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Washburn Rural Middle School honored with Kansas Green Schools Silver Globe
Summary
Washburn Rural Middle School received the Kansas Green Schools Silver Globe for student-led sustainability work, including recycling drives ("over 1000 pounds of plastic") and a "green hour" initiative; the district and state program encouraged continued investigations toward higher recognition.
Washburn Rural Middle School was presented the Kansas Green Schools Silver Globe in a recognition at the Auburn-Washburn Board of Education meeting Dec. 4 at the school.
Catherine Lauterbach, introduced by the school principal, described the Silver Globe recognition as awarded by the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education and said the honor reflected student-led campus improvements. "Washburn Rural Middle School is receiving the Silver Globe Award through the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education," Lauterbach said, citing activities including student recycling drives that collected "over 1000 pounds of plastic" and a schoolwide "green hour" that sent classes outdoors to connect curriculum to environmental work.
Rachel Whaley, identified by Lauterbach as director of Kansas Green Schools, praised those student efforts and highlighted academic benefits of environmental instruction. "All the research says their academic scores go up," Whaley said, adding that environmental projects integrate math, English language arts and science and create pathways to local green-economy careers. She described next steps for schools seeking higher honors: two additional investigations to earn a gold globe and five to achieve the green globe.
A student who participated in the program, Claire, described hands-on learning as worth the effort: "Even though it was hard work...it was really fun...I was able to breathe more to make more focus," she said.
The district will display the green school flag at the middle school and was encouraged to continue the program districtwide and pursue additional investigations toward higher recognition levels.
