School

Sustainability Plan
Each School Sustainability Ambassador should complete this plan by November 15th.

School Name Arlington Elementary School #234

School Number 234

School Year 2020-2021
Sustainability Ambassador Name Melissa A. Thompson

Ambassador Email mathompson@bcps.k12.md.us

Ambassador Phone 4103106013

Principal Name Emily M. Hunter

Principal Signature

Date 8/28/19

City Schools Policy ADG - Sustainability sets broad sustainability, greening, and environmental education
goals and led to the development of a Sustainability Plan with strategies and metrics.

Each school must designate a Sustainability Ambassador to:

● Serve as the coordinator for sustainability, greening, and environmental initiatives at your school.
● Complete this School Sustainability Plan by November 15 each year to address recycling, energy
conservation, and green cleaning products and practices.  The plan may also address other greening
activities such as gardening, water conservation, transportation, healthy school environment, etc.
● Complete a short survey regarding your work at the end of each school year.

NOTE:
Charter schools may, but are not required to, designate a Sustainability Ambassador.  However, charter
schools must recycle, and charter schools in buildings owned by City Schools must also conserve energy.

For more information, contact Joanna Pi-Sunyer, Green Schools Coordinator.

Return this plan via email by November 15th to:

Joanna Pi-Sunyer, Green Schools Coordinator
jpi-sunyer@bcps.k12.md.us 443-642-4542

Updated Version from SY 2019-2020 to include modifications for Distance and In-Person Hybrid
Recycling
To meet the state law that requires
all schools to recycle paper,
cardboard, glass, metal, and
electronics, we will…
examples include: conduct a recycling
audit, make or buy bins, develop and
implement an awareness effort, etc.
Energy and Water Conservation
To meet City Schools’ goal to
conserve energy and water, we
will….
examples include: conduct an energy
audit, develop and implement an
awareness effort, apply for an energy
grant from the Baltimore Energy
Challenge, etc.
Cleaning for Health
To use “green” cleaning products,
we will….
Note: staff custodians should be using
Diversey daily cleaning products;
contract custodians may use other
approved green products.
Green Team
To engage our school in greening,
sustainability and environmental
issues, we will….
examples include: form a green team of
students, teachers, custodial staff, and
administrators to further goals; expand
our team; have our green team meet
more regularly, etc.
Environmental Education
School
Sustainability Plan
We will utilize a sorting system in the cafeteria and school to
ensure that recycling proceeds to finish. We will also ensure
that compostable materials are recovered and used properly.
Recycling pick up will be closely monitored by the STEAM
Coordinator (the students and the city). *Modification: For
the 20-21 school year, delivery of breakfast and lunches will
be monitored for recycled materials by classroom leaders. In
person learning opportunities within the classroom.
Use self-regulating water knobs in all bathrooms. Use
refillable water bottles. Use motion sensing lights in all
classrooms. Use natural light whenever possible. Conduct an
energy audit to understand continuing school needs. Natural
Light Mondays. *Modification: For the 20-21 school year, we
will have water bottles for each student in person learning.
We will also have no students using the computers 50% of
the day and only having the projector for in-person
instruction.
We will use green cleaning products daily at all levels in the
school. *Modification: For the 20-21 school year (where to
begin), we will modify cleaning materials to use more
effective products due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will
use spray bottles with biodegradable paper towels. We will
wear masks and use eco-friendly hand sanitizer that still
meets CDC requirements.
Form a green team with multiple staff members to complete
the following:
Create STEAM Events that are quarterly for school to engage
in environmental education and how it ties to technology.
Implement quarterly environmental engineering design
challenges to school as competitions.
*Modification: For the 20-21 school year, we will meet
virtually 2-3 times a month. We will plan outdoor in-person
events and hold them at least twice a month conditions
withstanding. We will implement projects via the computer
and in-person with acceptable protocols and modifications.
Create STEAM Events that are quarterly for school to engage
in environmental education and how it ties to technology.

To integrate environmental
education into classrooms and
beyond, we will…
examples include sharing and
implementing activities aligned to
standards, setting up and using an
outdoor classroom, etc.
Communication
To communicate our sustainability
efforts to our school community,
we will…
examples include bulletin boards,
morning/afternoon announcements,
newsletter, etc.
Community Engagement
To engage the surrounding
community, we will...
examples include partnering with area
community associations, businesses,
houses of worship, and nonprofit
organizations on activities within the
school or in the community
Additional activities (optional)
We are also going to pursue
activities related to…
● Water conservation and pollution
prevention
● Habitat restoration
● Structures for environmental
learning
● Responsible transportation
● Healthy school environment
● MAEOE Green School Award
(MD Association for
Environmental and Outdoor
Education
https://www.maeoe.org/green-sc
hools-and-green-centers/green-sc
hools-program)
Other ideas/plans/comments
School
Sustainability Plan
Implement quarterly environmental engineering design
challenges to school as competitions.
Implement both PLTW launch program and technology
advancements to tie to outdoor education. *Modification:
For the 20-21 school year, we will achieve 100 or more virtual
environmental education events via the internet.
New media team will announce findings via television
announcements, radio podcasts and other social media
platforms. *Modification: For the 20-21 school year, we will
use class dojo, google classroom and our school green
website to communicate.
Community liaison will work with STEAM coordinator to
ensure partnership events throughout the year.
*Modification: For the 20-21 school year, we will have to
monitor this situation closely as outside individuals are not
permitted in-person. We will host online events for
stakeholders.
Short Term:
Hatching Chickens
Nature Playground
Little Library
Trout in the classroom
Adopt A Ship
Aquaculture
Hydroponics
Long Term:
Windmill
Greenhouse
Bees
These are my big goals.
[Insert narrative here]
 School
Sustainability Plan