PLT GreenSchool Receives USDA Healthier Schools Gold Award
The school received USDA’s Healthier U.S. Schools Gold Award of Distinction from Kevin Concannon, USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, who presented the school with a $2,000 check. During his remarks, Concannon explained that Stokes was among the half of one percent of all schools in America to be honored with this award.
State Superintendent of Education Hosanna Mahaley, and Ward 5 DC City Council Representative Harry Thomas, attended the ceremony. According to Mahaley, Stokes is not only the first DC school to receive the gold award, but it is also the first to have a salad bar.
Councilmember Thomas, whose daughter attends Stokes, said that the healthy food options that Stokes offers students has resulted in him and other parents serving healthier meals at home. He also acknowledged the importance of the work that Project Learning Tree does with Stokes and other schools to raise environmental awareness and encourage students and teachers to play an active in role in making their schools greener, and healthier.
Last year, students and teachers at Stokes received training from PLT and US Forest Service staff in a set of PLT GreenSchools! Investigations. Trisha Nakano, Stokes’ Wellness Coordinator, guided students in PLT GreenSchools! environmental action improvement projects. For example, students in the Energy Patrol Team meet once a week to learn about environmental issues, conduct school-wide investigations, and help educate the local community about ways they can help their school “Go Green.”
Last April, in honor of National Healthy Schools Day, students in Stokes’ PLT GreenSchools! Green Team set up a booth at the end of the school day with information they had researched about recycling, the decomposition rates of foods, and 10 ways the school can “Go Green.” This was a smashing success, so students took it to a higher level and created a game that asked parents, students, and community members questions about the environment. The students awarded prizes for correct responses.
The students’ participation in PLT’s GreenSchools! program was a major impetus to encourage them to apply for the USDA Healthier U.S. School Challenge Award.
Following the awards ceremony yesterday, I joined the dignitaries on a school tour, lead by Stokes’ Student Government Association officers, and had lunch with Stokes’ chef who is working toward the goal of securing all of the school’s food from local sources. This was a perfect opportunity to taste the appetizing treats from the salad bar, along with other healthy and delicious dishes served by this school with a gold award of distinction.
