Cranbury School has earned silver certification for a second time through Sustainable Jersey for Schools
The school received the silver certification status in October. Jennifer Diszler, chief school administrator and principal, and Karin Weiner, school business administrator, represented the school at the Sustainable Jersey for Schools awards ceremony on Oct. 23.
The Cranbury School, a pre-K to 8 school, is one of 375 schools in the state to be certified by Sustainable Jersey for Schools. Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification program, which is voluntary, encourages public schools to sustainability best practices.
The school is one of a few in Middlesex County to receive the silver certification status including New Brunswick High School and Paul Robeson Community School for the Arts, both in New Brunswick.
“As school districts across the country struggle to make progress on sustainability goals, New Jersey’s schools are taking action and providing evidence of implementation,” said Randall Solomon, executive director of Sustainable Jersey. With 67% of New Jersey public school districts participating and 375 certified schools, there’s an incredible opportunity and potential for change.”
Schools from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade submit documents showing they have completed sustainability actions. For a school to earn silver certification status they need a minimum of 350 points from completed sustainability actions.
Those actions include – school carbon footprint, sustainability policy, green building policy, innovative projects and energy efficiency for school facilities.
Cranbury School earned 355 points. The school received most points in curriculum mapping with 30 points and Energy Tracking and Management with 20 points.
The school uses Atlas to document their Curriculum Maps, which can be accessed through the school’s website providing a window into what students are learning as they progress through the academic program at the school.
The district and Schneider Electric, in a coordinated effort, analyzed one to two years of electric and natural gas bills from PSEG and Direct Energy.
Cranbury School also received 15 points for the establishment of a Green Team, which it has maintained since September 2015 as the Wellness & Sustainability Council.
The council is comprised of representatives from Cranbury School faculty, staff, students, facilities, Cranbury Township Environmental Commission, and parent volunteers. The members are committed to making Cranbury School a leader in environmental education that prepares our students for the future as well as providing a sustainable environment that supports the health and wellness of all.
This year, the Wellness & Sustainability Council is focusing on recycling food waste in the cafeteria through the FoodRescue Program.
