School District Five schools earn top state environmental awards

For Immediate Release – August 30, 2024

School District Five schools earn top state environmental awards

IRMO – Three Lexington-Richland School District Five Schools earned top state awards in the Environmental Education Association of South Carolina’s (EEASC) 2024 Green Step Schools Initiative and are featured in the Green Steps School’s Hall of Fame.

Each year, mentors are encouraged to nominate schools to receive SC Green Step School Superlative Awards. Most years the EEASC selects a Conserve, Protect and Restore School of the Year based on the depth within the category. To compete, schools typically need to document model quality projects for all of the following:   

·         Conserve projects include smart energy use and saving natural resources by reducing, reusing and recycling.

·         Protect projects improve air and water quality.

·         Restore projects enhance soil and habitat.

Leaphart Elementary School STEAM Magnet has been named a 2024 Protect School of the Year through the Green Steps program. That award is their second superlative award. They earned Conserve School of the Year in 2023. Some of the projects last year included: Trout in the Classroom, school-wide recycling drive for Keep the Midlands Beautiful, student led composting and hydroponic gardens.

"As a STEAM magnet our goal has been for our learners to re-use materials that others may consider trash, to create and show what they know,” Leaphart Elementary School STEM Magnet Principal Courtney Sims said. “This learning strategy, in addition to service projects, and STEAM Clubs we strive to teach students how to become more environmentally responsible. We are so proud of our students, teachers, and families for all the great work they continue to do to protect our environment."

Irmo Middle earned their third superlative award as the 2024 Conserve School of the Year (2024). The school has a green house and a monarch butterfly garden. Last year they were named a Restore School of the Year and in 2019 were named they were named the Overall School of the Year.

“It's an incredible honor to be named the 2024 Conserve School of the Year,” Irmo Middle School Principal Mansa Joseph said. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of amazing teachers and students. We continue to be committed to nurturing a deep connection with nature and fostering environmental stewardship in our students. Together, we will continue to inspire future generations to lead with a sense of responsibility and care for our planet. Thank you for believing in our mission and supporting our journey toward a more sustainable future. Our goal is that we continue to believe, collaborate and be consistent towards our vision.”

Dutch Fork Elementary Academy of Environmental Sciences once again sustained their Super Star Status as one of only three schools statewide to earn all four superlative awards for Conserve (2011), Protect (2021), Restore (2017) and Overall School of the Year (2018). The school also earned the first South Carolina National Green Ribbon School award in 2019.

Mentors for these three schools include educators from SC Department of Natural Resources, SC Energy Office, SC Forestry Commission, SC Wildlife Federation, Clemson Extension, Keep the Midlands Beautiful, County Conservation Districts, and County Solid Waste and Recycling. Teams with the strongest projects in each category state wide are chosen for Superlative Awards. Each school can win each award only once.

The Green Steps program encourages individual schools in South Carolina to take annual steps toward becoming more environmentally responsible. Developed by Keep the Midlands Beautiful (KMB), Sonoco Recycling (SR) and DHEC’s Office of Recycling, Green Steps began in the 2003-2004 school year with seven Midlands school participating.

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