St. Albans City School Celebrates National Green Ribbon Award
June 6th, 2013
In our new blue t-shirts against a backdrop of green on a perfect spring day, St. Albans City School students and staff celebrated our National Green Ribbon Schools recognition on June 5th. To get ready for this day, our school delegation went to Washington D.C. on June 3rd to receive the award, a banner and a book about all of the winners. The delegation; Andi Esenler, Peter DesLauriers, Frank Pelkey and Joan Cavallo spent the day in D.C sharing with other schools, and listening to the importance of the work we have done and will continue to do. We traveled down that morning and were back on the last flight that night, eager to return for the school-wide celebration.
June 5th began with the whole school changing into our t-shirts which were in the classrooms when teachers and students arrived. In morning meetings students watched a slideshow that explained all of the things we did as a school that allowed us to achieve this award. When the slideshow was done, students placed one item that they were most proud of on the Green Ribbon we provided for them. Those ribbons are being collected to use as we move forward. Finally, students practiced the song we would sing at our ceremony, ‘This Land’.
The whole school agreed to be paper-free that day, so copiers and printers were unplugged. Teams were given many activities that they could include in their day. What we wanted was for the students to have a day full of activities that had them moving and actively learning. The day was extremely successful. There were so many things to do that did not require paper.
There were four major activities for students and staff. The most popular was walking the track. We created an imaginary track (the one we are dreaming about) on the fields. Each member of our community (staff and students) walked the track twice, to earn their Blue Cross Blue Shield bag (Walk at lunch program). Looking out over the fields in the late morning there was a sea of blue t-shirts against the green fields.
Another very popular activity was our school-wide green-up day. This day was moved from an earlier rained-out date. Our school’s learning communities each have responsibility for a garden at the school. On this day students were weeding, planting or cleaning their areas. Students were also cleaning the shared school areas.
In the library there were two short presentations. In the morning students learned about the land our school is on. They were challenged to think of ways that we could use our land to continue our ‘Green’ journey. During lunch hours the fourth through sixth grade students shared their speeches on POWs. They helped students understand the importance of the flag that would be presented to our school at the formal ceremony in the afternoon.
At 10:00 we had a school-wide evacuation to the fields, and our students took the drill seriously and followed all directions quietly and quickly. Following the drill students assembled on the front steps for another whole-school picture. This time the Raider blue created a strong presence.
Finally, at 1:00 the entire school assembled in the gymnasium for the formal ceremony. Students entered as the 5th-6th grade band played several selections. Mayor Liz Gamache spoke to us about her pride in our efforts. Then Sophia Venturo, a 7th grade student, spoke to thank our partners. Andi Esenler, the 8th grade student that went with the delegation to D.C., described the trip and shared her story with the students. Cathy Hilgendorf from the Vermont Agency of Education spoke on behalf of the Secretary. We talked about several other awards we had won. Our whole school sang ‘This Land’. Mr. Henry Newburgger presented the POW Flag, and gave us a civics lesson. We discussed the progress we were making on our World Fit Challenge, and finally we learned about the future plans from each of the learning communities. Even our pre-kindergarten class presented, with Jessica stating, ‘I love going to City School’.
With our celebration over, our journey towards a green ribbon in three years has just begun. We need to wait three years to apply again, and over those three years, we will be achieving an even greener presence. Students are stewards of our School and community. With our school-wide focus on Project-based learning, we will see the environmental and sustainability projects grow. We will be using our land to learn.
Note: The option for re-applying for the award was discontinued. However, St. Albans City School remains committed to the being a Green Ribbon School every way. 2018.
June 5th began with the whole school changing into our t-shirts which were in the classrooms when teachers and students arrived. In morning meetings students watched a slideshow that explained all of the things we did as a school that allowed us to achieve this award. When the slideshow was done, students placed one item that they were most proud of on the Green Ribbon we provided for them. Those ribbons are being collected to use as we move forward. Finally, students practiced the song we would sing at our ceremony, ‘This Land’.
The whole school agreed to be paper-free that day, so copiers and printers were unplugged. Teams were given many activities that they could include in their day. What we wanted was for the students to have a day full of activities that had them moving and actively learning. The day was extremely successful. There were so many things to do that did not require paper.
There were four major activities for students and staff. The most popular was walking the track. We created an imaginary track (the one we are dreaming about) on the fields. Each member of our community (staff and students) walked the track twice, to earn their Blue Cross Blue Shield bag (Walk at lunch program). Looking out over the fields in the late morning there was a sea of blue t-shirts against the green fields.
Another very popular activity was our school-wide green-up day. This day was moved from an earlier rained-out date. Our school’s learning communities each have responsibility for a garden at the school. On this day students were weeding, planting or cleaning their areas. Students were also cleaning the shared school areas.
In the library there were two short presentations. In the morning students learned about the land our school is on. They were challenged to think of ways that we could use our land to continue our ‘Green’ journey. During lunch hours the fourth through sixth grade students shared their speeches on POWs. They helped students understand the importance of the flag that would be presented to our school at the formal ceremony in the afternoon.
At 10:00 we had a school-wide evacuation to the fields, and our students took the drill seriously and followed all directions quietly and quickly. Following the drill students assembled on the front steps for another whole-school picture. This time the Raider blue created a strong presence.
Finally, at 1:00 the entire school assembled in the gymnasium for the formal ceremony. Students entered as the 5th-6th grade band played several selections. Mayor Liz Gamache spoke to us about her pride in our efforts. Then Sophia Venturo, a 7th grade student, spoke to thank our partners. Andi Esenler, the 8th grade student that went with the delegation to D.C., described the trip and shared her story with the students. Cathy Hilgendorf from the Vermont Agency of Education spoke on behalf of the Secretary. We talked about several other awards we had won. Our whole school sang ‘This Land’. Mr. Henry Newburgger presented the POW Flag, and gave us a civics lesson. We discussed the progress we were making on our World Fit Challenge, and finally we learned about the future plans from each of the learning communities. Even our pre-kindergarten class presented, with Jessica stating, ‘I love going to City School’.
With our celebration over, our journey towards a green ribbon in three years has just begun. We need to wait three years to apply again, and over those three years, we will be achieving an even greener presence. Students are stewards of our School and community. With our school-wide focus on Project-based learning, we will see the environmental and sustainability projects grow. We will be using our land to learn.
Note: The option for re-applying for the award was discontinued. However, St. Albans City School remains committed to the being a Green Ribbon School every way. 2018.