Two Rivers Community School, a K-8 public charter school in Boone, recently received the NC Green School of Quality award from the NC Green Schools Program, a non-profit organization that promotes sustainability in the state’s schools from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
It is the first school outside of Buncombe County to achieve the certification in Western North Carolina.
Under the auspices of the Center for the Environment at Catawba College, the NC Green Schools Program helps teachers connect and share ideas, offers resources and tools to help them start green initiatives and recognizes schools that meet specified goals.
The NC Green School of Quality Award is given to schools that are taking active strides in improving and maintaining sustainable practices and implementing a robust environmental education curriculum.
Two Rivers’ Development Director, Ryan Robinson, says he knew the NC Green School certification was a good fit for their school when he learned about it. “It’s a natural partnership that we are proud to have, and we look forward to watching it blossom,” he says. “What’s beautiful about the certification process is that Two Rivers was already meeting the standards of what classifies as a Green School. What’s even better now, we have a support system to help us achieve even more. The faculty and Board of Directors are extremely excited about the certification and look forward to growing the partnership with NC Green Schools.”
NC Green Schools Program Coordinator Katie Cavert Ferrell notes that Two Rivers can point to many accomplishments: teaching students about nature; protecting and caring for the environment through creating a green-minded campus; and integrating sustainability education in the curriculum. “Especially impressive are the experiential education opportunities they offer at Buffalo Cove, the integration of environmental practices into the daily lives of students and the service learning projects of the eighth graders,” she says.
NC Green Schools Judge Torin Kexel was enthusiastic in his assessment of Two Rivers’ green efforts: “It is so uplifting to see the efforts that our schools are making to not only have a direct impact on the environment but to help create engaged youth citizens that will shape North Carolina’s future for years to come!”
John Wear, executive director of the Center for the Environment, agrees that it is especially good that younger students are being encouraged to revere the environment and live sustainably. “We at the Center want to congratulate Two Rivers Community School for its efforts to become a NC Green School of Quality,” he says. “It’s very important to help students become environmentally aware at an early age. The positive experiences they have now will inform their actions in the future.”
Founded in 2005, Two Rivers Community School is a tuition-free, K-8, public-charter school located in Boone, NC. The Two Rivers curriculum challenges students with dynamic learning experiences both in and out of the classroom. Academics are at the core of every opportunity provided with the expectation that students grow in both character and in intellect during their time at Two Rivers. This year the school’s enrollment is 178 students with spaces open for next school year in certain grade levels. If you would like to learn more about Two Rivers Community School, please contact Beth Vossen at 828-262-5411 or email at bethv@trcsboone.org.
The Center for the Environment was founded in 1996 to educate the college community and the public about environmental stewardship and sustainability, provide value-added education for students through interaction with thought leaders and opportunities for experiential learning, and bring diverse people and groups together to catalyze sustainable solutions to our most persistent environmental challenges. For more information, visit www.CenterForTheEnvironment.org.
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