What Makes Hammond a Sustained Maryland Green School?
A Summary of Our Accomplishments
Since 2002, Hammond Middle School has maintained its Green School status by implementing new and improved ways of environmentally conscious education. We continue to meet MAEOE's Green School objectives in the following areas:
Curriculum Instruction The HMS science teachers go beyond the HCPSS science curriculum to provide environmental instruction. From cleaning local riverbanks, to the governor's Schoolshed program and learning about green practices, our students become more aware of the environment. At HMS, professional development is teacher and student initiated. Our teachers attend meetings that keep them up-to-date on environmental education and our student-run EcoTeam took on the job of educating our staff about the need for and methods of energy conservation. Our students and staff celebrate our green accomplishments by attending Green School recognition events and holding in-school celebrations. We proudly acknowledged our Green School status on our National Blue Ribbon application. |
Best Management Practices
Over the past 14 years, our students have grown and planted native grasses in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, reduced waste building-wide by expanding our recycling program, educated staff and students on the importance of energy conservation, and stenciled storm drains in the community to prevent water pollution. Community Partnerships Our school is active in our community. We have done many projects, including environmental education displays for the Robinson Nature Center, stenciling storm drains to prevent water pollution, partnering with the community to recycle athletic shoes, planting bay grasses grown in our classroom, creating films for the Howard County Environmental Film Festival, partnering with Hammond Elementary School to conduct an energy audit of our shared building, and much, much more! HMS students are the leaders of our Green School Projects. They work together to identify areas of improvement and to create solutions. Together with our custodians, teachers and administrators, we uphold the Green School standards. We have managed to maintain this award because our students drive our environmental programming through their concern for our environment and their desire for environmental action. |
Our Top Five
We Continue to Implement New Methods to Reduce Solid Waste
2011-2012 Nike Reuse-a-Shoe Drive
Over the past 14 years we have reduced solid waste
through programs such as school-wide recycling, Terracycle, Nike Reuse-a-Shoe Drive, Waste Free Wednesdays, Funding Factory (e-waste upcycling), a reusable lunch container sale in partnership with Kids Konserve, and much more!
through programs such as school-wide recycling, Terracycle, Nike Reuse-a-Shoe Drive, Waste Free Wednesdays, Funding Factory (e-waste upcycling), a reusable lunch container sale in partnership with Kids Konserve, and much more!
Environmental Displays for the Robinson Nature Center
Since 2011, HMS students have created three environmental education displays for the Robinson Nature Center in Howard County. These colorful displays have informed RNC visitors about household water conservation, the migratory habits of three Maryland species, and environmentally friendly yard care.
Our Community is Our Classroom
Students and staff at HMS are active outside of our building; we are making our community our classroom. Hammond students have grown bay grasses and planted them in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, cleaned tons of trash from the shores of the Patapsco River, stenciled neighborhood storm drains to prevent water pollution, attended Outdoor Ed at North Bay, spent a day at the Phillip Merrill Center, collected worn-out athletic shoes to be recycled into playground surfaces and competed in the Howard County Envirothon to demonstrate their knowledge of ecology.
We're Shedding Light on the Need for
Energy Conservation
HMS students have made energy conservation a priority, monitoring electricity consumption in the building and implementing new strategies for energy conservation, including desk lamps for teachers to use during their planning time. Based on the audit data, our school removed two vending machines from the building and installed Vending Misers on the remaining machines to cycle off the power when not in use.
Our Students Make Films for the
Howard County Environmental Film Festival
HMS student filmmakers in grades 6-8 work in partnership with the American University Environmental Film Studies program and the American Film Institute to make films that raise awareness about environmental issues. The films - ranging from documentaries to music videos - premiere at the Howard County Environmental Film Festival each April.