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ers” and some of their activities:
Carrisa Plains Elementary School,
Atascadero Unified
At Carrisa Plains Elementary School,
students are responsible for daily vermi-
composting that produces “worm tea” to
help the garden flourish while keeping
lunch waste out of the landfill. To support
the watering needs of the gardens, stu-
dents use water collection basins. Recently,
instructional time was set aside for students
to create “habitats” for native animals to use
as hideouts. In January 2014, Carrisa Plains
started monitoring the school’s energy
usage. In the same year, it also installed a
photovoltaic system, which provides 100
percent of the school’s electricity. At the
beginning of the 2015–16 school year, Car-
risa Plains began to integrate a “no-waste”
ideology that incorporates composting
procedures into students’ daily educational
program. This led to quarterly waste audits
where students and staff gather waste
materials and sort, weigh, and discuss the
implications of the amount of waste created
by the site.
Eagle Rock Elementary School,
Los Angeles Unified
Eagle Rock Elementary underwent a
major transformation in 2016, removing
23,789 square feet of asphalt, replacing this
with a permeable surface made of decom-
posed granite and native/drought-toler-
ant trees and plants. Garden programs,
a monarch butterfly waystation, outdoor
classrooms, and many other opportunities
coincide with a Green Club, a Garden
Club, a Green Team, and environmental
learning throughout the education expe-
rience. Programs include activity-based
learning opportunities that empower
students to explore their environment and
undertake environmental challenges that
require problem-solving and critical think-
ing. They learn how ethical decision-mak-
ing, as well as an appreciation for diversity
and adaptability, is a civic responsibility for
creating sustainable and collective change
for our environment.
Quail Lake Environmental Charter,
Sanger Unified
Quail Lake Environmental Charter uses
integrated, hands-on curriculum and real
world experiences to make critical connec-
tions to the sustainability of our environ-
ment. Students learn the importance of
environmentalism by using green practices
at school, integrating the California Next
Generation Science Standards across
content areas, and through project-based
learning in the garden and composting
area. Recycling initiatives and health and
wellness programs complement outdoor
education. Through the school’s Physical
Education Department, students partic-
ipate in a “Nutrition Wednesday” where
they learn healthy eating habits, calorie
intake and expenditure, and physical exer-
cise techniques. Garden harvests provide
students with education on healthy eating
practices, and students taste-test their vege-
tables during lunch.
Rialto Unified School District
Rialto Unified has long prioritized
ESS
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Region 8: Leo Chavez, 6th grade,
Edenvale Elementary School, Oak Grove
School District.
Region 9: Jammy Harris, 11th grade,
Sunnyside High School, Fresno USD.
Region 10: Cindy Aguilar-Castaneda,
12th grade, Gonzales High School, Gonza-
les USD.
Region 11: Haley Keeling, 12th grade,
Visalia Charter Independent Study, Visalia
USD.
Eagle Rock Elementary School’s Learning Garden was part of a major campus transformation in 2016 that removed asphalt and replaced it with permeable surfaces and
native plants. The Los Angeles USD school has earned a “Green Achiever” award from the California Department of Education for its environmental efforts.
teaching students to be responsible citizens
of a global society. This includes being one
of the first districts in California to develop
and earn University of California approval
for courses based on environmental sciences
that promote students making “green”
college and career choices. The district
also works on reducing energy and water
consumption, supports recycling and com-
posting programs, and purchases and uses
environmentally friendly products. RUSD
STEM CARES (Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics Cultivating
Active Responsible Environmental Stew-
ards) uses locally relevant environmental
issues to inspire students to think globally
and act locally to improve their community
and their world. RUSD’s Science Lead
collaborates with Facilities and Nutrition
Services staff to enhance outdoor learning
environments and nourish students with lo-
cally sourced fruits and vegetables, bringing
the curriculum to life.
St. James Academy, private school
in Solana Beach
St. James is a small school that is
governed by the Roman Catholic Diocese
of San Diego. Development of the school
campus, including a green schoolyard
with an outdoor teaching classroom and
reading area, Native American and colo-
nial teaching gardens, worm composting, a
pollinator garden, and monarch conserva-
tion, is guided by a master plan. In 2017, all
K-8 students performed an original musical
version of Dr. Seuss’s environmental fable
“The Lorax” in the school yard, and that
Christmas, the Lorax performers marched
in the Encinitas Christmas parade in
recycled costumes to promote sustainability.
School officials at St. James also mentored
a second Catholic school in the Diocese,
St. Martin of Tours Academy, to submit a
Green Ribbon application.
Region 12: Valeria Montes, 12th grade,
Chino High School, Chino Valley USD.
Region 13: Daniel Morozov, 5th grade,
Pine Grove Elementary School, Orcutt
Union SD.
Region 14: Richard Montes, 12th
grade, Gretchen Whitney High School,
ABC USD.
Region 15: Alexandra Savage, 6th
grade, Condit Elementary School, Clare-
mont USD.
Region 16: Cory Suzuki, 12th grade,
Gardena High School, Los Angeles USD.
Region 17: Emmanuel Moreno, 8th
grade, Walker Jr. High School, Anaheim
Green Ribbon Schools Award winners
Public Schools
• Altamont Creek Elementary, Livermore Valley Joint Unified, Alameda County
(Silver)
• Quail Lake Environmental Charter, Sanger Unified, Fresno County (Green Achiever)
• Eagle Rock Elementary, Los Angeles Unified, Los Angeles County (Green Achiever)
• Los Coyotes Middle, Norwalk-La Mirada Unified, Los Angeles County (Bronze)
• Theodore Roosevelt Elementary, Desert Sands Unified, Riverside County (Bronze)
• Crowne Hill Elementary, Temecula Valley Unified, Riverside County (Bronze)
• Margarita Middle, Temecula Valley Unified, Riverside County (Bronze)
• Red Hawk Elementary, Temecula Valley Unified, Riverside County (Bronze)
• Temecula Valley High, Temecula Valley Unified, Riverside County (Bronze)
• Dr. John H. Milor High, Rialto Unified, San Bernardino County (Silver)
• Georgia Morris Elementary, Rialto Unified, San Bernardino County (Silver)
• Buena Vista Elementary, Carlsbad Unified, San Diego County (Bronze)
• Carrisa Plains Elementary, Atascadero Unified, San Luis Obispo County (Green
Achiever)
• Creston Elementary, Atascadero Unified, San Luis Obispo County (Silver)
• San Benito Elementary, Atascadero Unified, San Luis Obispo County (Silver)
• Santa Rosa Academic Academy, Atascadero Unified, San Luis Obispo County
(Gold)
• Los Altos High, Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District, Santa Clara
County (Silver)
Local Education Agencies
• Pittsburg Unified, Contra Costa County (Bronze)
• Hermosa Beach City Elementary, Los Angeles County (Silver)
• Rialto Unified, San Bernardino County (Green Achiever)
• San Mateo County Office of Education (Bronze)
Private Schools
• St. James Academy, San Diego County (Green Achiever)
• St. Martin of Tours Academy, San Diego County (Gold)
• Francis Parker, San Diego County (Silver)
Union HSD.
Region 18:
Marbella Cruz,
11th grade,
Calexico Academy,
Imperial COE.
Region 19:
Alexis Arrivillaga,
12th grade, Ramo-
na High School,
Riverside USD.
Read and view stories of previous winners
online at https://www.acsa.org/ESS.
Find resources to
help your career
at www.acsa.org.