Nursery Road Elementary Receives Statewide Environmental Award

Submitted by Lexington-Richland District Five.

A Lexington-Richland District Five school has been named the 2013 Conserve School of the Year by a statewide environmental education and action group. 

Nursery Road Elementary was selected by Green Steps Schools for the honor. It’s one of four awards statewide by the group to recognize schools that establish model projects for energy conservation, waste reduction, recycling and other environmental efforts. 

“We are honored to receive the Conserve School of the Year award,” said Nursery Road Elementary School Principal Love Ligons. “We consistently talk to our students about the importance of conservation and being good stewards of the environment. By having the students lead recycling projects and take initiative in conservation efforts at our school, we know that they’re taking ownership and that’s a good thing all around.” 

Green Steps officials noted the high number of student-led projects at the school, including: a weekly recycling program. Nursery Road Elementary also has projects to reuse recycled items in its art classes, to study energy consumption and conservation measures at the school and to partner with a local grocery store to promote the use of “green” items in households. 

Green Steps Schools annually recognizes schools in South Carolina for taking sustainable steps to conserve, protect and restore their environment. To qualify for the awards, projects must be “significant, well-established, sustainable, and documented on the school website,” officials with the group say. Students must also create, learn, and teach other students about their conservation projects.