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State environmental and outdoor education association honors CCPS schools

The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) recently recertified Milton M. Somers Middle School as a 2023 Maryland Green School while Dr. James E. Craik Elementary School achieved Sustainable School status by MAEOE this year. The organization also acknowledged the Nanjemoy Creek Environmental Education Center, which serves as one of 45 Green Centers for the MAEOE, as a leader in the state in environmental education and for its support of the Green Schools program. 

Schools must apply every four years to retain Green Schools status. Fourteen CCPS schools have the status including Arthur Middleton, Berry, Craik, Gale-Bailey, J.C. Parks and William B. Wade elementary schools; General Smallwood, Piccowaxen, Somers middle schools; and Henry E. Lackey, North Point, St. Charles, Thomas Stone and Westlake high schools.

The Maryland Green School program honors schools for their commitment to developing stewards of the Earth and reducing environmental impacts. The Green School application process takes two years to complete and requires schools to demonstrate efforts to integrate sustainable practices, classroom integration of environmental issues, conservation practices and examples of existing community partnerships to enhance environmental learning. Schools must apply for recertification every four years and continue to demonstrate environmental education efforts.

The Maryland Green Schools program also is aligned with Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement goals and supports Maryland State Department of Education graduation requirements. Currently, there are 642 active Green Schools in Maryland and 45 Green Centers.

MAEOE will celebrate Green Schools and Green Centers at the annual Maryland Green School Youth Summit set for May 18 at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis. Visit www.maeoe.org for information on the Green Schools program.

 

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 27,598 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.

 

CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).