PC: Unified School District of De Pere
DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) — The Unified School District of De Pere is celebrating Earth Day two days early.
The U.S. Department of Education announced Thursday the district is one of 11 in the nation to be named a 2023 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School District Sustainability Awardee.
Dr. Christopher Thompson, Superintendent for the Unified School District of De Pere, says they were nominated for the award by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction in three areas;
“Sustainability measures in this case are looking at how your district reduces environmental impacts and costs, improves health and wellness of students and staff, and increases environmental literacy for students,” said Dr. Thompson.
Sustainability measures, high-quality instruction and student performance go hand-in-hand in the district, where three schools exceed expectations and three schools significantly exceed expectations on the Fall 2022 Department of Public Instruction’s School Report Cards.
In a report on the 2023 awardees, the Dept. of Education noted several areas of achievement in the district:
- Tracking of energy used in buildings throughout the day and modifying practices accordingly.
- Clean energy choices have been implemented when HVAC systems have been upgraded, including geothermal and passive solar energy sources at Dickinson School.
- Stormwater management was prioritized as part of a recent outdoor athletic complex upgrade. Dated outdoor light fixtures were replaced with LED lighting. Native plantings minimize the need for energy-consuming maintenance and fertilizing.
- Landscape and garden wastes are composted.
- The district regularly replaces water fountains with water bottle filling stations to conserve water and reduce single use plastics.
- In collaboration with AdvocateAurora Health System, a full-time nurse rotates on a regular schedule through all buildings providing on-site access to health care.
- Allies in Mental Health Education programming connects students with school-based outside mental health resources.
- Second Step curriculum is being implemented for elementary and middle school level Social Emotional Learning.
- Therapy dogs, paired with district staff, provide unconditional support for students needing a calming friend. Dogs are in place at four schools with the final two being trained for inclusion at their in late 2023.
- Through a partnership with five other school districts and CESA 6, the cooperatively funded 450-acre Fallen Timbers Environmental Education Center provides students with environmental education field study and classroom opportunities focused on environmental stewardship.
- District buildings feature outdoor learning centers, vegetable and pollinator gardens.
- Nearby city parks provide added access to environmental education that is incorporated throughout the kindergarten through grade twelve curriculum including natural sciences, English Language Arts, social sciences, family and consumer education, health studies, physical education and agriculture content areas.
“This award is especially meaningful because it recognizes the valuable sustainability-related teaching and learning happening within our district,” said Dr. Thompson.
Across the country 26 schools, 11 districts, and four postsecondary institutions are being honored. The honorees were named from a pool of candidates nominated by 18 states.
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