Green School Application 2020
Silver Creek Middle School
Cover sheet embedded here
Emailed separately to greenschools@maeoe.org
and applications@maeoe.org on 3/17/2020
Silver Creek MS: Green Culture
Since our school’s opening in 2017 the green culture at Silver Creek Middle School has grown. Before the school even opened we were thinking green, with stream cleanups in Silver Creek and a green roof on our new building. Since then, we have accomplished a lot. We created a No Idle Zone in our student drop-off area. We started composting in
our school cafeteria. We also put in place a box in which students can drop off old electronics and ink cartridges to be recycled. We continue to make our own eco-pads from recycled paper that are available for teachers to use. We learn the importance of habitat restoration by raising trout in the classroom and releasing them back into the wild to help restore the stream habitat. We, as young people, need to be concerned about the future of our planet. We agree with Greta Thunberg, that young people need to take action together and be united for our one planet. At Silver Creek, we learn about the importance of the environment - what is at stake - and we take action! Silver Creek Green Team
Top Five Accomplishments
1 - COMPOSTING - Students, with support from parents and teachers, have implemented a composting effort in our school cafeteria that has spread to other schools in our cluster and more than 80 family homes in our community.
2 - TROUT IN THE CLASSROOM - Students have raised more than 400 trout fingerlings in the classroom and released them into the wild to restore a local Maryland stream.
3 - STREAM STEWARDSHIP - Students and community members have acted as stewards for the creek that runs beside our school, since construction of our building three years ago, by organising regular stream clean up and habitat monitoring events.
4 - MULTI-STREAM RECYCLING - Students, teachers and community members are committed to recycling as widely as possible - paper, bottles/cans, electronics, ink cartridges, clothing are all collected for recycling at our school.
5- TRANSPORTATION - Students have implemented a no idle zone, educated drivers about tire pressure, and promoted walking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars.
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.1 Curriculum & Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
Title of Lesson/Activity: Hoot Environmental Problem/Solution Posters
Date: February 2020�Teacher Name: Hughes & Mannheimer�Subject Area: English
Grade: 6�Brief Description of Lesson/Activity: Students read the novel Hoot by Carl Hiaasen and discussed the activism of characters Roy, Beatrice, and Napoleon. With Hoot as an inspiration, students researched environmental problems/issues and made posters to advocate for their preferred solution(s).
STUDENTS USING HOOT AND RESEARCH TO DEVELOP PAPER & DIGITAL ACTIVISM POSTERS
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.1 Curriculum & Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
Title of Lesson/Activity: Save the Water Challenge�Date: October 2019�Teacher Name: Miller
Subject Area: Math�Grade: 6�Brief Description of Lesson/Activity: Students were “given” $850 to spend on water saving devices for a family in Connecticut. They were instructed to spend as close to $850 as possible and save as much water for the family as they could. Students worked in groups to create slideshow presentations about their work.
RESOURCES STUDENTS USED TO COMPLETE THE “SAVE THE WATER CHALLENGE”
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.1 Curriculum & Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
Title of Lesson/Activity: Solar Collectors�Date: June 2018, 2019�Teacher Name: Cornell & Dinger
Subject Area: Science�Grade: 6�Brief Description of Lesson/Activity: Students designed as built solar collectors as part of their learning about alternative energy sources. Prior to building solar energy collectors, students researched six alternatives to coal: geothermal, wind, hydroelectric, nuclear, biomass, and solar, and determined, through debate and student to student discourse, that solar energy offered the best option for electricity generation in our area.
STUDENTS DESIGNED AND BUILT SOLAR COLLECTORS
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.1 Curriculum & Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
Title of Lesson/Activity: Bioplastics�Date: February 2018, 2019, 2020�Teacher Name: Cornell & Dinger
Subject Area: Science�Grade: 6�Brief Description of Lesson/Activity: Students learn about conventional plastics, how they are made from petroleum, how long they take to decompose in landfills and how they contribute to ocean pollution. Student make bioplastics from milk and from potato starch and consider if bioplastics are a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic. Student writing sample here.
BIOPLASTIC SAMPLES
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.1 Curriculum & Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
Title of Lesson/Activity: Watershed Modeling�Date: February 2018, 19, 20�Teacher Name: Cornell & Dinger
Subject Area: Science
Grade: 6�Brief Description of Lesson/Activity: Students used a variety of models to explore the meaning of a watershed and to learn how human actions in any area of a watershed impact water quality throughout the watershed. Students learned that in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, human activity in cities, suburbs and rural areas throughout 7 states, negatively affect the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Students also learned about changes in the Bay over the past 400 years and rated various aspects of the Bay ecosystem, such as wetlands, forests,crabs, oysters, shad populations etc. using a report card grade to compare the health of the bay, past and present. See sample of student work here.
STUDENTS USE WATERSHED MODELS TO LEARN ABOUT
RUN OFF
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.1 Curriculum & Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
Title of Lesson/Activity: Outdoor Education�Date: October 2017, May 2019, December 2019�Teacher Name: 6th Grade Team
Subject Area: Cross Curricula�Grade: 6�Brief Description of Lesson/Activity: 96% of all 6th grade students participated in 3 days of outdoor environmental education including lessons in predator/prey relationships, regional history, measuring natural resources, invasive species, rock art, and team building through outdoor learning challenges.
STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN 3 DAYS OF OUTDOOR CROSS CURRICULAR LEARNING
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.1 Curriculum & Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
Title of Lesson/Activity: National Aquarium Field Trip
Date: December 7, 2018�Teacher Name: Lusman & 6th Grade Team�Subject Area: Science
Grade: 6�Brief Description of Lesson/Activity: 6th grade students visited the National Aquarium in Baltimore to learn about biodiversity, ecosystem dynamics and the Chesapeake Bay. Students engaged with a variety of aquatic ecosystems and organisms including sharks, jellyfish, crustaceans, dolphins and trout. Students completed field notes of their learning while at the aquarium.
STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT MARINE LIFE ON A FIELD TRIP TO THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM IN BALTIMORE
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.1 Curriculum & Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
Title of Lesson/Activity: American Film Institute Field Trip
Date: April 24, 2020�Teacher Name: 6th grade team�Subject Area: English & Science
Grade: 6�Brief Description of Lesson/Activity: As a follow up to student reading of novel Hoot and learning in science about human impacts on the environment, 6th grade students are taking a field trip to see the movie version of the novel. Pre and Post trip work in science and English classrooms will provide students with cross-curricula connections about the issues of habitat destruction, endangered species and student activism.
FIELD TRIP TO AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE TO SEE THE MOVIE HOOT
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.1 Curriculum & Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
Title of Lesson/Activity: Tree Poetry
Date: December 2019�Teacher Name: PTSA�Subject Area: English
Grade: 6�Brief Description of Lesson/Activity: Students worked with parent volunteers to create poetry in the shape of trees that captured their experiences with trees and nature at different times in their lives.
TREE POETRY
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.1 Curriculum & Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
Title of Lesson/Activity: Hydroponics Lab�Date: October 2017, 2018, 2019�Teacher Name: McNary & Harvey �Subject Area: Science
Grade: 7�Brief Description of Lesson/Activity: Students research different types of hydroponic systems, growing mediums and nutrient solutions. Students then design and build a hydroponic system to grow basil plants.
STUDENTS INVESTIGATE HYDROPONIC PLANT GROWTH
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.1 Curriculum & Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
Title of Lesson/Activity:�Date: June 2019�Teacher Name: Corea�Subject Area: Digital Art
Grade: 7
Brief Description of Lesson/Activity: Students used light sensitive paper and objects from nature to create collages of images inspired by nature. Students worked outdoors and used their schoolyard habitat as inspiration for their creative work.
ART WITH SUNPRINTS
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.1 Curriculum & Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
Title of Lesson/Activity:Recycled cardboard inventions�Date: September 2020�Teacher Name: DeCicco
Subject Area: Principles of Engineering and Cyber security�Grade: 7
Brief Description of Lesson/Activity: Students designed and built inventions using recycled materials. They demonstrated that recycled cardboard, can be as strong as other non recyclable materials by loading their inventions with weights.
RECYCLED CARDBOARD INVENTIONS
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.1 Curriculum & Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
Title of Lesson/Activity: Real World Issue�Date: 10/19�Teacher Name: Chandler & Callan
Subject Area: English
Grade: 8�Brief Description of Lesson/Activity: Students identified a real world issue that they feel passionately about and created speeches with visual components around that issue (i.e. environmental issues, including global warming, recycling, animal extinction etc). Students presented these arguments to these to the class.
Click Here for a student presentation on Pangolins.
Add photo related to lesson/activity
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Click here for a student presentation on Organic v. non GMO foods
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.1 Curriculum & Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
Title of Lesson/Activity: School Design
Date: 4/20�Teacher Name: Alexander�Subject Area: Geometry
Grade: 8�Brief Description of Lesson/Activity: Students applied geometrical concepts to design a perfect school and classroom. Students used their knowledge of geometry to consider the environmental impact and sustainability of this design. Features such as recycling, water retention, solar energy, and natural light where all considered in building these projects
STUDENTS APPLY GEOMETRY CONCEPTS AND GREEN PRINCIPLES TO CLASSROOM DESIGN
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.1 Curriculum & Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
Title of Lesson/Activity: Earth’s Materials�Date: November 2019�Teacher Name: Rainville & Gregal�Subject Area: Science
Grade: 8�Brief Description of Lesson/Activity: Students in 8th Grade Science studied the scarcity of water in the world and discussed solutions to water shortages. They then created and designed water filters.
Click Here for the full lesson
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More than one photo can be placed on this slide.
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.1 Curriculum & Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
Title of Lesson/Activity: Watt’s Up Poster contest�Date: March 2020�Teacher Name: Gross�Subject Area: Digital Art
Grade: 8�Brief Description of Lesson/Activity: Students created posters for the SERT Watt’s Up Poster contest. Their work focused on threats to the environment. Staff will vote on the entries to be submitted to the contest.
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.1 Curriculum & Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
Title of Lesson/Activity: Scoop of STEM
Date: March 2020�Teacher Name: STEAM Committee
Subject Area: Science
Grade: All
Brief Description of Lesson/Activity: Guest speaker, environmental engineer, Marc Fioravanti ,will present real world developments in the area of alternative energies during a lunchtime brown-bag lunch event. Students of all grade levels will be involved in this learning opportunity.
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.2.1 Professional Development
School Wide Awareness of Green School Certification
Teacher(s): Kavanagh, Ankarah, Bingaman, Callan, Castro, Chandler, DeCicco, Gayman, Hughes, Lusman, Miller, Trombley, Cornell
Date: September 16, 2019
Brief Description of the PD: Jim Stuft, Terina Garcia and Giancarlo Rodriguez gave a presentation to the SCMS Green Committee about the MAEOE Green School Application process. During this training teachers collaborated with leaders to plan Green School efforts relevant to the application, track past actions and plan for shared responsibilities for compiling a strong Green School application.
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.2.1 All staff Awareness of Green
School Application Process
Teacher(s): All staff
Date: August 27, 2019
Brief Description of the PD: Assistant Principal Kia Murphy presented to whole staff meeting (Husky Huddle) about the formation of a Green Committee to lead our school’s Green School application process. She outlined the requirements of the Green School application and invited all staff members to be part of the Green School Application effort.
�Teacher: Taylor Trombley
Date: February 7-9, 2020��Brief Description of PD: Taylor Trombley attended the annual MAEOE conference where she learned about how to create nature mindfulness in our school. She brought back various activities and information to use in our classes as well as network with other educators in the field. There were also lots of exhibitors showing their goods/services they provide to schools and other organizations with green focus.
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.2.2 Professional Development
Environmental Education Professional Development
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.2.2 Professional Development
Environmental Education Professional Development
Teacher(s): Frank, McNary, Cornell�Date: November 8, 2017
�Brief Description of the PD: Three science teachers attending training in investigative techniques for Bacterial Streaking and Water quality Testing at Wootton High School. This training enabled teachers to provide hands-on investigations with students that followed scientific procedure, data analysis and safety precautions. As a result of this PD, we have been able to provide lab and field experiences with our students, directly related to the local environment.
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.2.2 Professional Development
Environmental Education Professional Development
Teacher(s): Dinger & Cornell�Date: October 27, 2018�
Brief Description of the PD: 6th grade science teachers attended Trout in the Classroom training workshop at Robinson Nature in Columbia, Md. Teachers learned how to support students in establishing and maintaining a classroom habitat in which to raise trout for local stream restoration. Teacher also met experts in the field of aquatic resources management, networked with other teachers involved in environmental education and received resources and lesson ideas to support student learning in the classroom.
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.2.2 Professional Development
Environmental Education Professional Development
Teacher(s): Rainville, Cornell�Date: March 10, 2020
�Brief Description of the PD: Two science teachers attended a teacher workshop at the Audubon Naturalist Society on how to make “green cleaners”. This hands-on training will provided teachers with the knowledge and materials to conduct hands-on solution/action oriented lessons with students about the environmental impact of cleaning products and more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability�1.2.2 Professional Development
Environmental Education Professional Development
Andrea Segovia - Math | Energy Conservation, Reducing your carbon Footprint |
Bing/PE | Confidence Course, Predator/Prey |
Bro/Science and Tech | Confidence Course, Predator/Prey, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Reducing your carbon Footprint, Solid Waste Reduction, Water Conservation |
Celestino - SpEd and Math | Stream Study |
Chandler/ English | Stream Study |
Cornell - science | Confidence Course, Predator/Prey, Audubon teacher PD, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, |
Dinger - Science | Grad class on environmental sciences and literacy, |
Gregal - Science | Predator/Prey, Stream Study, Student Service Learning at Outdoor Ed, Treasure Earth, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Energy Conservation, Habitat Restoration, Pollution Prevention, Reducing your carbon Footprint, Water Conservation |
Hodges / World Languages | Confidence Course, Treasure Earth |
Holly Rainville Science | Grad class on environmental sciences and literacy, Audubon teacher PD |
Julie Gross | Confidence Course, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, |
Lusman/Special Ed | Chesapeake Bay Foundation, National Aquarium, Water Conservation |
Mannheimer - English | Confidence Course |
Mannheimer/English | Confidence Course |
McNary/Science | Confidence Course, Predator/Prey, Stream Study, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, |
Michael Shannon, Social Studies | Confidence Course, I have not attended any Outdoor Ed trainings. |
Torie Frank / SPED / English | Treasure Earth |
Trimble/PE/Health | Confidence Course, Predator/Prey, Stream Study, Student Service Learning at Outdoor Ed, SERT Energy Conservation, Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Habitat Restoration, Pollution Prevention |
Welch/ SPED | Smith Center teacher PD |
Objective One: Systemic Sustainability�1.3.1 School-Wide Environmental Behavior Changes
Date: 2017 - 2020
�Brief Description of the BC: Silver Creek Middle School was built in 2017 as a gold level LEED certified building, incorporating a variety of energy saving and environmental design elements. For example, our school boasts a green roof to minimize impermeable surfaces; bioretention gardens to reduce stormwater run-off, auto-senso lighting to reduce energy unnecessary energy use; low flush toilets and sinks to reduce water consumption; rain chain to divert runoff water from the roof to an underground capture point.
Objective One: Systemic Sustainability�1.3.1 School-Wide Environmental Behavior Changes
Date: 2017 - 2020
�Brief Description of the BC: Silver Creek Middle School is surrounded by a county designated Forest Conservation Area. Before the school was built in 2017, the area was a park and recreation space. In designing the new school, preserving the trees of the parkland was important to the community and the school developers. Many of the large trees on the property were preserved during construction and now the area around the school is protected as a Forest Conservation Area. Science teachers utilize the area for outdoor learning about tree species, biodiversity, and biotic and abiotic factors in an environment. It also provides a healthy learning environment for our students.
DESIGNATED FOREST CONSERVATION AREA
Objective One: Systemic Sustainability�1.3.2 Systemic Partnership
Date: July 2020
�Brief Description of the partnership: Silver Creek Middle School has a strong and on-going partnership with the MCPS SERT office. Our school uses resources from the SERT website, implements an annual SERT action plan, and invites SERT office staff, Jim Stufft, Giancarlo Rodriguez and Terina Garcia, to our building regularly to engage teachers and students in energy and recycling efforts.
SERT action plan
Objective One: Systemic Sustainability�1.3.2 Systemic Partnership
Date: 2017- 2020
�Brief Description of the partnership: Silver Creek MIddle School has a strong and on-going partnership with the MCPS Outdoor and Environmental Education Programs. Our school collaborates closely with OEEP Staff , Stephanie Lee, Mark Granger, and Courtney Herbert, in planning our annual Outdoor Education program, training our staff for teaching outdoors and participating in our school STEM Night activities. We use the OEEP website to access lesson plan ideas and resources to support teaching and learning around the environment, provide students with meaningful watershed experiences and develop an excellent Outdoor Education program.
Objective One: Systemic Sustainability�1.4 Celebration
School-Wide Event Title: Earth Week Celebration�Date: April 17 - 24, 2020�Brief Description of the celebration: Students and teachers are planning a week of special school events to celebrate Earth Day in April 2020. We will kick off Earth Week with a school-wide initiative around walking/biking to school/bus stop safely. Other events planned for the week include:
Students have designed videos and hashtags for the week, as well as suggested lesson themes for teachers.
STUDENT PLANNING FOR EARTH DAY 2020
#WeAreSilverCreek
Objective One: Systemic Sustainability�1.4 Celebration
Objective 2: Student Driven Sustainability Practices �
2.1 Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention
2.3 Solid Waste Reduction
2.4 Habitat Restoration
2.6 Responsible Transportation
Objective 2: Student Driven Sustainability Practices �2.1 Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention
Title of Activity: Creek Critter Clean Up�Date: July 2017, November 2019�Teacher Name: PTSA�Grade: 6-8�Brief Description of Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention Action: About 50 students came together to clean up the creek near SCMS. Students removed litter and conducted science tests to determine the health of the creek.
STUDENTS CLEANING THE CREEK AND LEARNING ABOUT CREEK HEALTH
PROUD PRINCIPAL
Objective 2: Student Driven Sustainability Practices �2.1 Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention
Title of Activity: Hispanic Student Stream Clean up�Date: April 2018�Teacher Name: Cornell & Lang�Grade: 6 - 8�Brief Description of Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention Action: Hispanic students organized and carried out a stream clean up event at Silver Creek to engage the Spanish speaking community in environmental stewardship. The students said, “People think the Hispanic community don’t care about the environment, and we want to show them that we do” Students met with the principal to get approval, sought out teacher sponsors, wrote a permission letter in Spanish, recruited Spanish speaking students from all grade levels, and implemented their action after school.
SPANISH SPEAKING STUDENT STREAM CLEANUP
Objective 2: Student Driven Sustainability Practices �2.1 Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention
Title of Activity: Water Saving Signs �Date: February 2020�Teacher Name: Castro, Becker �Grade: 6, 7, 8�Brief Description of Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention Action: Students created water savings signs and posted them around our school to remind everyone to save water. Students created signs in English, Spanish, and French.
Objective 2: Student Driven Sustainability Practices �2.1 Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention
Title of Activity: Save the Stream Student Campaign�Date: March 2019
Grade: 6�Brief Description of Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention Action: Students planned and organized an after school stream cleanup event to earn SSL hours and protect the stream next to our school. Students removed trash and invasive plants from the stream banks. Students also wrote a letter to the county council advocating for action to protect our local creek.
SAVE THE STREAM CAMPAIGN
Objective 2: Student Driven Sustainability Practices �2.1 Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention
Title of Activity: Water Quality Analysis and Macroinvertebrate Investigation
Date: March 18, 2019
Grade: 6�Brief Description of Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention Action: Students conducted water quality assessment tests (dissolved oxygen, nitrates, pH, temperature, turbidity, flow rates etc.) and also performed a macroinvertebrate investigation at two Maryland stream sites (Silver Creek and Little Seneca Creek). They compared data from the two sites to determine which location provided a healthier environment for trout populations.
STUDENTS ANALYSING WATER QUALITY AT LOCAL STREAMS
Objective 2: Student Driven Sustainability Practices �2.3 Solid Waste Reduction
Title of Activity: Recycling ink cartridges & electronics�Date: 2018 - 2020��Grade: 6 - 7�Brief Description of Solid Waste Reduction Action: Green Team students implemented a plan to collect and recycle ink cartridges and electronics two years ago. They met with the principal to request approval, created a collection box, announced their action on the morning announcements and shared information with the school community through the parent listserve. To date, they have collected over 50 lbs of recyclables from the school and the community - items that would otherwise have ended up in landfills or incinerators. Items are recycled through Cartridges For Kids.
STUDENTS COLLECT INK CARTRIDGES AND ELECTRONICS FOR RECYCLING
Objective 2: Student Driven Sustainability Practices �2.3 Solid Waste Reduction
Title of Activity: Ecopads from Recycled Paper�Date: 2019- 2020�Teacher Name: DeCicco & Miller�Grade: 7�Brief Description of Solid Waste Reduction Action: Green Team students created boxes to collect paper that is copied on only one side for reuse as Ecopads. They placed boxes near every printer and copier in the school. Technology students are using engineering tools and special purpose glue to create notepads for use by school staff from this partially used paper. Students have also placed recycle paper bins in every classroom, workrooms and in the hallways throughout the school to maximize paper recycling.
STUDENTS MAKE ECO-PADS FROM
PAPER USED ON ONE SIDE ONLY
Objective 2: Student Driven Sustainability Practices �2.3 Solid Waste Reduction
Title of Activity: Recycling Olympics�Date: April 2018, November 2019�Teacher Name: Cornell & Frank�Grade: 6 - 8�Brief Description of Solid Waste Reduction Action: Students designed and ran a series of games created using recycled materials at the annual STEM Night event. Games included recycled aluminium boats, recycle relays, shoot the hoop with recycled paper, tallest tower of recycled cans, bowling with recycled bottles. Students also demonstrated a hydraulic arm made of recycled cardboard and displayed photographic artwork of crushed cans found in nature.
STUDENTS DESIGNED GAMES USING RECYCLED MATERIALS
Objective 2: Student Driven Sustainability Practices �2.3 Solid Waste Reduction
Title of Activity: Clothing and Shoe recycling�Date: Ongoing�Teacher Name: PTSA�Grade: School wide�Brief Description of Solid Waste Reduction Action: Students, parents, staff and community members collect textiles for the Clothing to Cash Program. The convenient collection bin is located in the school parking lot and is available year round. This program helps to divert clothing, shoes, bedding and accessories from the landfill. The school earns 10 cents for each pound of donated textiles.
STUDENTS HELPING WITH CLOTHING DONATIONS
Objective 2: Student Driven Sustainability Practices �2.3 Solid Waste Reduction
Title of Activity: Composting�Date: 2019 - 2020�Teacher Name: PTSA
Grade: 6 - 8�Brief Description of Solid Waste Reduction Action: Students collect food scraps in the cafeteria for composting through the Composting Crew food scrap recycling program. Wth the support of parents, building services staff and the school principal, composting bins have been added to the cafeteria so that students can easily separate food scraps from recyclables and trash. Bins are lined with biodegradable bags and are collected weekly with support from parents. Students have promoted composting on the morning announcements with PSA videos and have, made posters for the walls of the school. To date students have saved over 2100 lbs of food scraps from going into the trash.
STUDENT-MADE PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS, SONG, AND SIGNS
Click below for additional student Tiktok App videos about composting:
Objective 2: Student Driven Sustainability Practices �2.4 Habitat Restoration
Title of Activity: Construction of Bluebird Nesting Boxes
Date: February 2020�Teacher Name: Sandra Cornell�Grade: 6 - 8
Brief Description of Habitat Restoration Action: Students built nesting boxes for local bluebirds. Some students decorated the boxes with scenes of nature. The boxes will be hung on the school grounds and science students will monitor their use and gather data on the nesting patterns of birds that use them.
BUILDING BLUEBIRD BOXES
Objective 2: Student Driven Sustainability Practices �2.4 Habitat Restoration
Title of Activity: Trout in the Classroom�Date: 2017, 18, 19 20
Teacher Name: Cornell & Dinger�Grade: 6�Brief Description of Habitat Restoration Action: Students designed and built a habitat to meet the needs of a local trout species. Students learned that trout are declining in Maryland streams largely due to temperature increases, pollution and habitat destruction. With the support of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources students have raised Rainbow Trout from eggs and released more than 500 fingerlings back into the wild.
STUDENTS RAISE TROUT FROM EGGS AND RELEASE THEM INTO THE WILD
Objective 2: Student Driven Sustainability Practices �2.4 Habitat Restoration
Title of Activity: Tree Identification
Date: November 2019�Teacher Name: Cornell�Grade: �Brief Description of Habitat Restoration Action: Students invited a master gardener for the Audubon Naturalist Society to come and help them identify the tree species around the schoolyard. Students used dichotomous keys to help them sort trees by characteristics. They plan to install permanent information markers on the trees so that teachers and the community can learn about the trees in our school yard. Our school media specialist purchased book for the school library that the students requested, to help with their work.
STUDENTS IDENTIFYING TREES IN SCHOOL YARD
Objective 2: Student Driven Sustainability Practices �2.4 Habitat Restoration
Title of Activity: Protecting New Grass Fields
Date: September 2017�Teacher Name: PTSA�Grade: All�Brief Description of Habitat Restoration Action: When our school opened in 2017, students took the lead on educating the student body and school community about the importance of staying off the new fields and giving the grass time to become established. Students created flyers to distribute to students and our school’s neighbors.
STUDENTS CAMPAIGNED TO PROTECT THE NEW FIELDS
Objective 2: Student Driven Sustainability Practices �2.6 Responsible Transportation
Title of Activity: Walk/Bike/Street Safety�Date: April 2020�Teacher Name: Bingaman�Grade: 6-8
�Brief Description of Responsible Transportation Action: Students will participate in “Wheel of Fortune/Safety” hosted by MDOT for all PE classes to learn about pedestrian safety. After, PE students will walk the loop outside and practice street safety.
PLANS FOR BIKE/WALK SAFETY INITIATIVE
Objective 2: Student Driven Sustainability Practices �2.6 Responsible Transportation
Title of Activity: Winter Tire Pressure check for staff�Date: December 5, 2019�Teacher Name: Kavanaugh �Grade: 6-8�Brief Description of Responsible Transportation Action: Students used automatic gages to check tire pressures of staff vehicles after school. They identified the appropriate pressure amount for each vehicle. Students informed staff drivers on whether or not their tire pressure was low. They also provided information to staff members on the fuel benefits of having proper tire pressure.
STUDENTS TESTING & RECORDING TIRE PRESSURE
Objective 2: Student Driven Sustainability Practices �2.6 Responsible Transportation
Title of Activity: No Idle Zone�Date: January 2020�Teacher Name: PTSA & Cornell�Grade: 7�Brief Description of Responsible Transportation Action: Green Team students collaborated with the PTSA to establish a “No Idle Zone” in the drop off/pick area at the front of the school. Maryland Department of the Environment provided a sign which was installed. Students made flyers about the the importance of turning off car engines and handed them out to drivers. The principal announced the No Idle Zone through the weekly Connected communication. A letter to parents is posted on the school website.
STUDENTS EDUCATE DRIVERS ABOUT “NO IDLE ZONE”
Objective 3: Community Partnerships,
Paula Wang, Master Gardener�Date: November 2019�Brief Description of Partnership: Paul Wang, Master Gardener, worked with students to help identify tree species on the school property. Over various visits, Ms. Wang taught student about how to use a dichotomous key and other tree identification strategies in order to identify and label the trees in our Forest Conservation area. Paula recommended tree identification guides that our Media Specialist purchased for the school library to support students in their work.
PAULA WANG, MASTER GARDENER HELPED GREEN TEAM STUDENTS WITH TREE IDENTIFICATION
Objective 3: Community Partnerships
Dr. Xavier Henry, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Date: March 2018, 2019, 2020
Brief Description of Partnership: Dr, Henry has come to SCMS three consecutive years to talk with 6th grade science students about bioplastics and biofuels. Dr. Henry presents students with the lastest news and research in the area of biofuels, shows them samples of products made from plants instead of fossil fuels and answers student questions about the future of fossil fuels and plant-based alternatives. He has also attended our school STEM Night to give a presentation to the community on aviation sciences are being used to improve agricultural methods..
DR. XAVIER HENRY HELPS 6TH GRADE SCIENCE STUDENTS UNDERSTAND BIOPLASTICS AND BIOFUELS
Objective 3: Community Partnerships
Frank Sanford and Gregg Trillings, Audubon Naturalist Society�Date: October, 2018 & November, 2019
Brief Description of Partnership: Frank Sanford Gregg Trillings worked with students and families at our local Silver Creek to identify macroinvertebrates in the stream and use this data to evaluate stream health. Gregg also supports 6th grade science classes by providing resources for hands-on classroom lessons, such as Watershed in a Pan modeling.
GREGG TRILLINGS WORKS WITH STUDENTS IDENTIFYING MACROINVERTEBRATES
Objective 3: Community Partnerships
Matt Sell, Maryland Department of Natural Resources�Date: December, 2019
Brief Description of Partnership: Matt Sell visited 6th grade science classrooms. He spoke with students about trout populations in Maryland streams and introduced students to the equipment used by DNR to manage and monitor trout populations.
MATT SELL of MARYLAND DNR SPOKE WITH 6TH GRADE SCIENCE STUDENTS ABOUT TROUT POPULATIONS IN MARYLAND.
Objective 3: Community Partnerships
Duwan Morris, Planning Specialist, Montgomery County Department of Transportation�Date: January - April 2020
Brief Description of Partnership: Duwan Morris met with staff to help plan our “Safe Walk/Bike to School” initiative to promote responsible transportation and street safety. Duwan provided resources, ideas, planning ideas and will participate as a presenter in our school wide presentations through PE on April 17, to kick off Earth Week.
DUWAN MORRIS, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL COORDINATOR OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS HELPING IMPLEMENT A STUDENT SAFE BIKING/ WALKING INITIATIVE.
Objective 3: Community Partnerships
Compost Crew�Date: 2019- 2020
Brief Description of Partnership: Compost Crew , a locally owned food scrap recycling business, collects and composts food scraps from our school cafeteria and family homes in our community. Compost Crew also provides teachers with instructional materials for teaching students about composting, provides presentations for teachers, students and community members and will eventually provide samples of healthy organic compost made from our school waste for students to analyze through science classes.
COMPOST CREW ARE PARTNERS WITH OUR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PROVIDING FOOD SCRAP RECYCLING SERVICES.
Objective 3: Community Partnerships
Day of Care�Date: October 2018, 2019�Grade: 6 - 8�Brief Description of Partnership: Students participated in a school wide day of care which involved working on activities to benefit community organizations. Students participated in:
STUDENTS SERVING THE COMMUNITY DURING OUR
SCMS DAY OF CARE
Objective 3: Community Partnerships
Kensington Park
Date: October 2019�Grade: 6�Brief Description of Award and/or Recognition: S.H.A.R.E.- Students Helping & Reaching our Elders is an interages partnership between the students at Silver Creek Middle School and the Kensington Park Senior Living Community in Kensington, MD. This partnership was established in 2017. Students and our senior neighbors engage in community building activities every Wednesday after school. This is an opportunity for the seniors at Kensington to share their stories and wisdom with our students along with getting to know our students. Students and the seniors also interact with each other to create acts of kindness for various non-profit organizations like our local library and the Children's Inn at NIH.
Intergenerational Choir- Students from Silver Creek Middle School uses the gift of music to connect with our senior neighbors at the Kensington Park Senior Living Community every Wednesday after school. Students and the seniors learn various genres of music for several weeks in preparation of a culminating concert. The Intergenerational Choir has been in existence for two years and going strong.
STUDENTS & SENIORS COLLABORATE
Objective 3: 3.2 Awards & Special Recognition
Award Title: SERT Energy Saving Award�Date: 2019 - 2020�Grade: Whole School
�Brief Description of Award and/or Recognition: This award was given to Silver Creek Middle School in recognition of energy savings efforts that resulted first quarter energy consumption lower than the established baseline for our school. The award came with $1000 prize to further energy saving efforts at our school .
Objective 3: 3.2 Awards & Special Recognition
Award Title: Piedmont Environmental Education Grant�Date: October - November 2019�Grade: 6�Brief Description of Award and/or Recognition: This grant was awarded in recognition of grade level commitment to teaching and learning about the watershed. The grant awarded the school an Enviroscape model that will be used to further student understanding of watersheds and how actions in one area impact water quality in other areas, sometimes a long way away.
Objective 3: 3.2 Awards & Special Recognition
Award Title: Citizen Stewardship Grant, Forever Maryland Foundation�Date: April 2020�Grade: Green Team�Brief Description of Award and/or Recognition: This grant was awarded in recognition of Green Team efforts to identify and label trees in the Forest Preservation area surrounding our school. The grant will enable us to work with community members,
install informational signs to educate
students and the community about the
tree species in the area, and use the area
for education about the importance of
trees.
Objective 3: 3.2 Awards & Special Recognition
Award Title: Idle Reduction Recognition from Maryland Secretary of the Environment�Date: 2019
�Brief Description of Award and/or Recognition: Silver Creek MS was recognized for its commitment to reducing vehicle emissions and improving air quality by establishing a “No Idle Zone” on our school grounds, and encouraging drivers to turn off the engine when idling for more than 10 seconds.
Objective 3: 3.2 Awards & Special Recognition
Award Title: Bethesda Magazine�Date: pending 2020
�Brief Description of Award and/or Recognition: Bethesda Magazine is considering an article featuring Silver Creek Middle School’s pioneering efforts around composting in our school and community. The article will highlight school-community partnership and the positive impact that this collaboration is having on the environment.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
-The SCMS Green Committee