Dear Maple Village Families,
Last Friday, Maple Village Waldorf School was recognized by the California Department of Education and the California Association of Private School Organizations (CAPSO) as one of only four private schools in the state of California to receive the California Green Ribbon Award at the Gold Level! This is the second year in a row Maple Village has been awarded this high distinction.
In a letter from Dr. Ron Reynolds, Executive Director of CAPSO, he stated:
“The California Green Ribbon Schools designation is awarded in recognition of a school’s exemplary practices and achievements in three Pillar areas: resource efficiency, health and wellness, and environmental and sustainability education. By virtue of its GRS status, Maple Village Waldorf School will be recognized throughout the state, and beyond, as a leader and innovator in environmental stewardship and education.
Clearly, this significant achievement is a reflection of outstanding leadership, vision, creativity, and teamwork contributed by committed members of your school community. We hope that recognition as a California Green Ribbon School will serve as both a source of well-deserved pride, and as motivation for continued leadership and achievement in the field.”
This is a direct reflection of our community's dedication to reducing waste, conserving energy, maintaining a healthy lifestyle nutritionally, mentally, emotionally and physically, and incorporating a strong environmental and STEM curriculum.
Thank you to our dedicated faculty and staff and to our entire parent and student body for continuing to make the extra effort to think about how we are impacting our environment now and for the future. Thank you to Petter Hennum
(LBUSD Energy Manager) and to Candice Russell
(MVWS Parent and Director of Environmental Ed for TreePeople and the Regional Director of Env. Ed for the Cal Dept. of Education and CalEPA) for helping me with the lengthy governmental application. Thank you as well to Larry Rich
(MVWS parent and Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Long Beach) and to Sasha Kanno
(MVWS parent & Gardening Teacher and Farm Lot 59 founder) for their assistance as well!
I felt so proud to be sitting amongst educational leaders in the state and was very inspired hearing other schools' stories of their ongoing efforts. I also had the chance to talk privately to the State Superintendent Tom Torlakson about our school.
Only ONE private school in the state can be nominated for the U.S. Green Achiever Award, and I am determined to be the one that receives that national recognition next year! This year, I heard from the state that we were extremely close! That is pretty incredible considering the school that received that recognition this year has a tuition four-times that of ours, 3,000 square feet of solar panels, a fleet of electric vehicles, and every new student gets their own horse!
For now, we will sit with Gold pride ...and no equestrian program.
Check out our new banner on our gate!
Warmly,
Lisa