December 2012 News 

In This Issue
Green Schools Needs Your Support
Mansfield Public Schools Commitment to Stem
Holiday Gift Idea
Registration Open for 2013 Science Bowl
Green Ribbon Schools Video Game Contest
MA Clean Energy Internship Opportunity
Up-and-Coming Green Jobs article
New Student Led Blog
Green Scholars Program
Hurricane Sandy
Green Schools National Conference 2013
Grant Opportunities
A message from your Newsletter Coordinator
Save the Date...

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Greetings!

December is Lung Cancer Awareness Month!! 

 

  

  

  •  The Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool is a free software tool to help school systems more effectively manage all of their environmental issues. HealthySEAT is designed to be customized by school systems to conduct and manage self-assessments of their school facilities for a wide range of environmental, health, and safety issues.

 

Lung Cancer Awareness and Indoor Air Quality awareness go hand in hand especially when we consider how much time we, and especially our children, spend indoors. 

  • In the United States, more than 53 million elementary and secondary students attend approximately 119,000 public and private schools. 
  • The average child spends about 1,300 hours in a school building each year; teachers and other employees spend even longer periods.
  • Today, the average school building is about 42 years old.
  • More than 75% of America's schools were built before 1970.

Children can be more vulnerable to many environmental contaminants than adults. Children's bodies are still developing, and they may be exposed to more environmental contaminants than adults because they eat, drink, and breathe more per pound of body weight, and because their behaviors - like putting things in their mouths and playing on and close to the floor - may bring them in greater contact with contaminants than typical adult behaviors (reference). 

  

  

 

 Green Schools Needs Your Support

 

Green Schools� Award-winning Environmental Education [EE] Programs are gaining momentum across the Commonwealth and across our Nation.  Green Schools EE Programs benefit Students,

Schools, Communities, and our planet, and today, we are asking for your support.

 

As we continue to grow [we have now reached more than 100,000 individuals], it is critical that we bring in the necessary funds to be able to both sustain and expand our work for those we serve.

 

Your generosity will make an immediate difference for Students, Schools, & Communities interested in EE Programs based on the following topics: STEM,  Environmental Education, Conservation,

IAQ, Green Jobs, Energy, Waste Management, Youth Development, and more.

 

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today, so we can bring The Green Difference to more Students, Schools, & Communities. 

 

Read Donor Letter

 

Click to Donate

 

Mansfield Public Schools Commitment to STEM

     

STEM highlights from Mansfield Public Schools:


1. STEM internship at MHS
2. STEM Careers Pathways Integration
3. Robotics [K-12] + Champs [After School] + integrated with Special Education Students for hand-on learning
4. Engineering Course at MHS...discussed Energy efficiency and many topics!!
5. AP French has integrated ecology throughout the curriculum. Neat integration! 
6. MHS hosts Annual Green Schools Summit that focusses on STEM/Environmental Topics & Service 

 

                     

Holiday Gift Idea - Greenhouse Kits

 A holiday gift from Student Ambassador, Heather Morecock, to Student Ambassador, Haley Organ.  Greenhouse frames can be found at Ikea. Haley painted the tins and used recycled fabric to make floor. Great green design through and through and Haley can't wait to get planting!

Registration Now Open for 2013 Science Bowl Teams

Designed to encourage students to excel in science and math and to pursue careers in those fields, the National Science Bowl brings together thousands of middle and high school students from across the country to compete on a range of science disciplines in a fast-paced, Jeopardy-style format. More than 200,000 students have participated in the National Science Bowl throughout its 22 year history.

 

  

To register for their respective regional competitions in the upcoming Science Bowl, teams should go to the National Science Bowl website. In addition to basic registration information, the website also provides information on how teams can prepare and what they can expect in the upcoming regional events

 

 

National Event: April 25 - 29, 2013 in Washington, DC. 
Green Ribbon Schools Video Game Contest

 


Want to win a laptop? Want to show off your video game design skills?

 

What is more relevant and engaging to students these days than video games? In a few short weeks, you and your students can go from no game design experience to publishing your health related online video games on the Green Ribbon Schools website. The best part is we will show you exactly how to do this.  

Once you have completed and published your video game. All you have to do is send people to your published Healthivores video game page on the Green Ribbon Schools website and have them click the "LIKE" button. The game page with the most "Likes" on December 31st wins a laptop for each team member. Easy as that!  

 Click Here for more details on game design

Click Here for Voting Details

Massachusetts Clean Energy Internship Opportunity - Spring 2013

Space in this program is limited, so be sure to visit the website and apply today!

 

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Internship Opportunity Program is a workforce development initiative offered through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and New England Clean Energy Council (NECEC) that focuses on enhancing the talent pipeline for Massachusetts companies engaged in the clean energy industry. The program facilitates the placement of students and recent graduates who are considering career opportunities in clean energy through paid summer internships across the state.

 

For additional information, download the following documents:  Prospective Intern FAQs  | Host Company FAQs | Company Application Form


 

Up-and-Coming Green Jobs for College Graduates

While most college students are suffering from understandable trepidation when it comes graduating and starting the job search in a recession, those that have their eye on eco-industry will be happy to hear that fields focused on reducing pollution, consumption, and waste, as well as creating sustainable products and services are growing. Read more

 

"The Green Difference" New Student Led Blog

 

Green Schools has launched a new student publication! The Green Difference is a blog brought to you straight from the minds of our Environmental Ambassadors. This is a space where they can communicate their stories, and highlight their service projects, internships, and accumulating progress and impacts through mixed media content including interviews like this one with Ambassador Officer Treasurer Kaitlyn Shannon:
 
  
Can you start by stating your name, school, and an interesting (or quirky!) fact about yourself?
  
My name is Kaitlyn Shannon and I am a Senior from the Foxborough Regional Charter School. I enjoy playing soccer and participating in class council at my school.
  
Can you please give your own definition of Sustainability?
  
To me, sustainability is the ability we all have to keep our Earth, and anything else we care about, clean and healthy like it should be.
  
What does making A Green Difference mean to you?
  
Making A Green Difference means that people and this planet are benefiting from whatever positive action you choose to make, whether it be picking up trash on the side of the road or planting more trees in a local park.
  
What does having the title of a Green School mean to you?
  
Being a Green School means that every day my school has made a conscious effort to change itself and its environment as a whole.
  
What is Green about your school?
  
My school is Green because we have installed motion sensor lights and have brightly painted rooms to allow the maximum amount of natural light as possible.
  
Why do you think environmental initiatives are important in schools?
  
Environmental initiatives are important for schools because children need to be taught the correct way to treat themselves and their environment. We need to start at the base in order to get a lifelong change.
  
To see the rest of this interview, and learn more about Kaitlyn and the rest of our Student Ambassadors, be sure to check out the blog and don't forget to follow us!
 
Written By: Dylana Dillon 
Green Scholars Program -  A Green Difference Award Winning Program

 

Do you want to bring an environmental sustainability program to your school that requires neither a classroom nor funding?

 

The national award-winning Green Scholars program utilizes adventure and service learning to engage students as change-agents through independent projects within their school or community. "Green Scholars cultivates empowered, informed, and progressive student entrepreneurial leaders who become equipped to face 21st century environmental challenges."
 

Attend a Green Scholars Training Program on Friday, January 18, 2013 where participants will:

 

1.    Discuss how to apply Green Scholars as a leading strategy for sustainable school development

 

2.    Review adventure education concepts in the context of school sustainability initiatives

 

3.    Join a network of school sustainability leaders in the Greater Boston area

 

4.    Learn techniques for managing students effectively and efficiently

 

Location: Manchester Essex Regional High School, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA   

Tuition: $100 includes workshop fee, lunch, access to Green Scholars planning tools, sample successful projects and manual.

 

Click for more information and how to register 

 

Contact Eric Magers (NSSP Coordinator) for questions @ [email protected] or 978.525.6469

 

Hurricane Sandy Donations

 

Thanks to everyone who brought donations for Hurricane Sandy Relief efforts to the Kick Off Event on Sunday. With the help of Carolyn and Jim Kipp and Judy Widberg we were able to transport the much needed goods down to New York and are helping to get them distributed to areas that need them most. For Volunteers, Coordinators, and those impacted HERE are some great resources. The effects of this storm are far reaching so thanks again for all who donated and if you would like to continue to help, please be in touch at [email protected].

 
Written by: Dylana Dillon
 
Green Schools National Conference 2013

 

 

ALL SHADES OF GREEN 

Green Schools National Conference examines environmental literacy, energy efficiency, healthier food, eco-friendly purchasing and more

 

There are many shades of green, and they'll all be represented early next year at one of the largest national gatherings of 'green school' administrators, teachers, students and parents.

 

The 3rd annual Green Schools National Conference, set for Feb. 22-24, 2013, in West Palm Beach, Fl, is sponsored by the Green Schools National Network (GSNN) and has a stated goal of "developing healthy and sustainable schools across America."

 

Whether the topic is curriculum that advances environmental literacy and sustainability, recycling programs or organic foods on the cafeteria line, or improving indoor air quality the movement that has swept the country to include thousands of private, public, and charter schools sees the 'greening' of the nation's schools as the way to save money, improve student health and achievement -- and save the planet in the process.

 

 

GSNC-Early Bird Reduced Registration October 21st - November 21st  includes a free EcoCo t-shirt  

For more information or to register, visit www.greenschoolsnationalconference.org

 
Grant Opportunities
DoSomething.org Seed Grants  Deadline: Ongoing

Are you working to start a community action project or program with your friends? Do you need money to put your ideas into action? A $500 Do Something Seed Grant is given out every week to help young people just like YOU! These grants can be used towards project ideas and programs that are just getting started, or to jump-start your program and realize your ideas for the first time. These grants can also be used towards projects that are already developed and sustainable, towards the next steps of your project and organization to help you as you look to expand your project and grow your impact. Click Here   

 

A message from your Newsletter Coordinator
As your new Newsletter Coordinator I wanted to let you know that if you had any questions regarding newsletter content or if you had any information, events, or exciting news regarding your school/business that you would like to share in our monthly newsletter please send an e-mail to:

 [email protected]

 Please note all submissions will be reviewed before being placed in our newsletter.  

  Thank you 
    Tammy 

 

Save the Date...
December 14, 2012 @ 12:00 pm 

MA Green Ribbon Schools Applications are due to ESE

 

January 31, 2013 Application deadline 

The Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators 

Click here

 

Sincerely,

Robin Organ

Founder and Executive Director

Green Schools