Northwest High School In Running for U.S. Green Ribbon Award

Northwest High School in Germantown is in the running for the U.S. Department of Education’s 2015 Green Ribbon Schools award.

“No other high school works as hard at this as we do,” said Northwest Principal Lance Dempsey. “We take great pride in this.”

The Maryland State Department of Education today nominated two schools and one local school system for the U.S. Department of Education’s 2015 Green Ribbon Schools Award.

In addition to Northwest High School,  J. C. Parks Elementary School (Charles County Public Schools) was also nominated for the award. The Howard County Public School System was nominated for the district award. All applications for the award were evaluated by a committee comprised of staff from state and national government agencies, State and regional environmental organizations, and private businesses.

“Maryland schools have been at the leading edge in their commitment to environmental education and to practices that will sustain our world for future generations,” said State Superintendent Lillian M. Lowery in a press release. “These nominees represent the great work taking place throughout our State.”

Education agencies in 41 states and territories, in collaboration with the U.S Department of Education, are participating in the fourth year of the GRS award program. Maryland schools have received national honors during each year of the program, according to a release from the MD school board.

“All these in general both the Howard County school system and the school in Montgomery and Charles have a history working to have a sustainable school as well as environmental education,”  said Bill Reinhard, spokesman for the Maryland State Board of Educaiton.

Federal officials will recognize schools that save energy, reduce costs, feature environmentally sustainable learning spaces, protect health, foster wellness, and offer environmental education to boost academic achievement and community engagement. The recognition award is part of a larger U.S. Department of Education effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about practices proven to result in improved student engagement, academic achievement, graduation rates, and workforce preparedness, as well as a government-wide aim to increase energy independence and economic security, according to the news release.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is scheduled to announce the recipients of the GRS awards on Earth Day, April 22.

You can read the school’s application below.

About Krista Brick

Krista Brick is a multi-media journalist with Montgomery Community Media.

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