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All Roxbury schools earn Silver certification from Sustainable Jersey for Schools
Summary
Anne Rhodes told the board all seven Roxbury Township schools earned Silver certification under Sustainable Jersey for Schools, highlighting student gardens, food‑recovery programs, Treps entrepreneurship events and grant‑funded projects across the district.
Anne Rhodes, a member of the Roxbury district green team, told the board on Dec. 9 that all seven Roxbury Township schools earned Silver certification from Sustainable Jersey for Schools as of August, the highest level the program currently awards.
Rhodes said each school reached the program’s minimum requirement of 350 points to earn silver and described several actions and projects that contributed: aeroponic and outdoor gardens used for classroom instruction and student taste tests; a compost program at Kennedy School; monarch butterfly docking stations at Jefferson and Kennedy; rain barrels and pollination lessons involving a visiting beekeeper at the high school; and grant‑supported programs such as the Treps entrepreneurship marketplace that encourages sustainable student businesses.
‘‘We received between 3,153 and 3,195 points towards this accomplishment,’’ Rhodes said during her presentation, describing the total points earned across the district’s schools. She credited board passage of policies and support for professional development as part of the district’s progress, and noted Sustainable Jersey for Schools grants have provided funding to support the projects. A board member said the district has received ‘‘over $20,000’’ from Sustainable Jersey grants over the years and estimated it could be closer to $25,000; Rhodes noted the program has been a strong partner since implementation began in 2016.
Rhodes reviewed other sustainability actions: school gardens that supplement cafeteria ingredients at times, student‑run food sharing bins to reduce waste and assist families, pen/pencil recycling drives (with notable participation from Nixon School), and a green‑challenge behavior program for elementary students. She also described the district’s civic and stewardship volunteer initiatives, such as coat drives and collections for local social services and charitable partners.
Board members and staff praised Rhodes and volunteers for the sustained effort that led to district‑wide silver status. Rhodes told the board the certification initially began in 2016 and that board members Leo Coakley and Ron Lucas helped bring the program to Roxbury. The district’s Sustainable Jersey for Schools work will continue as the schools maintain and build on the actions that earned certification.
