EXECUTIVE MESSAGE

After this past month’s events, Environmental Charter High Schools (ECHS) is no longer just a high school in Lawndale. It has become a national model of innovation in modern education.

ECHS became one of six finalists selected by the White House and the Department of Education in the “Race to the Top” Commencement Challenge. President Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan commended ECHS for its exemplary educational work, and you’ll see more news below.

Even before ECHS received the incredible honor of making the top six in the President’s contest, it was showcased on the national PBS program Growing Greener Schools.

On Earth Day, ECHS hosted a national Green My Parents broadcast connecting more than 10,000 students from across the country.

No longer just a high school, ECHS serves as an innovative model from which schools across the country can learn. In addition to the 10 California public schools that have adopted ECHS' Green Ambassadors program, ECHS is expanding and building effective partnerships to further support more schools. Whether it is working with national partners like Global Green USA, collaborating with schools nationally to share our Green Ambassadors program, or working with the local community to launch a new middle school, the power of partnerships has been key to ECHS’ successes to date.

It is only through the generous financial and in-kind support of sponsors and partners like you that ECHS is able to continue to deliver the positive impact it provides to its students and others - so please consider helping.

Bruce D. Greenspon is President of the Board of Directors of ECHS.  He is Manager, Program Contract Negotiations at Raytheon.

TOP STORIES

U.S. Secretary of Labor Solis To Deliver Commencement Address: ECHS a finalist in the President’s “Race to the Top” Commencement Challenge

The White House and the U.S. Department of Labor announced that Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis will deliver the commencement address at ECHS as part of the President’s High School Commencement Challenge.

“The Environmental Charter High School empowers students to succeed in both academics and life by becoming stewards of their own community. As such, this remarkable school is shaping a better future for all of us—one young person at a time,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “I look forward to congratulating the students and faculty and to celebrating their hard work as their 2010 commencement speaker.”

“On top of challenging classroom programs, students at ECHS are required to apply concepts and skills gained in class to problem-solve local civic and environmental issues,” said the White House. Out of over 1,000 high schools in the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge, the White House chose six finalists for their extraordinary achievements and outstanding efforts, and ECHS was one of them.

Environmental Charter Middle School Plan Gets OK from LA!

Environmental Charter Schools received approval from the Los Angeles County Office of Education to expand its program by opening a middle school.

The new campus of Environmental Charter Middle School (ECMS) will be located in Gardena, Calif. The school will be tuition-free and open to the public, and plans to start with an enrollment of 100 sixth-grade students beginning September 2010. Seventh and eighth-grade classes will be added during the next two years. Environmental Charter Schools feature a problem-solving curriculum where students are encouraged to explore the environment for ideas and inspiration for finding solutions.

“We’re very excited to be able to open Los Angeles' first ‘green’ charter middle school that promotes hands-on learning opportunities and a ‘greener’ curriculum in Gardena,” said Alison Suffet-Diaz, founder and executive director of Environmental Charter Schools. > learn more

Partnership with GlobalGreen To Share ECHS-Grown ‘Best Practices’ Nationally

Global Green USA, the only national environmental organization headquartered in Southern California and the American arm of President Mikhail Gorbachev’s Green Cross International, has partnered with ECHS to share the “best green practices,” curriculum and student/teacher engagement strategies developed by ECHS with schools throughout the United States.

The ECHS model of providing environmental education by using its own green facility as a living, learning laboratory garners extraordinary results and helps students prepare for the green economy of the future. Global Green says it is excited to support ECHS’ Green Ambassador program as part of the National Green Schools Initiative, which has helped 20,000 students who were in overcrowded and rundown schools now attend classes in healthy classrooms in state-of-the-art green schools.

Since 2002, Global Green has been a pioneer in greening nearly $17 billion in new green school construction in Los Angeles (the largest school building program in the country).

GREEN AMBASSADORS

Green Ambassadors Program Spreading Fast To Other Schools

The success of ECHS’ innovative Green Ambassadors program is becoming well known, with other schools adopting the program, which empowers youth to take an active role in solving the most pressing environment issues of our time. Santiago High School in Corona, Calif. is the latest to implement the program.

Katherine Zook, a teacher at the school, sees students embracing the program with enthusiasm. “We are having an Earth Day here at school and we are inviting a local elementary school to walk over and see presentations, play games, and learn about sustainable living from our AP Environmental Science students,” Zook explains.

“This is a direct result of working with ECHS and the Green Ambassador curriculum. It’s an immediate way for the students to put what they are learning in the classroom into productive and positive action.”

INSPIRED STUDENTS

Matt Dang Promotes People-Powered Transport

Matt Dang loves to get his hands dirty. Good thing, because the ECHS junior spends weekends elbow-deep in black grease as he figures out ways to make gears, levers, and wheels turn and spin with the least amount of effort.

He’s the manager of the Bicycle Shop at ECHS, where he and the rest of the Bike Club fix bikes for the community free of charge. “Our goal for the bike shop is to encourage more bicycling in the community as an alternative to cars,” says Dang. ECHS’ Bike Club gives students who like applying math to real-life problems a place to develop and use their talents for a sustainable cause. Brian Lindquist, owner of Beach Cities Cycles, volunteers to teach bike repair skills to the students.

English is not Dang's native language. His parents completed only high school, but through their own hard work they have taught him its value. In addition to managing the bike shop, Dang has been on Student Council, the basketball team, High Honor Roll, and College Match. Rounding out his accomplishments, he has also directed two movies and performed a Hamlet scene in Shakespeare in the Park.

Dang credits ECHS for helping him aspire to gain admission to the best possible liberal arts college. “When I wake up in the morning and attend ECHS, I feel refreshed and glad I go to ECHS,” he says. “Whenever I need help, help is provided because all the staff and students want everyone to succeed.”

Student Eco-Champions Have Budget-Saving Tips For You! ECHS Hosts Earth Day Campaign for One Million+ Youth

By reducing water and energy usage and cleaning with non-toxic products, families can save at least $100 a year.

GreenMyParents, a national campaign that educates youth about eco-friendly actions they can take at home with their families to save money and help the planet, staged a live broadcast workshop from ECHS’ campus to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day.

The online workshop for youth, adults, and educators taught participants about easy and effective ways to bolster family savings, help the economy, and save the planet by conserving home resources.

GreenMyParents aims to bring together one million students in its efforts. Jordan Howard, ECHS student and GreenMyParents national spokesperson, co-hosted the hour-long presentation and chat session. ECHS junior Rudy Sanchez was selected as one of the 100 influential and accomplished youth across the country to serve as an inaugural 'Eco Champion.'

GreenMyParents says American families can achieve $100 million in annual savings if the campaign meets its goals. “Unlike New Year’s resolutions, these eco intentions are meant to become a seamless part of family life during Earth Month and beyond,” said Tom Feegel, founder of GreenMyParents and a member of the ECHS Board of Directors.

Jennifer George

Job: Special Education Teacher. Director of Athletics. Elected Vice President of a new division of California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the governing body for high school sports in California.

Educational Background: B.A. Sociology, University of California, Riverside.

Before ECHS:  George worked previously for the Riverside County Department of Child Support Services, and as a teacher in Special Education.

On ECHS:  In addition to the classes she teachers, George has been active in spearheading ECHS’ entrance into the CIF league for soccer. She has done so not only for the intrinsic value of sports programs, but also so that ECHS students gain more opportunities to finance their college education. “I would like to see our student athletes reach their full potential and earn scholarships for higher learning,” says George.

As Varsity Soccer coach, she has mentored players, who often come to her for help. Athletes say she has inspired them to take life more seriously.

When School's Out: George, who is working on a Master’s Degree in Special Education and earning her state Teaching Credential at Cal State Dominguez Hills, enjoys singing in the church choir, documentary programs, and water sports.

OTHER NEWS – CELEBRATING SUCCESS

Student-Built Solar-Powered Boat Competes in Solar Cup

A 19-student team from ECHS built a solar-powered boat and competed in a 200-meter race at the nation’s largest solar boat competition. Sponsored by the West Basin Water District, the Solar Cup is a program where students gain hands-on experience in engineering, natural resources management, and water conservation issues.

ECHS on PBS

In May, ECHS was featured in a PBS documentary program, Growing Greener Schools. ECHS was selected as one of the nation’s most innovative schools for integrating the environment into its core curriculum to inspire its largely low-income and limited English proficient students to become actively engaged in civic issues. >Learn more

EVENTS

ECHS students and teachers are also participating in these upcoming events...