Welcome to our new Get2Green Staff…
 ...and our new Get2Green Leaders!
Get2Green excitedly welcomed close to 200 school-based Get2Green Leaders at two Kickoff sessions on August 10 at Willow Oaks. Our four new Resource Teachers led the kickoff as they built community and connected with the Get2Green Leaders in this new role. The Resource Teachers will support Get2Green Leaders in leading student-centered environmental stewardship at their schools.
Get2Green After-School Special
Get2Green will be hosting a series of after-school specials on a variety of environmental topics throughout the school year. The first special is Wednesday, September 6 from 4:45-6:45pm (location in person at centrally located school-TBD and will be updated in MyPDE). The topic is Getting Started with Environmental Stewardship at Your School. Join us to learn about Get2Green and how we can support you in starting your journey to meaningful learning experiences in nature. We will discuss the National Wildlife Federation’s EcoSchools Program, learn how to manage students in outdoor learning spaces using Responsive Classroom and other best practices, and give you a ready to use toolkit to expand your teaching outdoors.
Register for the September after-school special in MyPDE. Questions? Contact Chrissy Brownson at ccbrownson@fcps.edu.
What Gets Recycled in FCPS?
Did you know FCPS and Fairfax County have a goal of achieving Zero Waste by 2030? Reducing and reusing are the first steps in reducing waste. It’s also important as our new school year gets underway to know what can be recycled in FCPS. The following clean, dry, and empty items should go in the recycling bin:
- Mixed paper (except glossy paper used in products such as magazines)
- Cardboard
- Plastics #1, 2, and 5
- Aluminum and tin cans
If you need additional recycling posters for your school, you can print 8.5 x 11” recycling posters or order large recycling posters through TMPC (must be on FCPS network). Learn more about recycling in FCPS.
Elementary School Monarch Survey
Schools should complete the Monarch Inventory survey by September 8, 2023 on the FCPS Elementary Raising Monarch Resources site. Please contact Jill Curry if you have any questions.
Get2Green Academy Class
 Teachers and other school leaders from across the division joined together for a week this summer to learn more about environmental stewardship and how to incorporate nature across the curriculum, regardless of what subject they teach. In fact, the members of our class teach students ranging in age from 3-22! Together we explored the benefits of outdoor learning, grew our toolbox of tips and tricks for making this type of learning successful, drew curriculum connections, and learned about available resources from FCPS and community partners to enhance our work. On the last day each participant shared what they learned, how they knew they had grown, and made a commitment for further action. Keep an eye out for Academy registration to join us for the fall offering of this course.
The Outdoor Learning Virtual Workshop Seasonal Series
The Virginia Association for Environmental Educators is excited to offer this series in partnership with Take Me Outside and Outdoor Learning Partners!
The first workshop is September 19 at 7pm. Registration is free. There will be prize drawings for attendees and all registrants will receive a discount code to access outdoor learning resources when they register. The workshops will each be recorded and posted on the Recordings Page. Following the workshop, participants will receive a link through which they can access a certificate of attendance.
Learn more about the Outdoor Learning Virtual Workshop Series and register.
Caring for Our Watersheds Info Sessions
Caring for Our Watersheds is an environmental action challenge that provides an opportunity for students to develop STEM knowledge, environmental literacy, and civic action skills as they create solution-oriented projects to improve their watershed. Groups of ten students (or more!) investigate their community and develop civic action projects to answer the question, "What can you do to improve your watershed?" Students receive $250 for their classroom for participating, they can apply for $1,000 in implementation funds throughout the year, and they can win up to another $1,000 for their action story in May! Interested in learning more? Register for upcoming Caring for Our Watersheds info sessions on October 16 at 8:30, 10:30, 12:30, and 2:30 and on October 18 at 4.
Educate Fairfax
Educate Fairfax, the non-profit that supports FCPS, invites teachers, counselors, and other school-based personnel to apply for a Work-based Learning (WBL) Teacher Grant for the 2023-24 school year. Educate Fairfax is proud to fund innovative classroom initiatives that focus on developing career-connected experiences for students. Funded projects should enable students to reinforce and deepen their classroom learning, explore future career fields, and demonstrate their acquired Portrait of a Graduate (POG) skills.
Grant awards range from $1,000 to $2,000, and the application will be open through Friday, September 22. Awardees will be notified by November 1, and funding will be provided in November for the second half of the school year.
View information about the grants, descriptions of last year’s projects, and access the application on Educate Fairfax’s website.
NVSWCD Conservation Poster Contest
Calling all student artists! The 2023 Conservation Poster Contest theme is "One Water." This contest is open to any K-12 student and participating scouts can earn a patch. The application deadline is Saturday, September 30. Learn more about the 2023 Conservation Poster Contest and contact Ashley Palmer with questions.
Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom Grant
Agriculture in the Classroom provides educators an opportunity to receive grant funding for a variety of creative projects to increase student understanding of the source of food and fiber inside or outside the traditional classroom. Educators are encouraged to apply for grants of up to $500 for projects that may occur at school or during home learning time. Grant projects may address topics such as learning gardens and/or STEM integrations, or provide unique agriculture experiences for students. The deadline to apply is Friday, October 13, 2023. Learn more and apply for a Virginia Ag in the Classroom grant.
Wild Ones Seeds for Education Grant
The Wild Ones Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Grant Program provides up to $500 in funding for native gardens and habitats tied to hands-on learning. These funds are designated for native plants and seeds for outdoor learning areas that directly engage students PreK-12 in planning, planting, and caring for native gardens. Learn more and apply for the Seeds for Education Grant by Wednesday, November 15, 2023.
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