Palmer Trinity School (PTS) earned the Green Apple designation by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, for the school’s commitment to conserve and protect Florida’s natural resources.
The Florida Green School Designation Program designates and recognizes K-12 schools that make a voluntary commitment to environmental stewardship. The program’s environmental guidelines allow Florida schools to evaluate operations, set goals, and take specific actions to continuously improve environmental performance.
For Dr. Leopoldo Llinas, Director of Environmental Stewardship at Palmer Trinity School, the designation is part of a larger goal: a world in which respect for our planet and its inhabitants comes naturally to all members of our community.
“Schools are uniquely positioned to influence the direction we choose to take as a society,” said Dr. Llinas. “As major contributors to the values, health and well-being of society, schools have a fundamental responsibility to teach the unquestionable value of the natural world and the importance of conservation,” he added.
The Florida Green School Designation Program evaluates schools in five areas of sustainable operations:
- Communication and education
- Energy efficiency
- Water conservation
- Waste reduction, reuse and recycling.
- Air quality
Palmer Trinity School implements several environmental practices in each area. The school communicates its environmental initiatives to students, parents and staff. It has an active Environmental Action Club to empower students to participate and take up meaningful environmental activities and projects. Environmental education is interwoven into the curriculum.
To reduce waste, the school has a recycling program including batteries, cans, cardboard and paper. Facilities host low-flow and automatic faucets and toilets in restrooms to conserve water. The school uses environmentally preferable cleaners that are biodegradable and do not contain toxic chemicals.
Although the School is starting at the Green Apple level, it plans to work its way to Bronze, Silver and eventually Gold Apple status by implementing additional best management practices.
Note to editor: Photo attached.
*Photo caption: (Left to right) Sheena Chin-Greene, Program Coordinator, Florida Department of Environmental Protection; Leopoldo Llinas, Director of Environmental Stewardship at Palmer Trinity School; Michele Drucker, Parent and Member of the PTS Sustainability Task Force; Jutta Campiani, Parent and Member of the PTS Sustainability Task Force
About Palmer Trinity School:
Palmer Trinity School—a coeducational, Episcopal day school—is dedicated to promoting academic excellence that integrates knowledge, compassion, global citizenship, and social responsibility. Providing a supportive environment, Palmer Trinity School serves students from a broad range of socio-economic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds in grades 6-12. For more information about the school, visit www.palmertrinity.org.
