July 2016 News

In This Issue
2016 Green Difference Award Spotlight:
Green Schools Participates in Walmart's State House Day
Green Schools Announces West Coast Student Leadership Summit!
Summer's HOT... Get Solar!!
JOIN US At Boston GreenFest 2016!
In the News..Sen. Ed Markey.
Start A National Green Schools Society Chapter TODAY!
Programs and Competitions
Educator Resources
Resources
Grant Opportunities
Feature YOUR Business or Organization in Our Newsletter

Interact With Green Schools!


 

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

Send a Green Shout Out!

  Have someone doing awesome GREEN work? Want to send a birthday message or good wishes to someone? 

Contact us to find out how you can get a Green Shout Out in our newsletter.

 

Green Strides Webinar Series and Resources

 

 

 

Visit U.S. Department of Education Green Strides 

 

Green Schools Sponsors

 









Green Schools Partners









 










Join Our Mailing List! 

 

 

 

Another big congratulations 
and   THANK YOU to our Green Schools 2015-2016 Co-Student Presidents Melissa Cowell (pictured left) and  Ehasanuzzaman Satu (pictured right).  Best of luck in your future green adventures!
 
And second, WELCOME to our new Green Schools 2016-2017 Co-Presidents Olivia Gieger and Eugen Florin. 

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. "

Olivia will be a Senior at Wellesley High School, in Wellesley,
Photo Credit_ Christopher Evans
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."

Green Schools is looking forward to working with these two talented students in the coming year.
2016 Green Difference Award Spotlight: Backyard Growers
Congratulations to Lara Lepionka, Executive Director of Backyard Growers in Gloucester, MA!  Lara was recognized in the Outstanding Green Education/Program Director category. 
 
Backyard Growers is a grassroots organization aimed at reshaping Gloucester's relationship with food. The program started off in 2010 with a handful of members helping other community members grow gardens, and the program just kept expanding. Backyard Growers provides support and resources to establish vegetable gardens at homes, housing communities, organizations, and schools. Read More
Green Schools Participates in Walmart's State House Day
Special thanks to Green Schools Student President, Melissa Cowell for continuing to "represent" the Green Student Voice at Walmart's Massachusetts State House Day!

Thank you also to Chris Buchanan,  Director, Public Affairs & State and Local Government Relations of Walmart.   Much gratitude for your support of Green Schools.

Green Schools Announces West Coast Student Leadership Summit!
Ahoy Matey!  Green Schools Announces West Coast Student Leadership Summit! 

Green Schools is excited to announce we're teaming up with San Pedro High School and  ITEP [International Trade Education Programs]  for a Green Student Leadership Summit in the spring of 2017.

This Green Difference Award-winning school knows how to make The Green Difference top-down, bottom-up, out in the community, across the globe, and is sure to develop student-led, sustainable solutions for a healthier future!

Pictured at San Pedro High School, CA: Jennifer Suzara-Cheng, Honors and AP biology Teacher, Robin Organ, Green Schools Executive Director and Jeanette Stevens, Principal


ITEP  is a Southern California 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides brighter futures. Through partnerships with ports, transportation, logistics, and related industries, ITEP prepares high school students for diverse career opportunities in high-growth job sectors. We develop innovative programs that integrate internships and career mentoring with the curriculum of high schools throughout Southern California. Volunteers from local businesses offer students the insights, skills, and confidence to thrive in the growing economy. Students build context between their studies and the real world through hands-on learning and carry that experience with them into the workplace.
Summer's HOT... Get Solar!!
There's a solar revolution going on in America-and SolarCity is leading the charge . We've joined forces with SolarCity to help lower your utility bills and your carbon footprint-all while helping us raise money. Going solar with America's #1 full-service solar provider is easy and affordable. SolarCity's in-house team will take care of your entire solar power project from start to finish.

Every 3 minutes someone switches to SolarCity and now, you
can tap
  into this revolution to raise money for your nonprofit by becoming  a Solar Ambassador. We do virtually all the work. You earn money for your organization-and your supporters save money with renewable solar energy. We call it SunRaising.

Here's how it works:
1. Schedule a quick meeting with our Energy Consultant to learn more about our SunRaising program. 

2. If you partner with us, we'll organize SunRaising events to talk to your supporters about the benefits of solar. All you have to do is invite them.

3. We create a custom proposal for any interested supporters. No pressure, no obligation.

4.  Supporters can make the easy switch to solar  with no upfront costs and pay less for electricity every month. The first month is on us!

5. We give Green Schools $200 for every system we install from supporters.
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. 
In the News..Sen. Ed Markey
New Bill Could Help Teach Young People About Climate Change
In a push to improve climate education across the country, Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced a billto create the Climate Change Education Program on Friday. The program would help educate the public on climate change solutions, the dangers caused by climate change, and small changes people can make in their daily lives to help combat the environmental problem." Read article
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.

Current Chapters RENEW now for the 2016-2017 school year! 
Programs and Competitions
Summer Science Academy at Bridgewater State University 
The Summer Science Academy Session I runs from July 11-15; Session II runs from July 18-22; Session III runs from July 25-July 29.

Apply Now for Teachers on the Estuary program on Cape Cod   July 25-29, 2016
Explore coastal habitats and conduct field studies.  Interact with local scientists and experienced coastal educators.   Bring local and national data into your classroom. Co nnect to MA STE and Next Generation Science Standards.  Learn how to guide student investigations. . Learn More

2016 White House Student Film Festival 
Deadline: July 15, 2016
From now through July 15th, 2016, we'll be accepting submissions for the third annual White House Student Film Festival. Our theme is "The World I Want To Live In" and we're inviting U.S. students, grades K-12, to participate. Tell us what you hope the future will hold for us - sci-fi lasers? flying cars? yourself as President? - in the form of a short film.  Learn More
Educator Resources from Eversource
Educators, would you say you are struggling with creating an environment where students can experience real life challenges and do it at their own pace to maximize the learning experience? Or how about having the proper materials due to budget constraints? Even struggling with becoming the facilitator and letting the student self guide to the answers? E versource offers programs to educate students on energy efficiency and energy conservation There are 3-4 lessons that are curriculum based and that are at no cost to the school or you.

Watts-Ville is a 30 minute interactive life-size board game where the class will be in two teams and to advance each team will have to answer energy-based questions. For a video about Watts-Ville, click here.


  For more information visit eversourceinschool.com , email eversourceschoolprogram@eversource.com or call 1.617.929.8600
Resources
STEM and environment focused graphics that are free to publish and share. Just copy and paste the embed code found below each graphic to post to your website.
Join Green Schools Now
D id you know when you become a   Free Member  of Green Schools you have access to our 12 Pathways to Greening Your School? 
 
The   12 Pathways to Greening Your School are designed for you to use September - June (1-10) with two serving as year-round learning tools. But, you can put them in any order that aligns with your program. 

August's theme is Outdoor Learning and Exploration .  Here are a few resource highlights:
 
Guides and Curricula 

Games

Useful Links

If you'd like to have access to all of these Pathways please become a  FREE MEMBER NOW !
Grant Opportunities
CREDO will grant up to $500 to 50 activists or local groups doing the work of Climate Heroes to fight fossil fuels in their community

A curated collection of thousands of grants and awards and grant writing resources

Grants, awards, and contests created for teachers

Resources for finding grants, grant writing, and fundraising for schools
Feature YOUR Business or Organization with Green Schools 
Green Schools is a multiple award-winning 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization, organized for innovative Environmental Education [EE], STEM Education, and Environmental Literacy purposes.Green Schools' mission is to create Greener &healthier students & schools through Innovative Environmental Education, Leadership, and Action! Green Schools provides  a number of Hands-on programs and resources to help you develop the Next Generation of Students & Schools!
 
The most active green schools organization on social media! Green Schools reaches between 20,000-40,000 individuals per week, and is the leading place to receive Green Schools News!

Our Reach:
  • Over 11,000 on Twitter
  • Over 11,000 on Facebook 
  • Over 4,600 Members
  • Over 2,000 Environmental Educators and over 1,000 students
Consider a listing level that works for you:  
  
Bronze Listing - $150...2 Featured Business articles and 2 posts on Social Media [Twitter/Facebook]

Silver Listing - $250...4 Featured Business articles and 4 posts on Social Media [Twitter/Facebook] Quarterly plus 1 blog post on our website (home page).. Choose your time of year!

Gold Listing  - $350...6 Featured Business articles and 6 posts on Social Media [Twitter/Facebook] Half-Year  plus 2 blog posts on our website (home page).. Choose your time of year!

Green Listing  - $500...Featured Business articles or ad in both newsletters and posts on Social Media [Twitter/Facebook] Year Round plus 4 blog posts on our website (home page).. Choose your time of year!

Your articles could be featured in one or both of our monthly newsletters: 

1) Green School News - Released the first of the month

2) NGSS Chapter News - Released the 15th of the month 

 
Send us an  email  to get started on listing your business or organization in our monthly newsletters!
 
Want to become a Green Schools Sponsor? 
  
Your investment will provide students and schools with opportunities to develop environmental policies and programs, become environmental stewards, and implement real projects with real impact.
 
 Learn More about becoming a Green Schools Sponsors
Sincerely,

Robin Organ

Founder and Executive Director

Green Schools