SACRAMENTO — St. James Academy in Solana Beach and St. Martin of Tours Academy in La Mesa were among the 20 schools, three districts and one county that won 2019 California Green Ribbon Schools Awards. Among these winners, California also nominated one school district and four individual schools, including St. James Academy, to compete in the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) recognition program, which honors schools that conserve resources while promoting health and environmental literacy. These five are also California’s “Green Achievers,” the highest honor in the California Green Ribbon Schools recognition program. Meanwhile, out of the 20 schools, St. Martin of Tours Academy was one of only two to receive the Gold level award. Other schools were recognized at the Silver and Bronze levels. Green Ribbon Schools demonstrate exemplary achievement in three “pillars”: reducing environmental impact and costs; improving the health and wellness of schools, students and staff; and providing effective environmental education that teaches many disciplines and is especially good at effectively incorporating science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, civic skills and green career pathways.
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