Jesuit High School Portland’s Green Efforts Recognized with Oregon Sustainable School Awards

BY ISN STAFF | April 16, 2015

BEAVERTON, OR – Jesuit High School was recently awarded the overall 2015 Oregon Sustainable School Award. Jesuit was also awarded the first-ever Oregon “More Sustainable” Award, which recognizes the school’s continuous improvement efforts in sustainability over the last four years.

“The Oregon Sustainable School award is a testament to our ongoing efforts to reduce our environmental impacts, create an atmosphere of health and safety for our students and staff, and educate for sustainability,” said Jennie Kuenz, JHS teacher and Sustainability Committee Co-Chair and Advocate.

The Oregon Sustainable School Awards are offered as a joint project of the Oregon Department of Education and the Sustainable Oregon Schools Initiative (SOSI). This award program is part of a dual application that also includes the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School Recognition Program.

The Sustainable Oregon Schools Initiative (SOSI) facilitates the integration of economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable concepts and practices into all educational and operational activities of the state’s K-12 school system so that schools and communities are able to prepare our children to create and succeed in a sustainable future. SOSI is coordinated by the Sustainable Schools Collaborative.

To be eligible for an Oregon Sustainable School Award, applicants needed to apply in all 4 pillar areas; to be eligible for nomination as a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School, applicants needed to apply in all 3 Green Ribbon pillar areas. The rules also state that a school can receive any given award once only, including the U.S. Green Ribbon. Thirteen panelists from a variety of environmental and government agencies were involved with the application review process.

In April, 2014, Jesuit High School was named a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School for its exemplary efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health, and ensure effective environmental education, including civics and green career pathways.

Says Principal Paul Hogan, “At Jesuit, we take seriously our responsibility as caretakers of Creation. These awards are nice, but we have to be committed every day, every month, every year, to care for the Earth. Fortunately, we have prophetic teachers and students who challenge us to walk the ‘sustainable’ talk.”

Jesuit High School is currently planning its annual Green Week activities for April 20-24, which provide another opportunity for the school to encourage students, staff and parents to adopt new habits and educate the student body on issues of environmental injustice. For more information about Green Week at JHS click here.

Jesuit High School Portland is an Ignatian Solidarity Network 2014-2015 Institutional Member and has been consistently engaged in ISN programs including sending a delegation of 42 students and staff to the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in November 2014.

[SOURCE: Jesuit High School]