Stoneleigh's Top Five Efforts
Stream and path Clean-up Spring 2015
1. Reconstruction of a Stream Path
In the Fall of 2015, a third grade class using the stream area at the bottom edge of the school's property for a science activity found the area neglected. The students were upset by the amount of trash which surrounded them as they moved about the area. They immediately began filling collection bags with the litter found and took it back to school. A small group of students from the class began organizing another clean-up acknowledging they had only been able to tackle a small amount of the the biggest problem, trash. Within days, the group initiated the first of many organized clean-up efforts held after-school to continue tackling health improvement of the stream area. When other third grade classes at Stoneleigh heard of the effort, they began taking trips to the stream helping to care for the stream environment as part of their science learning. This year, the Green School Club voted continued stream restoration the focus project for the 2016-2017 school year. Third grade classes along with the Green School Club worked with the school PTA and neighboring communities to plan a full day focused clean-up to bring attention to Earth Day. Blue Water Baltimore got on board and help remove some of the larger items. A community member who was also a master gardener participated in the day leading the participants in clearing the area of many of the invasive plant species. While the original third grade class started the change with initial efforts, it is now supported by the community as a whole. The school uses the path as a safe science outdoor classroom, while the neighborhood enjoys the green space.
In the Fall of 2015, a third grade class using the stream area at the bottom edge of the school's property for a science activity found the area neglected. The students were upset by the amount of trash which surrounded them as they moved about the area. They immediately began filling collection bags with the litter found and took it back to school. A small group of students from the class began organizing another clean-up acknowledging they had only been able to tackle a small amount of the the biggest problem, trash. Within days, the group initiated the first of many organized clean-up efforts held after-school to continue tackling health improvement of the stream area. When other third grade classes at Stoneleigh heard of the effort, they began taking trips to the stream helping to care for the stream environment as part of their science learning. This year, the Green School Club voted continued stream restoration the focus project for the 2016-2017 school year. Third grade classes along with the Green School Club worked with the school PTA and neighboring communities to plan a full day focused clean-up to bring attention to Earth Day. Blue Water Baltimore got on board and help remove some of the larger items. A community member who was also a master gardener participated in the day leading the participants in clearing the area of many of the invasive plant species. While the original third grade class started the change with initial efforts, it is now supported by the community as a whole. The school uses the path as a safe science outdoor classroom, while the neighborhood enjoys the green space.
2. Integration of Arts and Environmental Studies Project
Parents signed up to receive the electronic option. 2013
In the fall of 2013, staff and students returned to a renovated elementary school with a lot of empty wall space. With the passion ignited by the Green School, a school-wide integrated arts project was initiated that connected to the county curriculum environmental studies. A local muralist was contracted for an artist-in-residence program. Each class, from kindergarten to fifth grade, worked in small groups to design murals that showcased their particular curriculum connection to environmental studies. The local muralist, an award-winning artist, Jay Wolf Schlossberg Cohe, lead art classes for the school over a three week span of time developing the work of the students. Each grade level worked on a specific curriculum connection which were then developed into large murals including: kindergarten - Farmland, first grade - Save the Checker Spot Butterfly, second grade - Budding Botanist, third grade - Save the Chesapeake Bay, fourth grade - Eco-Explorers, and fifth grade - Eco-Trekkers. Mr.Wolf Schlossberg Cohe created six large murals that included at least one piece from each of the over 100 smaller grade level small group murals. The six magnificent murals are focal points in several of the most used hallways at Stoneleigh. We are reminded daily of our unified commitment to being environmental stewards.
4. Walking Wednesdays - Responsible Transportation
Footsie is our Walking Wednesday Mascot. 2013- 2016
Stoneleigh Elementary students participate in a responsible transportation program called, "Walking Wednesdays". A majority of the Stoneleigh Elementary School students live less than one mile from the school and therefore do not receive school system bus service. Stoneleigh staff work with the school PTA to promote walking or biking to school in lieu of riding. The Walking Wednesday program is designed to promote the healthy benefits of walking for the person and the environment. These benefits include exercise, decreasing the number of cars on the roads around the school, decreasing those who use the "Kiss and Go" student drop off, safety and an environment that is less polluted. Children who can participate arrive at school ready to learn with oxygen enriched blood, leave school and head home with far less stored up energy, and develop a life long habit of fitness. Because school staff and the PTA have built this connection an increase child safety has occurred and social knowledge of environmental issues has grown. The Walking Wednesday Program received the "Best Family Involvement Award" from the Baltimore County PTA Council for several years.
5. Front Circle Beautification/Native Planting
Thanks to the PTA Gardening Committee's oversight, the Green School Club participants, and enthusiastic Stoneleigh Elementary parents the school has a beautiful newly planted front flag garden. Adult and student volunteers gathered on a warm September Saturday to tear down and re-plant the front flag garden which is a focal point of the school. All hands dug, planted, and mulched the flagpole area in the school's front bus circle. The garden transformed from an overgrown nightmare that the Green School Club could not tame, to a calm simple garden with many native plants. We are grateful to the PTA Gardening Committee and Stoneleigh Green School Club adult participants Michelle Gutberlet, Mark Gutberlet, Peter Ismay, Mark Lewandowski and Alice Storm Jones for partnering with the school in planning and organizing this project.
The replanting of our flag pole garden September 2016