The Stanwich School was recently recognized as the state’s newest Connecticut Green LEAF School. The program, Connecticut’s process for nominating schools for the Federal Green Ribbon School program, encourages schools to step up as environmental leaders.
The Connecticut Green LEAF Schools program is a collaborative effort of the Connecticut Departments of Construction Services, Education, Energy and Environmental Protection and Public Health, as well as many Connecticut environmental and educational organizations created to promote green and healthy schools for all.
The Connecticut Green LEAF Schools program recognizes organizations that have made significant progress toward greening their schools, as well as those that are just beginning. The program guides and recognizes schools for striving toward three essential goals:
• Provide effective environmental and sustainability education
• Improve the health and wellness of students and staff
• Reduce environmental impact and cost
Stanwich formed a task force consisting of teachers, administrators and parents to prepare its application for the prestigious certification status.
Charles Sachs, Head of The Stanwich School said, “Learning about the environment right around us, while taking measures to strengthen our community, is a win-win situation. Students become better stewards of their surroundings while building critical thinking skills. Becoming a Green LEAF school has gone hand-in-hand with our school’s mission, as making the world a better place is in our school’s DNA.”
A few of the school’s sustainable efforts include: Bee hives, organic vegetable garden, newly planted apple orchard, school-wide paper, water and energy conservation, environmentally safe cleaning products, healthy snacks vending machine, partnership with Animal Embassy, and outdoor classroom at our vernal pond.
The Connecticut Green LEAF Schools project provides a bridge linking a variety of stakeholders across the four Connecticut state universities in the interest of greening K-12 schools. The program started in 2011, with interest from four state offices, five universities, and many education and environmental groups. A representative steering committee created the Green LEAF program, which stands for “Leading, Educating, Achieving and Fostering” healthy green schools for all. LEAF encourages, recognizes and celebrates the greening of Connecticut’s public and private K-12 schools.
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