June 2016 News

In This Issue
Engage Your Fellow Students
Check Out Our Partners
Grant and Scholarship Opportunities

Interact With Green Schools!


 

Help Support Green Schools and Donate Now!
Make a tax-deductible contribution to Green Schools and you will support environmentally responsible students and schools.

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Congratulations to all of our 2016 NGSS Student Graduates!  Best of luck to all of you in your future endeavors! 

A big congratulations and THANK YOU to our two Green Schools 2015-2016 Student Presidents Melissa Cowell (pictured below left) and Ehasanuzzaman Satu (pictured below right). 













Read Melissa and Satu's speeches from the Green Difference Awards at the MA State House. 

Please continue to share your NGSS stole graduation pictures with us on our Facebook page. 
Green Schools In Review
WOW! A lot has happened this year and we are so grateful to all of our supporters from teachers to students to community and government leaders and more.

A quick look back at some of our exciting events...




Welcome our New Green Schools Student Co-Presidents Eugen Florin and Olivia Gieger 
Eugen Florin Cotei  will be a Senior at Rancho High School in Las Vegas, NV for the 2016-2017 school year.  Read Eugen's student reflection.

"With the honor of being titled co-president with the truly amazing Olivia, I aspire to collaborate as a team a see work to unify green schools youth. My biggest goal is to connect with other students and spread awareness to let them know that we will help them with whatever they need. Along with this, I hope to grow as a leader and individual, both on a professional and personal level. "

Photo Credit_ Christopher Evans

Olivia will be a Senior at Wellesley High School, in Wellesley, MA for the 2016-2017 school year.  Olivia was recently featured in the Boston Herald for the lawsuit she and other students brought on the Department of Environmental Protection and WON! 

"I'm so pleased to be coming into the 2016-2017 school year as co-president with a strong, collaborative team. I've enjoyed working with the Green Schools team so much this year, and I feel that because we have worked closely this year, we are ready to hit the ground running. I truly love in Green Schools' mission to unite schools across the country in environmental activism because I truly believe that only together, in a united front, will we be able to address the plaguing issues of climate change that confront our generation."
RENEW Your NGSS Chapter NOW! 
Current Chapters, now is the time to renew your NGSS Chapter for the 2016-2017 school year. 

Use our renewal form NOW!

If you do not have a chapter and are interested in starting a new chapter of NGSS please click here
Nominate the Next Green Student Leader!!
Green Schools is seeking nominations for outstanding green student leaders to join our New England Council

Please email your nominations by August 1, 2016 to [email protected].  In your email, please be sure to tell us a little bit about the nominee(s).
 
Join Us at Boston Greenfest 2016 
Green Schools is excited to return to the 9th Annual Boston Greenfest!

Friday-Sunday, August 19-21, 2016 - Boston City Hall Plaza - FREE!

STUDENTS! REGISTER for the 9th Annual Boston GreenFest International Youth Summit held on Saturday August 20, 2016.

We are always looking for volunteers to help table at the event.  Please email to let us know if you are interested. 
 Green Schools Present at Walmart State House Day
Green Schools students and graduates will be tabling at the MA State House for Walmart State House Day on Thursday, June 29th from 9:30AM-1:00PM

Green Schools will be tabling as Walmart salutes other Massachusetts-based suppliers and non-profits in the Commonwealth. Folks can learn about the services, jobs and local products that Walmart supports throughout the Commonwealth. 

Green Schools recently received a $25,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation for the New England Green Student Leadership Council
"Let Go And Love" World Screening 

The science on climate change is telling us we need to keep 80% of known fossil fuels in the ground. Unfortunately, money influences policy more than science these days so the fossil fuel industry is expanding.

As we face the challenging times ahead, we need strong communities that can stop the expansion of fossil fuels, transition to 100% renewable energy and work together to ensure our society is more loving and just.


 NGSS Chapter Reminders
1) Don't forget to have an induction ceremony for new students. This can happen in the fall, spring or you can have rolling inductions if need be.  Student fees can be collected at this time.

2) Don't forget to keep track of your student service hours, especially those on the graduating track so  you can receive Green Schools recognition.

3) If you have not already, Like and POST your ongoing work to Greenstudents Connect Facebook page. You could be featured in our next newsletter!

4) Don't forget to check out our Partner Page for more ideas for service projects and events for your school. Reminder that NGSS Partner page which contains contacts for our Partners is password protected. If you need a password reminder please send us an email

5) Our Chapter Profile Page is LIVE! We will have an ongoing collection of Chapter Profiles and Student Profiles so continue to send in your amazing work!


 Start a National Green Schools Society Chapter TODAY!
Now is the time to sign up for a National Green Schools Society Chapter for your school and students. Complete a NGSS Application TODAY. 
National Green Schools Society (NGSS) provides a k-12 student recognition and awards program for environmentally focused students who are creating extraordinary impact in schools, organizations, and communities. Many of our students join NGSS to receive recognition for environmental service projects, environmental activism and leadership, environmental STEM projects (E-STEM), school projects that focus on the environment, and group projects. NGSS often is the catalyst to start or restart an environmental club in a school, and it serves as a continual motivator for students and advisors to maintain the club each year. This year we worked with students in public, private, charter, and home school.

For 2014-2015 school year, we recognized an array of student projects that include:
  • Environmental service project building trails in the Puerto Rico rainforest
  • Recycled art and ocean project
  • Elementary education program created and delivered by high school students
  • School garden programs and outdoor classrooms
  • Student-led divestment from fossil fuels activism on a state-wide level
  • Student leadership working with a town sustainability committee
  • Science experiments looking at global warming and ocean acidification impacts
Superintendents, administrators, and teachers say that NGSS is a no-brainer - it helps them to recognize environmentally focused students and highlight their achievements.
Engage Your Fellow Students!
Ask your fellow students to join the NGSS Chapter! Put up this flyer around your school with information on your chapter or team's next meeting. 
Check Out Our Partners

When you become a National Green Schools Society Chapter you can get started right away with environmental service projects from our outstanding partners. We know that it is common for students and advisors to wonder about where to go for project ideas or they may have a hard time getting the environmental club started during the first few months of the year. To help you get started and keep the momentum going, check out our partner programs and pick one. We have carefully selected these partner programs because they are well supported, easy to implement, and really deliver on environmental impact in schools and communities. At the end of the year, apply for NGSS recognition using the projects and programs from our partners or use your school-based projects! All of these programs are FREE.

 

Click to learn more about our partners

Grant and Scholarship Opportunities

 The Karma for Cara Foundation is encouraging kids 18 and under to apply for funds between $250 and $1,000 to complete service projects in their communities. Whether it is turning a vacant lot into a community garden, rebuilding a school playground or helping senior citizens get their homes ready for winter, they want to hear what project you're passionate about. Learn More


VolunTEEN Nation International Service Project Grants - Dealine: Rolling 

Students (ages 13-22) from the United States going abroad to volunteer or study in a developing country are encouraged to apply for an international service-learning mini-grant from VolunTEEN Nation. Grants are for up to $300 to create a service project in a developing country while you are visiting that country. Learn More
 
 

Sincerely,

Robin Organ

Founder and Executive Director

Green Schools