All ten schools in the Westfield Public School District have achieved Bronze level certification under the Sustainable Jersey for Schools program.
“This was no easy task to achieve given the amount of work required to collect, organize, and submit the required evidence for consideration,” says Superintendent Dr. Raymond González. "We are proud to achieve Bronze certification in sustainability, recognizing the important role our school district plays in promoting sustainable practices and educating our students to be responsible environmental stewards."
To qualify for certification, schools must receive at least 150 points through a variety of different actions. Points earned for district actions are applied to school level applications.
“The majority of our points earned focused on our efforts to put digital and curricular systems in place to promote sustainable practices for years to come,” says González, citing examples such as electronic newsletters and other digital communications, curricular lessons involving school gardens, student-led composting programs, outdoor classrooms, and other initiatives that reduce waste, conserve resources, and promote environmental awareness.
González praised district administrators and teachers for their hard work on the project, led by Supervisor of K-12 Science Tom Paterson.
An awards luncheon will be held in October at the annual New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) conference in Atlantic City.
Sustainable Jersey for Schools is a certification program for public schools in New Jersey, launched to support and reward municipalities and schools as they pursue sustainability programs. To date, according to the Sustainable Jersey organization, nearly 1,200 schools are participating in the program.
In March, Westfield High School received a $10,000 grant from Sustainable Jersey for Schools to install a “Student Bike Oasis,” a weather-protected shelter to promote bicycle safety and eco-friendly commuting to and from the high school.
