Oregon Sustainable School Award Winners Announced - Oregon Department of Education

For immediate release
contact Crystal Greene, 503-947-5650

May 14, 2012

Oregon Sustainable School Award Winners Announced

(Salem, Ore.) – Today State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo, in partnership with the Sustainable Oregon Schools Initiative, announced the winners of the Oregon Sustainable School Awards. Schools were recognized for outstanding commitment to four distinct “pillars” of sustainability with awards granted within each pillar and an overall winner selected that comprehensively addresses all four pillars. Willamina Elementary School in the Willamina School District was selected as the overall winner with second place going to Catlin Gabel School in Portland.

“I am proud to announce the winners of the Oregon Sustainable School Awards,” said Superintendent Castillo. “The work these schools are doing both in sustainable practice and sustainability education is truly inspiring. Through a commitment to student health, reducing their impact on the environment, integrating sustainability into the curriculum, and focusing on issues of social sustainability, these schools are making a difference in their communities and in the lives and futures of their students.”

The four pillars of sustainability the schools addressed in their applications are: Pillar 1 – Minimizing Environmental Impacts; Pillar 2 – Supporting Healthy, Safe Students; Pillar 3 – Educating for Sustainability; and Pillar 4 – Social Sustainability.

In addition to the overall Sustainable School winners, the winning schools within each pillar are:

Pillar 1 – Catlin Gabel School, Portland (winner)
Spencer Butte Middle School, Eugene (honorable mention)
Pillar 2 – Gladstone High School, Gladstone (winner)
Pillar 3 – Sunnyside Environmental School, Portland (winner)
Jesuit High School, Portland (honorable mention)
Pillar 4 – Willamina Elementary, Willamina (winner)
Rosland Elementary, Bend-LaPine (honorable mention)

“These awards finally give schools the opportunity to get recognized for the great sustainability work they are doing and for others to learn from their work,” said Lori Stole, Manager of the Sustainable Oregon Schools Initiative. “I encourage schools to apply next year, whether it be for just one pillar area or for all four of the pillars.”

Public and private schools from around the state completed a dual application for the Oregon Sustainable Schools Award and the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools award which was announced in late April; the two awards recognize different aspects of sustainability. The Oregon Sustainable School Awards will be presented at the conclusion of the Sustainable Schools – Sustainable Solutions Conference at Gladstone High School on June 19.

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for a one pager on the Oregon Sustainable Schools Awards. To access the winners’ applications or to learn about other Oregon sustainability efforts, visit www.sustainableschools.org.

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Susan Castillo, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Christine Miles, Communications Director, Telephone (503) 947-5637
http://www.ode.state.or.us

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