Cary ES Named Green Ribbon School
At a July awards ceremony in Washington, the John B. Cary Elementary School in Richmond received the prestigious “Green Ribbon School” award from the U. S. Department of Education. Cary was one of only 27 schools across the nation to receive this award. It recognizes the environmental and student educational impact of Cary’s 15,000-square-foot “Eco-Campus” – an initiative spearheaded by the Kiwanis Club of Richmond.
“With the support of Richmond Kiwanis, we have been able to create meaningful outdoor learning experiences for our scholars,” said Cary Principal Michael Powell. He particularly thanked Richmond Club member Debbie Powers who took the lead in organizing area-wide volunteers who brought Principal Powell’s vision of a ‘No Child Left Inside Eco-Campus” to life. Its scope is impressive. There are 187 native plants, 53 shrubs, 16 trees, a pollinator garden, 16 raised community-beds, 60 benches/flip top tables and more.
Students use the campus for learning during school hours and for gardening and recreational activities after school. Fruits and vegetables - including eggplant, Swiss chard, Bok Choy, Brussel sprouts, melons, tomatoes, cucumbers and various herbs - have been grown, harvested and donated to needy families throughout the Richmond area. “We are fortunate to have Kiwanian Debbie Powers serve as our volunteer coordinator on this project,” Principal Powell said. “Her expertise in everything green assisted us in recruiting and coordinating over 175 volunteers who created and maintain our Eco-Campus.”
Kiwanis Richmond and John B. Cary Elementary have a long history of partnership on many levels. Among many other projects, funds from the Club’s “Adopt-A-School” grant program built the “Kiwanis Distance Learning Lab” at the school. Developed with the Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Engineering, this state-of-the-art computer lab enables Cary students to interact in real-time with VCU engineering students on various STEM-related projects and provide technology support to the Eco-Campus.
Kiwanian Debbie Powers said that the benefits to the Cary students of the Eco-Campus cannot be underestimated. “Hands on learning, opportunities to work in the soil and see things they have planted grow are huge benefits to these children, especially in this very urban Richmond environment where they live,” she said. Debbie has been a member of Kiwanis since 1988 and is a past president of the Arlington Club. She relocated and transferred her membership to Richmond a few years ago.