1.3: Sustainable Schools

Return to Objective 1: Curriculum & Instruction

• Our Principal, Mr. Martin, sends a daily virtual update instead of printing bulletins for the staff each day. An example of one is shown below.

• Our school secretary, Ms. Jomo, worked to reduce paper waste by unsubscribing our school from catalogs that were sent to Commodore regularly.

• Commodore supports healthy foods in school. Ms. Wallace, our School Community Coordinator organizes our Fresh Fruits and Vegetable program that gives students the opportunity to taste and learn about new fruits in the classroom. Additionally, we partnered with Hungry Harvest to provide a fresh source of produce for our community. Ms. Palomares, a 2nd grade ESOL teacher selected and copied recipes for families and staff to help us learn to incorporate the produce they were purchasing into our cooking.

• During the 2017-2018, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years (up until the closure for COVID), adult volunteers from the Butcher's Hill neighborhood spearheaded an effort to reduce waste by cleaning and then recycling milk cartons. Volunteers first measured that during lunch there were over 70 8 oz. milk cartons taken and not even opened. Over 4 gallons of milk everyday! Instead of throwing away their milk cartons, students dumped remaining milk in a basin and put their empty cartons are carts that student pushed around from table to table. Volunteers rinsed and flattened the cartons so that they could then be recycled.

• Commodore Staff members offer the opportunity to meet with families on a monthly basis during our Coffee@Commodore. During the 2018-2019 school year, the University of Maryland Extension - Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program taught parents how to make a healthy breakfast smoothie with leftover fruits.

For both the 2021-2022 and 2019-2020 school years, Commodore received the Green Healthy Smart Challenge Grant. This grant money has funded student actions and trips that enhance our work as a Green School. Two teachers have also served as sustainability ambassadors to Baltimore City Public Schools.