Millennia Gardens Elementary School in Orlando is among the 2022 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools award honorees. Millennia Gardens is the only school in Florida to receive this award.
Millennia Gardens Elementary School was nominated by the Florida Department of Education. The school’s sustainability initiatives are accompanied with effective environmental and sustainability education, which is delivered through interdisciplinary lessons and collaborative efforts. Their goal is to increase student awareness and critical thinking skills, so they can become capable of developing solutions to various environmental issues for our community.
“Among the numerous projects that the school has adopted into its environmentally friendly culture, we’re particular proud of the fifth-grade students who combined their knowledge from lessons in civics and climate change to write letters to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer who later signed the Declaration of Climate Emergency,” said Dr. Maria Vazquez, deputy superintendent, Orange County Public Schools.
Across the country, 27 schools, five districts, and four postsecondary institutions are being honored for their innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, improve health and wellness, and ensure effective sustainability education. The honorees were named from a pool of candidates nominated by 19 states.
The list of all selected schools, districts, colleges, and universities, as well as their nomination packages, can be found here. A report with highlights on the 36 honorees can be found here. Resources for all schools to move toward the three Pillars can be found here.
