Independence School celebrates the environment in many ways....
Annual Fall Clean Up/Green Apple Day of Service
GWWO, Inc./Architects & Independence School Local 1
Team Up for Green Apple Day of Service (Press Release)
Baltimore, Maryland (September 26, 2013) – Local architects, GWWO, Inc./Architects teamed up with Hampden’s Independence School Local 1 to participate in the worldwide Green Apple Day of Service. On Saturday, September 28, the Green Apple Day of Service brought together thousands of students, teachers, companies, organizations and individuals from around the globe to improve school environments through service projects, education, community events and more. The goal of this national program is to transform our schools into healthy, safe, cost-efficient and productive place to learn. In Baltimore, members of the GWWO team and other volunteers gave their time to renew the exterior classroom space at Independence School Local 1 from 8:30AM-2:00PM.
Providing their students with a hands-on learning environment, the Independence School often incorporates outdoor learning experiences as part of the curriculum. Many areas of the school grounds were overgrown and in need of tidying up. Additionally, the school’s small footprint doesn’t allow for a cafeteria, so in a combined solution, volunteers worked to construct an outdoor classroom and dining area for the students. Over the course of the day, the team fashioned custom designed outdoor tables and chairs out of recycled wood pallets to provide seating areas for students.
Many thanks go out to our local businesses for supporting this international day of service. Falkenhan’s Hardware donated money for supplies, Dominoes provided lunch for the 21 volunteers, GWWO provided blueprints and manpower, and Independence teachers and students also volunteered on this project.
Sponsors- Falkenhan’s Hardware - $400 donated toward supplies,Domino’s Pizza- Falls and 41st , donated 10 pizzas, GWWO, Inc. – provided breakfast, planning and blueprints, supplies, tools, and volunteers
Volunteers-31 volunteers, total of 157 hours
Participants- GWWO Architects, Independence School Students, Independence School Staff
About GWWO, Inc./Architects
GWWO, Inc./Architects is a Baltimore, MD-based full service architectural firm that specializes in the planning and design of cultural and educational facilities, with emphasis on quality design that is both evocative and inspirational. Projects include the new Dundalk and Sollers Point High Schools in Dundalk, Maryland; the new Red Pump Elementary School in Bel Air, Maryland; the LEED Platinum Certified Robinson Nature Center in Columbia, Maryland; and the LEED Gold Certified Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine Visitor Center in Baltimore, Maryland.
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Plans are currently in the making for next year's Green Apple (Fall 2014). GWWO is considering working with students and staff to build the following:
1 more picnic table
4 more benches
1-2 bat houses
Mother Earth Picnic
School-wide picnic and service learning outing at Robert E. Lee Park. Students work to restore trails, clean flood areas, and pick up trash, while learning about the local natural habitat surrounding Lake Roland and branches of the Jones Falls. (see documentation below)
City Forestry Board's Arbor Day Celebration
This spring, we celebrated Arbor Day in a new way! Twenty students from Independence School Local 1 partnered with elementary students from the Greenmount School to plant 40 trees in Wyman Park. This event (hopefully to be annual) was being sponsored by the City Forestry Board. Representatives from MD DNR, Friends of Stony Run, City Council (Mary Pat Clarke), and the City Forestry Board were also present. (see documentation below)
GWWO, Inc./Architects & Independence School Local 1
Team Up for Green Apple Day of Service (Press Release)
Baltimore, Maryland (September 26, 2013) – Local architects, GWWO, Inc./Architects teamed up with Hampden’s Independence School Local 1 to participate in the worldwide Green Apple Day of Service. On Saturday, September 28, the Green Apple Day of Service brought together thousands of students, teachers, companies, organizations and individuals from around the globe to improve school environments through service projects, education, community events and more. The goal of this national program is to transform our schools into healthy, safe, cost-efficient and productive place to learn. In Baltimore, members of the GWWO team and other volunteers gave their time to renew the exterior classroom space at Independence School Local 1 from 8:30AM-2:00PM.
Providing their students with a hands-on learning environment, the Independence School often incorporates outdoor learning experiences as part of the curriculum. Many areas of the school grounds were overgrown and in need of tidying up. Additionally, the school’s small footprint doesn’t allow for a cafeteria, so in a combined solution, volunteers worked to construct an outdoor classroom and dining area for the students. Over the course of the day, the team fashioned custom designed outdoor tables and chairs out of recycled wood pallets to provide seating areas for students.
Many thanks go out to our local businesses for supporting this international day of service. Falkenhan’s Hardware donated money for supplies, Dominoes provided lunch for the 21 volunteers, GWWO provided blueprints and manpower, and Independence teachers and students also volunteered on this project.
Sponsors- Falkenhan’s Hardware - $400 donated toward supplies,Domino’s Pizza- Falls and 41st , donated 10 pizzas, GWWO, Inc. – provided breakfast, planning and blueprints, supplies, tools, and volunteers
Volunteers-31 volunteers, total of 157 hours
Participants- GWWO Architects, Independence School Students, Independence School Staff
About GWWO, Inc./Architects
GWWO, Inc./Architects is a Baltimore, MD-based full service architectural firm that specializes in the planning and design of cultural and educational facilities, with emphasis on quality design that is both evocative and inspirational. Projects include the new Dundalk and Sollers Point High Schools in Dundalk, Maryland; the new Red Pump Elementary School in Bel Air, Maryland; the LEED Platinum Certified Robinson Nature Center in Columbia, Maryland; and the LEED Gold Certified Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine Visitor Center in Baltimore, Maryland.
*************************************************************************************************************
Plans are currently in the making for next year's Green Apple (Fall 2014). GWWO is considering working with students and staff to build the following:
1 more picnic table
4 more benches
1-2 bat houses
Mother Earth Picnic
School-wide picnic and service learning outing at Robert E. Lee Park. Students work to restore trails, clean flood areas, and pick up trash, while learning about the local natural habitat surrounding Lake Roland and branches of the Jones Falls. (see documentation below)
City Forestry Board's Arbor Day Celebration
This spring, we celebrated Arbor Day in a new way! Twenty students from Independence School Local 1 partnered with elementary students from the Greenmount School to plant 40 trees in Wyman Park. This event (hopefully to be annual) was being sponsored by the City Forestry Board. Representatives from MD DNR, Friends of Stony Run, City Council (Mary Pat Clarke), and the City Forestry Board were also present. (see documentation below)
Independence Green School Bulletin Board
The Student Green Team regularly maintains a Green Bulletin Board. The board features school-wide events (e.g. Fall Clean Up, Baltimore Energy Challenge, Earth Day, etc.).
The Student Green Team regularly maintains a Green Bulletin Board. The board features school-wide events (e.g. Fall Clean Up, Baltimore Energy Challenge, Earth Day, etc.).
Greenscape
Independence School Rocks Maryland Greenscape Summit
Student and teacher representatives, non-profits, and elected officials gathered on Tuesday, May 28th, to celebrate and share Green Initiatives in and around Baltimore. The GreenScape summit is a project of the Student Environmental Leadership Action Team (SELAT), with support from the Baltimore Office of Sustainability, City Schools, and the Baltimore Community Foundation.
Independence students, Tamara Simms, Deshawn Holmes, Devon Taylor, Jonathon Riley, and Aunyea Holman shared the work they have been doing on the urban water cycle and experimenting with renewable forms of energy. Nick Mosby, Baltimore City Congressman from District 7, spoke at length with student, Jonathon Riley about how what he is learning in school relates to the community. See Jonathon being interviewed about Greenscape for BCPSS Great Schools Great Kids website by clicking the link below.
Representatives from Blue Water Baltimore and Parks and people Foundation were also impressed with the project based learning activities at Independence. Ms. Virtudes and Ms. Kirikos also attended, and accepted a Certificate of recognition from Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. (see below) The certificate recognized Independence’s efforts to “Grow Baltimore” by taking on the challenge to become leaders in sustainability and by making Baltimore schools cleaner, greener, and more environmentally friendly. Additional photos of Greenscape can be found in the slideshow on the main page.
Independence students will be creating a display this year of their reusable bag project and presenting their work at GreenScape 2014 in May of 2014. Independence students continue to look for opportunities to share their green knowledge with their community and Baltimore City.
Independence School Rocks Maryland Greenscape Summit
Student and teacher representatives, non-profits, and elected officials gathered on Tuesday, May 28th, to celebrate and share Green Initiatives in and around Baltimore. The GreenScape summit is a project of the Student Environmental Leadership Action Team (SELAT), with support from the Baltimore Office of Sustainability, City Schools, and the Baltimore Community Foundation.
Independence students, Tamara Simms, Deshawn Holmes, Devon Taylor, Jonathon Riley, and Aunyea Holman shared the work they have been doing on the urban water cycle and experimenting with renewable forms of energy. Nick Mosby, Baltimore City Congressman from District 7, spoke at length with student, Jonathon Riley about how what he is learning in school relates to the community. See Jonathon being interviewed about Greenscape for BCPSS Great Schools Great Kids website by clicking the link below.
Representatives from Blue Water Baltimore and Parks and people Foundation were also impressed with the project based learning activities at Independence. Ms. Virtudes and Ms. Kirikos also attended, and accepted a Certificate of recognition from Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. (see below) The certificate recognized Independence’s efforts to “Grow Baltimore” by taking on the challenge to become leaders in sustainability and by making Baltimore schools cleaner, greener, and more environmentally friendly. Additional photos of Greenscape can be found in the slideshow on the main page.
Independence students will be creating a display this year of their reusable bag project and presenting their work at GreenScape 2014 in May of 2014. Independence students continue to look for opportunities to share their green knowledge with their community and Baltimore City.
http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&ModuleInstanceID=20221&ViewID=047E6BE3-6D87-4130-8424-D8E4E9ED6C2A&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=24123&PageID=6030
city_of_baltimore_recognition.pdf | |
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gasd1.pdf | |
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arborday2014flyer.doc | |
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