46 Schools and School Districts Receive Grants for Sustainability Projects

Sustainable Jersey for Schools Announces Grants Funded by the New Jersey Education Association

At an event held earlier today, Sustainable Jersey for Schools announced the 46 New Jersey schools and school districts selected to receive Sustainable Jersey for Schools small grants funded by the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA.) Eleven $10,000 grants and 35 $2,000 grants were distributed to fund a variety of projects including rain gardens, outdoor learning classrooms, a winter greenhouse, an aquaponics system, native habitat gardens, sustainability curricula and more.

“NJEA is proud to work with Sustainable Jersey on this important program that directs resources into our schools,” said NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Sean Spiller. “It is our job to help create a new generation of engaged citizens and leaders. By emphasizing the value of sustainability, we also help ensure that we leave a better world for our students.”

Earlier this year, Sustainable Jersey formed an underwriting partnership with NJEA. In addition to funding this cycle of the grant program, NJEA provides in-kind support through research and technical expertise. NJEA’s leadership and members serve on Sustainable Jersey task forces and over 137 districts and 328 schools are currently participating in the Sustainable Jersey for Schools program.

“We know that schools and districts are in the best position to determine the needs for their schools,” said Donna Drewes, who co-directs Sustainable Jersey with Randall Solomon. “These NJEA-funded grants will allow school communities to come together to improve outcomes for students, teachers and the environment. Collaboration is key, and we are proud to have support from important strategic partners like NJEA.”

Proposals were judged by an independent Blue Ribbon Selection Committee. The Sustainable Jersey for Schools grants are intended to help school districts and schools make progress toward a sustainable future in general, and specifically toward Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification.

Recipients of $10,000 Sustainable Jersey for Schools Project Grants

*County*	*Recipient*	*District*	*Project*
Atlantic	Weymouth Township School District	Weymouth Township School District	*An Outdoor Classroom to Inspire*: Establish an outdoor classroom with a covered area (a living roof), three raised garden beds and a seating area. Will incorporate green design, sustainable materials and uses that will serve as a model for the schools and community.
Bergen	Rutherford High School	Rutherford School District	*Growing up Green*: Create a life-size laboratory experiment centering on the concepts of implementing innovative change through the use of aquaponics as a way to produce organic, nutrient dense food for consumption. Will expose students to these key ideals and lead discussions about nutrition and food production.
Burlington	Millbridge Elementary School	Delran School District	*Rain Gardens for Recess II*: Install an Upper Rain Garden to collect storm water runoff from the major source of the problem -- the school roof. Project will include a collaborative art installation, student-grown rain garden plantings and a school/municipality Earth Day Celebration on April 22, 2016.
Camden	Carusi Middle School	Cherry Hill Public Schools	*Homegrown-Carusi Community Garden Project*: Establish and maintain a community garden within school courtyard. Will provide an opportunity for teachers to bring horticulture and environmental education directly to the classrooms. Will work with community organizations to explore where food comes from, why healthy choices impact our bodies and world, how to live sustainably and how to eat clean and green.
Cape May	West Cape May Elementary	West Cape May School District	*Winter Garden Project:* Expand school garden program by creating a winter greenhouse space to serve as an outdoor classroom. Growing and caring for plants in the greenhouse will help expand the science, math, art and nutrition curricula and provide a connection to the agricultural heritage of West Cape May. Will use foods grown in the greenhouse to promote a Farm to School lunch program.
Essex	Caldwell - West Caldwell Public Schools	Caldwell - West Caldwell Public Schools	*Caldwell Sustainability Learning Center:* Create a sustainability learning center on a three-acre area of borough property. The center will be available for use by both school and community groups/individuals throughout the region to learn more about sustainability and the environment. This is a collaborative project with Caldwell Borough's Green Team.
Essex	Seth Boyden Elementary School	South Orange & Maplewood School District	*Nature Story Trails and Habitat Garden*: Develop a habitat where students come face to face with the native plants and animals of New Jersey. Will create Nature Story Trails where specific plants will be installed along mulched pathways, with signage, to connect wildlife and vegetation into a tangible and fun learning experience. Trails will introduce students to the plants and animals that share the neighborhood with them, and teach them what they need to do to preserve them.
Hunterdon	Holland Township Elementary school	Holland Township School District	*GREAT-Growing Responsible Engineers Affecting Tomorrow*: Provide program and curriculum of inquiry-based learning to foster environmental awareness, sustainable practices and knowledge of green careers. Use solar Growing Dome, Discovery Garden and the application of the engineering design process as the students work to apply problem solving methods for water conservation, composting, crop rotation, organism interdependence, weather and energy. Include integrated preschool, K-4 enrichment (STEM) program, middle school science program and extended school year for special education students.
Middlesex	Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools in Perth Amboy	Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools District	*School Garden Project:* Install school garden to introduce students to gardening in order to instill a life-long passion for plants and respect for the environment.
Morris	Unity Charter School	Morris School District	*CommUnity Garden*: Create a community garden for Unity Charter School and the residents in the Collinsville neighborhood. More outdoor space will help teach the students and residents about organic farming and healthy choices and make connections with a culturally diverse population.
Passaic	Schuyler-Colfax Middle School	Wayne Township Public Schools	*Digging in the Dirt:* Create a garden of organic edible plants and flowers to be used for consumption in school lunches. Will use garden as a learning tool for students with special needs who participate in a life skills-based classroom. These students, along with general education student mentors, will be mainly responsible for designing, preparing, planting, harvesting and maintaining the garden. Will use produce and herbs from the garden to increase sensory awareness and expose all students to the varied colors, tastes, smells, and textures from the garden produce.

Recipients of $2,000 Sustainable Jersey for Schools Project Grants

*County*	*School*	*School District*	*Project Title*
Atlantic	Charles L. Spragg Elementary	Egg Harbor City School District	Education for Sustainability in the 1st Grade Classroom
Atlantic	CJ Davenport Elementary School Complex	Egg Harbor Township School District	Beeline to Breakfast
Atlantic	Dr. Joy D. Miller School	Egg Harbor Township School District	Clean Air Awareness Program
Atlantic	Eagle Academy	Egg Harbor Township School District	Ten Themes in Murals
Atlantic	Fernwood Avenue Middle	Egg Harbor Township School District	Green Eagles
Atlantic	Absegami High School	Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District	Initial Green Team Activities
Atlantic	Oakcrest High School	Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District	Greenhouse Initiative - Sustainable Agriculture Learning
Bergen	Malcolm S. Mackay Elementary School	Tenafly School District	Community Garden
Bergen	Tenafly High School	Tenafly School District	Water Refilling Stations
Bergen	Tenafly Middle School	Tenafly School District	Water Refilling Stations
Camden	Horace Mann Elementary School	Cherry Hill Public Schools	Teaching Farm
Camden	Johnson Elementary	Cherry Hill Public Schools	Operation Wildflowers
Camden	Joseph D. Sharp Elementary School	Cherry Hill Public Schools	Lunchroom Sustainability
Camden	Zane North Elementary School	Collingswood School District	Living Learning Landscape
Cumberland	Myron L. Powell	Lawrence Township School District	Green House
Essex	Edgemont Montessori Elementary School	Montclair Public Schools	Clean Water & Air Initiative
Essex	Mount Hebron Middle School	Montclair Public Schools	Enrichment Program Through Partnership
Essex	Lincoln Elementary School	Caldwell - West Caldwell School District	Water Power Project
Essex	Maplewood Middle School	South Orange and Maplewood School District	Building Relationships Through Mentoring
Essex	Tuscan Elementary	South Orange and Maplewood School District	Eco Lawn Rehab Demonstration Project and Garden
Essex	West Essex Senior High School	West Essex Regional School District	Garden Project
Hudson	Dr. Lena Edwards Academic Charter School	Dr. Lena Edwards Academic Charter School	Capacity Building Green Team Project
Hudson	James J. Ferris High School	Jersey City Public Schools	Making Affordable Green Energy
Hudson	Renaissance Institute	Jersey City Public Schools	Sustainability through Farm to Table
Hunterdon	Three Bridges School	Readington Township Public School District	Go Green Tiger Team
Hunterdon	Whitehouse School	Readington Township Public School District	Whitehouse Water Wellness Project
Mercer	Johnson Park School	Princeton Regional Schools	Waste Management & Recycling- Comprehensive plan
Middlesex	Edgar Middle School	Metuchen School District	Student Wellness Organization
Middlesex	Monroe Township High School	Monroe Township School District	Farm to Fork
Middlesex	North Brunswick Township High School	North Brunswick Township Schools	Filling Station Fabulous
Monmouth	Manasquan Elementary School	Manasquan School District	Mindfulness is the Warrior Way
Morris	Mendham Township Elementary School	Mendham Township School District	Sustainable School
Ocean	Lake Riviera Middle School	Brick Township School District	Greening School
Passaic	Wayne Hills High School	Wayne School District	Community Garden Storage Shed
Salem	Quinton Township School	Quinton Township School District	In-House Recycling Center