Re-certification 2018
Summary and "Top Five"
Summary:
THES is a green school and is getting greener every year. Thunder Hill Elementary is a Howard County Public School located in Columbia, Maryland. Our school has 94 employees and 520 students. Our green culture began in 2008. A dedicated Green Team of parents, staff and students began recycling and learning about conservation and environmental instruction. A hard copy binder was carefully compiled and submitted and we were certified as a Green School in 2010. Today our efforts are documented electronically on the THES Green School website. The Green School Committee meets on a monthly basis and includes administrators, building service managers, teachers, staff members, and students. In addition to our excellent Howard County curriculum, every grade level teaches additional "green" lessons. Every staff member at THES recycles, and our Fifth Grade student team takes care of recycling duties on a weekly basis. Our students post signs encouraging water and energy conservation near every sink, fountain and light switch. All staff and students attend school-wide "green" assemblies throughout the year. Our school-wide programs include Trash-free Tuesdays, where students who bring lunch have their lunch packed in reusable/recyclable containers and the students who purchase lunch use wahable trays thus reducing the amount of waste produced. In addition to lessons in their classrooms, students experience "green" education through music (musicals based on green themes), art (incorporating recycled material), technology and physical education programs (Jump rope for Heart).
In 2012 our school received a silver LEEDS award for environmentally sensitive construction efforts. These efforts included skylights in all classrooms as well as environmentally sensitive plumbing, HVAC, lighting, building materials and finishes. THES has continued to expand our green culture with new trees, a rain garden, a butterfly garden and bird houses. We have established partnerships with Howard County Master Gardeners, Centennial High school Science clubs, and greeNEWit, support green schools. At THES we celebrate Green School life with a rich array of school-wide programs including our Recycled Sculpture Expo, Trashion Show, STEAM day, the Science and Invention Fair, Earth Day and Earth Hour party. Today our students "live green" naturally. They are enthusiastic about recycling, conserving water and energy, composting, and their many environmental lessons. Our green school culture is deeply rooted, carefully maintained and will continue to grow and flourish in years to come.
THES is a green school and is getting greener every year. Thunder Hill Elementary is a Howard County Public School located in Columbia, Maryland. Our school has 94 employees and 520 students. Our green culture began in 2008. A dedicated Green Team of parents, staff and students began recycling and learning about conservation and environmental instruction. A hard copy binder was carefully compiled and submitted and we were certified as a Green School in 2010. Today our efforts are documented electronically on the THES Green School website. The Green School Committee meets on a monthly basis and includes administrators, building service managers, teachers, staff members, and students. In addition to our excellent Howard County curriculum, every grade level teaches additional "green" lessons. Every staff member at THES recycles, and our Fifth Grade student team takes care of recycling duties on a weekly basis. Our students post signs encouraging water and energy conservation near every sink, fountain and light switch. All staff and students attend school-wide "green" assemblies throughout the year. Our school-wide programs include Trash-free Tuesdays, where students who bring lunch have their lunch packed in reusable/recyclable containers and the students who purchase lunch use wahable trays thus reducing the amount of waste produced. In addition to lessons in their classrooms, students experience "green" education through music (musicals based on green themes), art (incorporating recycled material), technology and physical education programs (Jump rope for Heart).
In 2012 our school received a silver LEEDS award for environmentally sensitive construction efforts. These efforts included skylights in all classrooms as well as environmentally sensitive plumbing, HVAC, lighting, building materials and finishes. THES has continued to expand our green culture with new trees, a rain garden, a butterfly garden and bird houses. We have established partnerships with Howard County Master Gardeners, Centennial High school Science clubs, and greeNEWit, support green schools. At THES we celebrate Green School life with a rich array of school-wide programs including our Recycled Sculpture Expo, Trashion Show, STEAM day, the Science and Invention Fair, Earth Day and Earth Hour party. Today our students "live green" naturally. They are enthusiastic about recycling, conserving water and energy, composting, and their many environmental lessons. Our green school culture is deeply rooted, carefully maintained and will continue to grow and flourish in years to come.
"Top Five" Achievements:
* Every year students from the fifth grade act as our green school ambassadors. Since 2013 our ambassadors have collected recycled materials and disposed of them appropriately int he recycle containers outside of our school. The students also create signage for recycling, composting and to remind other students to help protect our Earth through reusing containers and recycling.
* The annual Thunder Hill Science and Invention Fair is held every March. Students work at home to develop a project that demonstrates the scientific inquiry, the engineering and design process or both. Their hard work culminates in an exciting night where students, staff, and families celebrate the students scientific exploration.
* The school salad bar promotes healthy choices for students and staff.
* Our Girls On the Run team promote healthy living by modeling positive physical activity, eating healthy snacks and helping maintain the school garden.
* THES celebrations are legendary. Our celebrations include school-wide events such as the Trashion Show, Reycled Sculpures, Earth Hour and more.
* Every year students from the fifth grade act as our green school ambassadors. Since 2013 our ambassadors have collected recycled materials and disposed of them appropriately int he recycle containers outside of our school. The students also create signage for recycling, composting and to remind other students to help protect our Earth through reusing containers and recycling.
* The annual Thunder Hill Science and Invention Fair is held every March. Students work at home to develop a project that demonstrates the scientific inquiry, the engineering and design process or both. Their hard work culminates in an exciting night where students, staff, and families celebrate the students scientific exploration.
* The school salad bar promotes healthy choices for students and staff.
* Our Girls On the Run team promote healthy living by modeling positive physical activity, eating healthy snacks and helping maintain the school garden.
* THES celebrations are legendary. Our celebrations include school-wide events such as the Trashion Show, Reycled Sculpures, Earth Hour and more.
http://www.maeoe.org/greenschools/application/%20index.php