LATEST
The Green Schools Challenge Mid-Year meetings were held, January 23, 2012, at the two Miami-Dade County Public schools awarded the highest energy-conservation rebates for school year 2010-11. Zelda Glazer Middle School, the biggest winner, received a rebate of $45,998.40 for its energy conservation efforts. Hialeah Gardens Middle School, another big winner, received a rebate of $43,247.40. The design of both schools is almost identical, allowing for the maximum use of daylight, especially in the media centers, where each meeting was held. Both rooms have curved exterior walls, with floor to ceiling windows that face each school’s central courtyard. No artificial lights were used during the meetings.
The sixty-five Green Schools Challenge teachers who attended the meetings enjoyed the small group discussions which were led by GSC Mentor Teachers, Mari Avetrani, April Grant, Pam Schlachtman and Carol Shill. Teachers shared ideas, successes, challenges and innovative solutions. Each attendee received a 10-pk. of seeds for their school gardens and a Green Schools Challenge tree, made of recycled wood and recycled telephone wire.
Activities at the Meeting:
• Discuss program updates
• Review and plan green school activities from January to May
• Share successes, challenges and energy reduction progress
• Receive feedback from teachers on your activities
Dream in Green kicked off the school year with its annual Green Schools Challenge Professional Development Workshop, held on September 29, 2011. Green Schools Challenge enrollment broke all records this year with 165 Miami-Dade public, charter and private schools, as well as three Broward County schools, enrolling in the new 2011-12 program. The recent workshop, attended by two-hundred and thirty K-12 teachers, was held at Miami Jackson Senior High and was hosted by Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Miami Jackson Senior High School’s Principal Juliann Cazanas.
The workshop's goal was to train teachers in implementing the new Green Schools Challenge program. The new program, although still emphasizing energy efficiency, now also includes monthly topics on other sustainability issues - climate change, water conservation, waste reduction & recycling, green building, alternative transportation and green careers. The program will culminate in April with a K-12 Eco Summit where students will present what they've learned to the greater community, in a variety of ways, including science exhibits, speeches, art, music, poetry and dance.
During the all-day workshop, teachers heard energy presentations from Ana Rijo-Conde, MDCPS Eco-Sustainability Officer; visionary Dr. Jack Parker, Professor Emeritus, FIU; and Dr. Wafa Khalil, recently retired MAST Academy teacher and creator of the solar energy curriculum currently used by Florida's Dept. of Education.
Green Schools Challenge Mentor Teachers Dr. Wafa Khalil, Bertha Vasquez, Rebecca Shaw, Cecilia Calleros, Carmen Monge and Lourdes Guaty also shared their 'secrets of success' with attendees and outlined strategies for implementing school-wide green initiatives.
The event marked Dream in Green’s 6th year anniversary of the Green Schools Challenge program. Last year, the program’s ninety-five K-12 public schools saved Miami-Dade County school district over $1.4 million in electricity costs.
More News + Events
• Sep 29, 2011 - Back to School: Green Schools Challenge 2011-12!
• Aug 26, 2011 - Green Schools Challenge a Finalist in Inktel Direct Grant
• May 18, 2011 - DIG + Miami-Dade County Public Schools honor 105 Schools!
• Apr 1, 2011 - Dream in Green Celebrates 5th Anniversary
• Dec 1, 2010 - 12 Home Energy Savings Workshops Delivered
• Oct 21, 2010 - Dream in Green Wins Great Miami Chamber of Commerce’s Sustainable South Florida Award for Green Education & Outreach
