Summary of Guilford Elementary School

Guilford Elementary, located in Columbia, Maryland, is proud to be one of the oldest elementary schools in Howard County, steeped in tradition of students, staff, and families working together. The building has been renovated many times over the years, but the belief of the community, school staff, and administration has not changed. We believe in making the best for our students as they prepare for college and careers with a focus on engagement, perseverance, and collaboration. Our current population is a diverse one that mimics our community at large in Howard County, Maryland.

Guilford Elementary is honored to have been a certified Green School for nearly a decade. We have put into place many efforts over the years that have led us to reapply to be a Green School. We are so proud of the many efforts that our service learning team has accomplished, as we have continued to thrive as a Green School. The students, staff, and community have embraced our efforts in maintaining our status as a Green School and have been invaluable in all of our accomplishments over the years.

During the course of the recertification process, there are many accomplishments we are most proud of. Those accomplishments are best defined in 5 areas that we focused on: 1) Planters-for Vegetables and Flowers. The planters were made by an Eagle Scout and his Boy Scout troop, so our students can plant vegetables and flowers. 2) Student Service Green Team-Our school continues to have Green Team Service Students in our Bridges After School Program to aid in our Green School Initiatives. 3) Global Guilford -A website created to communicate with our school families and staff about green school tips and features during the pandemic and beyond. 4) Baltimore Ravens Play 60 Challenge - Our school won the Baltimore Ravens challenge for our students recording the most active minutes in Howard County schools. 5) WE Service Learning Grants -Our school received two WE Volunteer grants to support our Green School efforts with plants, gloves, and tools to use in beautification projects and green school initiatives.

As we continue to be a Green School, we have also focused on being a collaborative school that works with community partners. We have worked with the Master Gardeners over the years to support our outdoor classroom and continue to provide a beautiful garden for our Monarch Butterfly garden that supports the second grade science curriculum. In addition, we work collaboratively with our Food and Nutrition Office as we support the need to recycle throughout our school building. We have daily breakfast for all of our students at no cost to our students. Our students have taken their knowledge of recycling and put forth their best efforts to recycle the items from our breakfast program each and every day. This program has provided our students with daily nutrition and the opportunity to recycle each and every morning.

Guilford’s green efforts are supported by the Bridges After-School Service Learning program. All of the students are educated and support our larger school community and staff in all of our accomplishments. This group of students has communicated with the school community via posters, live TV announcements, and surveys. They have also organized our single-stream recycling and up-cycling marker program with Crayola, as well as found ways to learn about the need for conservation outside of Maryland and learn about other countries and the importance of conservation. Without the efforts of these students lead by one of our staff members, we would not be able to continue with our Green School initiatives.

Guilford Elementary is proud to be a Green School and earn our Green School recertification. We have many other activities planned for our students, staff, and community as we continue in our efforts and be engaged in green-like behaviors. In doing so, we are motivated to be the best possible Green School, creating lifelong eco-friendly supporters in the process!

Guilford Elementary's Top 5 Accomplishments

• Planters For Vegetables and Flowers- Planters were made by an Eagle Scout and his boy scout troop so our students can plant vegetables and flowers.
• Bridges After School Student Service Learning Green Team-Our school continues to have a group of students who help our school with green school initiatives in our Bridges After School program.
• Global Guilford - A website created to communicate with our school families and staff about green school tips and features during the pandemic and beyond.

• Baltimore Ravens Play 60 Challenge- Our school won the Baltimore Ravens challenge for our students recording the most active minutes in the Howard County Public Schools.

• WE Service -Learning Grants- Our school received two WE Volunteer grants to support our green school with plants, gloves, and tools to use in beautification projects and other green school initiatives.