Eden Hall Upper Elementary School staff wear green to celebrate earning the 2019 U.S. Department of
Education Green Ribbon Schools Award.
Eden Hall Named
U.S. Department of
Education Green
Ribbon School
The U.S. Department of Education
named Eden Hall Upper Elementary
School a 2019 U.S. Department of
Education Green Ribbon Schools award
honoree on May 23, for providing
students an environment rich in learning
and opportunities to regularly participate
in activities that are focused on engaging
in a healthy and sustainable environment.
Sustainable features at the school include:
• Natural lighting through skylights
• Plants & trees on school grounds
native to Pennsylvania
• No-mow native grasses on
the grounds
• Heat-reclaiming devices for efficiency
• Room sensors to monitor & control
carbon dioxide, lighting, & heat
• Wood paneling to keep noise down
• A maker roof to reflect heat
Eden Hall’s wellness committee
focuses on identifying and implementing
initiatives that benefit the overall health
and well-being of students and staff.
Recently, the committee, with support
from the parent-teacher organization,
has provided stationary bikes that are
available for use by all students and staff
in the building.
Gifted classes in all three grades work
with Chatham University’s School for
Sustainability to explore and participate
in a variety of activities that broaden their
awareness of the connections between
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food, energy, nature, science, and
mathematics.
“This is a significant honor for our
building and is a true testament to the
work, skills, and talents that our students,
faculty, and staff display each and every
day,” says Dr. Joseph Domagala, assistant
principal. “This designation gives
recognition for the sustainable efforts and
education, health and wellness initiatives,
and reduced environmental impacts
that we focus on as a school community.
These efforts directly tie in with our
district values of providing diverse
learning opportunities both in and
outside the classroom.”
In addition to Dr. Domagala,
Maintenance Supervisor Bruce Riemer
serves on the wellness committee along
with teachers Jennifer Kopach and
Joanna Sovek.
“We are honored to be recognized
for our initiative of embracing a more
sustainable learning environment at Eden
Hall and our Pine-Richland community,”
say Ms. Kopach and Ms. Sovek. “It has
been an on-going collaborative effort
with our students, faculty and community
members to generate awareness and
cultivate a better understanding of how
changing the habits or mindset of one
person can trickle down to another.
We are working towards our ultimate
goal of bringing positive changes to
our environment and overall well-
being as committed members for a
greener world.”
Other schools in PR are earning
accolades as well including:
• Hance Elementary School was
named to the Pennsylvania Healthy
Schools Honor Roll in 2019. A
team of teachers, staff, parents and
students were involved in applying
for the recognition program this
past spring. Healthy Schools PA
Program Coordinator Kara Rubio,
representing the Women for a
Healthy Environment organization,
visited Hance to recognize the
school on June 6. Schools named
to the honor roll are recognized for
taking strides to create a green and
healthy learning environment for
their school and community. PA
Healthy Schools team members at
Hance included parents Jessica Taylor
and Nicole McDonnell; teachers
Misty Smith, Lisa Burnsworth and
Jennifer Jankowski; counselor Tammy
Godino; custodian Jeff Reidenbach;
Maintenance Supervisor Bruce
Riemer; and Principal Greta Kuzilla.
• Wexford Elementary School earned
the U.S. Department of Education
Green Ribbon School award in 2018.
On Sept. 19, 2018, administrators,
teachers, and staff members accepted
the award in Washington, D.C.
• Pine-Richland Middle School
has been redesignated, along with
DuBois Area Middle School, as
Pennsylvania Don Eichhorn Schools:
“Schools to Watch” (PA STW) for
a fourth time in 12 years as part of a
recognition program developed by
the National Forum to Accelerate
Middle-Grades Reform. The school
hosted a celebratory assembly to
present the official “Schools to Watch”
award for the school on May 21, at
Pine-Richland Middle School. State
Representative Mr. Mike Turzai was
in attendance, along with the STW
team members Bruce Vosburgh, Paul
Meck, George Pry and Steve Swogger.
In partnership with the Pennsylvania
Association for Middle- Level
Education, Duquesne University and