SOMSD wins sustainability award for collaboration with Maplewood Green Team

EWING, NJ — Sustainable Jersey for Schools recently announced the recipients of the 2016 Sustainability Champion award, the Green Team Collaboration award and the Sustainability Makes $ense award.

This year, three schools in Atlantic County — Reeds Road Elementary School, Alder Avenue Middle School and Egg Harbor Township High School — received the Sustainability Champion Award; Long Branch Public School District in Monmouth County and the South Orange-Maplewood School District also received special awards.

In 2016, the second year of the program, the Green Team Collaboration Award was added to recognize municipal and school green teams working together to advance sustainability in their schools and communities. The SOMSD earned this award for its work with the Maplewood Green Team.

“On behalf of the entire school community, we are extremely proud to receive the Sustainable Jersey Collaboration Award,” Superintendent of Schools John Ramos Sr. said in a press release. “All of the schools in the district participated in the districtwide green team and the resulting increase in sustainability programs and projects was evident. Participants trace this success to collaboration. The schools worked together to complete the required sustainability actions and shared resources. Collaboration with the municipal Maplewood Green Team played an important role in developing the school district green team.”