Five Dundalk Schools Receive GREEN Grants

Five Dundalk schools were given grants as part of Team BCPS Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge.

There were 17 schools awarded grants across the county, but Charlesmont Elementary School in Dundalk led the way with a $3,000 grant.

Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts finished first in the BCPS high school division; General John Stricker Middle School placed first in the middle school division; Grange Elementary took the top spot in the elementary and Battle Monument School won the special school category.

All schools won $2,000 each in grants.

BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, visited Charlesmont Elementary School, Battle Monument School, and nearby General John Stricker Middle School.

After pausing a year for COVID, the Team BCPS Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge blossomed anew Tuesday, led by a bouquet of Baltimore County civic and educational leaders who brought thanks – and rewards – to students, schools, and community volunteers whose anti-litter efforts helped to beautify Baltimore County.

The annual competition, which this year awarded $22,000 in environmental literacy grants and technology prizes, challenges schools, students, and community partners to engage in quick, 15-minute local litter clean-up events.

“Clean Green 15 is a wonderful opportunity for Baltimore County students and their schools not only to help beautify their grounds and neighborhoods but also to learn the lessons of keeping the environment healthy,” said Dr. Williams. “Congratulations to our 17 winning schools for doing such a great job in keeping BCPS clean and green and also to all of those who participated in this important project both this year and last.”

Added County Executive Olszewski, “Over the past two years, Clean Green 15 volunteers removed tons of litter from our communities, and 17 of our Baltimore County schools earned thousands of dollars to pay for school-based environmental projects that will have a lasting impact on students for years to come.”

At each school stop on Tuesday, Debbie Phelps, executive director of The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, led the applause for school staff, students, and supporters who completed the clean-ups.

Through this program – now in its ninth year – BCPS schools and their community supporters compete for doing the most clean-ups. The program is open to any groups, including school-based groups, places of worship, youth groups, civic or community groups, scout troops, sport teams, businesses or other organizations, that wish to help clean up their community. Groups are asked to report their clean-ups online and designate a school to receive credit toward the grant competition.

Team BCPS Clean Green 15 is a collaboration of the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability, BCPS, and The Education Foundation of BCPS.

The Education Foundation awards grants to 11 top winning schools to fund school-based instructional projects that emphasize the theme of environmental literacy. Another six schools earned Honorable Mention awards and received funds to purchase STEM supplies and equipment. The list of winning schools is attached.

The celebration also marked the kickoff for the 2021-2022 Team BCPS Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge for this school year, with schools and groups eligible to log clean-up events taking place from May 1, 2021, through April 30, 2022, for consideration in next year’s awards.

Here is a full list of the BCPS schools that received grants from the program and the school named honorable mention:

eastbaltco

See author's posts