forces us to consider where we have been and determine how to continue the journey. As a school, when we look in the mirror, the image staring back is GREEN!
While 2006 marked the beginning of Folger McKinsey being officially recognized as a Green School, the process toward that distinction began years prior. In fact, that first award application was “no problem to put together because all the green practices were already in place at the school,” per the response from the parent volunteer who led the application writing at the time. While the players have changed over the years, what has remained steadfast is the school’s overall commitment to environmental education and stewardship. The sheer volume of actively involved staff, students and parent volunteers, as well as community partners has flourished along with the many trees and flowers planted as part of the green school program.
The first Maryland Green School award served as a catalyst to grow the program and it is with pride, that as a community, we all acknowledge that “Green School” is a mindset and very much a part of the school identity and culture. There are several factors integral to this realization over the years and how we know the school’s “green” success will continue.
Leadership:
Despite six different principals in 10 years, each has deemed the green school program important to the school and has allowed for classroom time to be dedicated to the hands-on and real-world learning that green school is all about.
Additionally, each year, a teacher or two (or more), comes forward to carry the torch and champion green school among the entire staff. The program began with two incredibly passionate and dedicated teachers who went above and beyond to bring in outside resources and expand learning programs for all students. As part of their retirement plans, they groomed their peers and passed the baton, ensuring the momentum would not diminish.
Students and parent volunteers also play an integral role in serving as leaders and bridging the gap between school and home, ensuring that lessons learned in school are carried over into the larger community. Students in grades 2-5 have a unique opportunity to apply to serve as part of the Outdoor Classroom Club Leadership Team, a role defined, respected and needed to foster the plans for the Folger Green School program.
School Improvement Plan (SIP):
The school system requires that our school establish a plan of priorities each year, encompassing educational, school and student objectives and specific plans for attaining them. Green School is a defined Folger priority annually, not simply because the school wants to maintain its Maryland Green School award status, but because we see this as key to the vital and real-world learning we strive for at our school. The SIP entails the establishment of an annual committee comprised of a staff representative from every grade level and department, as well as parent and community partner members. Through this committee, the green school charter is evaluated annually and a plan for each year is established and implemented to ensure Green School remains top of mind and practice for the entire school community.
Curriculum and Instruction:
AACPS established Environmental Literacy as a graduation requirement and with that, opportunities for diverse, enriching and hands-on learning, including outdoor environmental field trips at every grade level, abound. While there are baseline curriculum standards to which each grade level is accountable, teachers enhance and expand, frequently taking the lessons to the Outdoor Classroom whenever possible to bring the lessons to life. Additionally, the Outdoor Classroom is such a great vehicle for teachers to add a green component to lessons that are not necessarily designed as such. In fact, given how vibrant the green school program is, more often than not, lessons and programs involve an environmental spin or at least an opportunity to draw a connection to being a Green School.
OC2 - The Outdoor Classroom Club
The formation of the Outdoor Classroom Club has been essential to the expansion of diverse programs, implemented both in the classroom and at an extra-curricular level. Involving 2nd - 5th graders, and an extensive volunteer committee base, this group augments programs school-wide, and also takes the lead on maintenance of the outdoor classroom.
It’s our hope that 2017 will see our school designated as a Maryland Sustainable Green School and as was the case in 2006, we endeavor for this achievement to serve as springboard for the implementation of new and expanded programs and a renewed school-wide promise to the Green School ideals.
Milestone moments in Folger’s commitment to environmental stewardship include:
April 2002 Folger McKinsey participates in the inaugural Severna Park Earth Day Festival
This involvement and partnership continues and has expanded for 15 years!
April 2006 Folger McKinsey Elementary School’s 1st Maryland Green School Award
April 2009 Folger Re-certifies as Maryland Green School
August 2010 Staff and Community Green School sub-committee established as part of School Improvement Plan. SIP revised annually with green school component, as does the committee to serve as central force of
school-wide green program.
Sept. 2011 Revision of school Mission, Vision and Value statements to include commitment to Environmental
Literacy and Stewardship
April 2012 Folger is awarded National Green Ribbon
April 2012 Folger moves into new, environmentally friendly facility. Logo and mascot re-designed with green and
blue as school colors, indicative of Folger's green school commitment.
May 2012 OC2 (Outdoor Classroom Club) is formed involving more than 70 students, parent volunteers, staff and community partners to serve as key component of environmental programming and sustainability.
August 2012 Outdoor classroom created
Sept. 2012 First annual Green Apple Day of Service
Oct. 2013 Folger hosted National Green Ribbon program reception as model for outdoor and environmental education
April 2013 Folger Re-certifies as a Maryland Green School
Oct. 2015 Terrapin Release program participation began
Oct. 2016 Energy Conservation program implemented
AACPS (school system) award for Holiday Energy Competition
March 2017 Apply for Maryland Green School Certification with hope of receiving SUSTAINABLE GREEN SCHOOL
status
While 2006 marked the beginning of Folger McKinsey being officially recognized as a Green School, the process toward that distinction began years prior. In fact, that first award application was “no problem to put together because all the green practices were already in place at the school,” per the response from the parent volunteer who led the application writing at the time. While the players have changed over the years, what has remained steadfast is the school’s overall commitment to environmental education and stewardship. The sheer volume of actively involved staff, students and parent volunteers, as well as community partners has flourished along with the many trees and flowers planted as part of the green school program.
The first Maryland Green School award served as a catalyst to grow the program and it is with pride, that as a community, we all acknowledge that “Green School” is a mindset and very much a part of the school identity and culture. There are several factors integral to this realization over the years and how we know the school’s “green” success will continue.
Leadership:
Despite six different principals in 10 years, each has deemed the green school program important to the school and has allowed for classroom time to be dedicated to the hands-on and real-world learning that green school is all about.
Additionally, each year, a teacher or two (or more), comes forward to carry the torch and champion green school among the entire staff. The program began with two incredibly passionate and dedicated teachers who went above and beyond to bring in outside resources and expand learning programs for all students. As part of their retirement plans, they groomed their peers and passed the baton, ensuring the momentum would not diminish.
Students and parent volunteers also play an integral role in serving as leaders and bridging the gap between school and home, ensuring that lessons learned in school are carried over into the larger community. Students in grades 2-5 have a unique opportunity to apply to serve as part of the Outdoor Classroom Club Leadership Team, a role defined, respected and needed to foster the plans for the Folger Green School program.
School Improvement Plan (SIP):
The school system requires that our school establish a plan of priorities each year, encompassing educational, school and student objectives and specific plans for attaining them. Green School is a defined Folger priority annually, not simply because the school wants to maintain its Maryland Green School award status, but because we see this as key to the vital and real-world learning we strive for at our school. The SIP entails the establishment of an annual committee comprised of a staff representative from every grade level and department, as well as parent and community partner members. Through this committee, the green school charter is evaluated annually and a plan for each year is established and implemented to ensure Green School remains top of mind and practice for the entire school community.
Curriculum and Instruction:
AACPS established Environmental Literacy as a graduation requirement and with that, opportunities for diverse, enriching and hands-on learning, including outdoor environmental field trips at every grade level, abound. While there are baseline curriculum standards to which each grade level is accountable, teachers enhance and expand, frequently taking the lessons to the Outdoor Classroom whenever possible to bring the lessons to life. Additionally, the Outdoor Classroom is such a great vehicle for teachers to add a green component to lessons that are not necessarily designed as such. In fact, given how vibrant the green school program is, more often than not, lessons and programs involve an environmental spin or at least an opportunity to draw a connection to being a Green School.
OC2 - The Outdoor Classroom Club
The formation of the Outdoor Classroom Club has been essential to the expansion of diverse programs, implemented both in the classroom and at an extra-curricular level. Involving 2nd - 5th graders, and an extensive volunteer committee base, this group augments programs school-wide, and also takes the lead on maintenance of the outdoor classroom.
It’s our hope that 2017 will see our school designated as a Maryland Sustainable Green School and as was the case in 2006, we endeavor for this achievement to serve as springboard for the implementation of new and expanded programs and a renewed school-wide promise to the Green School ideals.
Milestone moments in Folger’s commitment to environmental stewardship include:
April 2002 Folger McKinsey participates in the inaugural Severna Park Earth Day Festival
This involvement and partnership continues and has expanded for 15 years!
April 2006 Folger McKinsey Elementary School’s 1st Maryland Green School Award
April 2009 Folger Re-certifies as Maryland Green School
August 2010 Staff and Community Green School sub-committee established as part of School Improvement Plan. SIP revised annually with green school component, as does the committee to serve as central force of
school-wide green program.
Sept. 2011 Revision of school Mission, Vision and Value statements to include commitment to Environmental
Literacy and Stewardship
April 2012 Folger is awarded National Green Ribbon
April 2012 Folger moves into new, environmentally friendly facility. Logo and mascot re-designed with green and
blue as school colors, indicative of Folger's green school commitment.
May 2012 OC2 (Outdoor Classroom Club) is formed involving more than 70 students, parent volunteers, staff and community partners to serve as key component of environmental programming and sustainability.
August 2012 Outdoor classroom created
Sept. 2012 First annual Green Apple Day of Service
Oct. 2013 Folger hosted National Green Ribbon program reception as model for outdoor and environmental education
April 2013 Folger Re-certifies as a Maryland Green School
Oct. 2015 Terrapin Release program participation began
Oct. 2016 Energy Conservation program implemented
AACPS (school system) award for Holiday Energy Competition
March 2017 Apply for Maryland Green School Certification with hope of receiving SUSTAINABLE GREEN SCHOOL
status