For Immediate Release: April 25, 2022
Contact: Charles Pyle (804) 371-2420
RICHMOND — John B. Cary Elementary and Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts in Richmond were honored by the U.S. Department of Education this month as 2022 Green Ribbon School award winners. The federal Green Ribbon School program recognizes environmentally friendly schools and districts that promote environmental awareness, energy efficiency, community engagement and student wellness.
John B. Cary Elementary’s “No Child Left Inside Eco-Campus” establishes environmental education as a foundation for all student learning. The whole-school approach integrates the content of Virginia’s Science Standards of Learning with opportunities for students to investigate relationships between nature, human systems and community environmental health.
The grounds and gardens surrounding Patrick Henry School of Science and Art support the K-5 charter school’s goal of promoting environmental stewardship through outdoor experiences aligned with the commonwealth’s science standards. The school’s curriculum promotes environmental stewardship through the integration of science and art, and the exploration of the natural world, including the trails and wetlands of an adjacent city park.
“I congratulate the principals, teachers, parents and students of these two schools for their collaboration in creating learning environments that emphasize discovery, stewardship and conservation while supporting academic achievement and good citizenship,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow.
Review committees convened by the Virginia Department of Education nominated the two schools for the awards in February. The U.S. Department of Education will present the 2022 Green Ribbon School awards later this year during a ceremony in Washington.
More information about the 2022 Green Ribbon Schools program is available online from the U.S. Department of Education.
# # #
