Poly, A Summary
Poly as a Whole:
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute is a public college-preparatory, STEM-magnet high school in Baltimore City situated at the confluence of multiple different neighborhoods, including Cross Keys, Roland Park, and Medfield Heights. Comprised of a predominantly African American student body of about 1,200 students, the school has a long and varied history, first established in 1883. With approximately 80 staff members, the school offers both science and engineering practicums for students, as well as magnet programs like the Ingenuity Project, Project Lead the Way, and JROTC. Poly is situated right next to the Jones Falls, a major tributary to the Inner Harbor, which gives its students a special connection to the environment surrounding them. With two green spaces within the campus and multiple environmental classes available as part of the school's science theme, students are actively exposed to sustainability-based education on a daily basis. Although Poly's students are often busy keeping up with the rigorous coursework, including multiple AP classes, organizations like the active Poly Parent and Faculty Association (PPFA) help link parents, teachers, students, and administrators together in a cohesive link striving to improve Poly's environment, and the Poly Alumni Association gives the school's extensive alumni body a chance to give back to the school community. Here at Poly, our six words unite us in our environmentally themed activities and beyond: Freedom, Responsibility, Perseverance, Achievement, Goodness, and Mercy. Here at Poly, every graduate and current student embodies the phrase Poly Pride, Deep Inside!
Green School Application Process:
At Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, sustainability is something that is supported by all levels of the school. Being environmentally friendly is just another way we connect theory with practice. Over the past two years, the school has taken the Green Schools Application as a model for enabling the school to grow into an environmentally sustainable worldview both in Poly's campus and outside the campus. Students, faculty members, community members, parents, and administration all collaborated on the Green Schools effort, continuing green events that were already a tradition and brainstorming new ideas to expand Poly's green culture.
Our teachers were extremely supportive of our application process. Many who had not even dreamed of incorporating sustainability into their lesson plans agreed to give it a try and had huge successes. Teachers reported increased thoughtful discussion skills among students who completed sustainability-themed lessons and cited the relevance of the topics being presented as a motivator for student participation. Over the last two years, classes from AP English Literature to Honors Physics, and any class in between, incorporated sustainability topics into their discussions. Additionally, in order to engage the entire student body, Poly hosted its first environmentally focused advisory, a period dedicated to discussing important issues with students. This advisory was student-facilitated (not teacher facilitated like it normally is) and mentioned Poly's Green Schools application process as well as environmental issues facing Baltimore. Thus, essentially all students received green education at Poly through a hands-on, peer-based discussion process. A wear-green-to-school day in honor of America Recycles Day in November 2015 also publicized the Green Schools application process. Our teachers also engaged in a school-wide professional development led by a Green Leader.
Student-based projects were extremely diverse and hosted by multiple clubs, including the school's Environment Club, Aquaponics Club, Gardening Club, and Big Sib Little Sib peer mentoring program. Projects were centered around the four categories of water conservation and pollution prevention, energy conservation, waste reduction, and habitat restoration. Examples include developing a completely sustainable aquaponics system (engineered 100% by Poly engineering students and supported by a solar panel system installed in Poly's side parking lot to minimize the system's carbon footprint), building oyster reef habitat balls to give back to the Bay, performing school publicity campaigns to reduce energy and water usage, and multiple recycling drives. At Poly, these student projects are organized by students, for students. Students even helped to write most of the proposals for the grants that they received to fund these amazing projects.
Finally, Poly has branched out to involve in the local community. Weed Warriors came on campus to help us remove invasive vines, and Blue Water Baltimore helped us plant trees to reforest the campus. Outside of the campus, Poly students helped out at a local stream removing invasive vines with community members and traveled to Blue Water Baltimore events throughout the city to give back to the organization and to urban forestry.
It's been a long but thoroughly gratifying journey, but this is not the end of the road. If we are awarded the Green Schools certification, we plan on using it as momentum to achieve new and bigger environmental dreams at Poly (green roof, anyone?). The Green Schools application has truly helped to give our environmental goals direction and break down our aspirations into achievable steps. This is only the beginning of a sustainable high school campus. Poly Pride!!
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute is a public college-preparatory, STEM-magnet high school in Baltimore City situated at the confluence of multiple different neighborhoods, including Cross Keys, Roland Park, and Medfield Heights. Comprised of a predominantly African American student body of about 1,200 students, the school has a long and varied history, first established in 1883. With approximately 80 staff members, the school offers both science and engineering practicums for students, as well as magnet programs like the Ingenuity Project, Project Lead the Way, and JROTC. Poly is situated right next to the Jones Falls, a major tributary to the Inner Harbor, which gives its students a special connection to the environment surrounding them. With two green spaces within the campus and multiple environmental classes available as part of the school's science theme, students are actively exposed to sustainability-based education on a daily basis. Although Poly's students are often busy keeping up with the rigorous coursework, including multiple AP classes, organizations like the active Poly Parent and Faculty Association (PPFA) help link parents, teachers, students, and administrators together in a cohesive link striving to improve Poly's environment, and the Poly Alumni Association gives the school's extensive alumni body a chance to give back to the school community. Here at Poly, our six words unite us in our environmentally themed activities and beyond: Freedom, Responsibility, Perseverance, Achievement, Goodness, and Mercy. Here at Poly, every graduate and current student embodies the phrase Poly Pride, Deep Inside!
Green School Application Process:
At Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, sustainability is something that is supported by all levels of the school. Being environmentally friendly is just another way we connect theory with practice. Over the past two years, the school has taken the Green Schools Application as a model for enabling the school to grow into an environmentally sustainable worldview both in Poly's campus and outside the campus. Students, faculty members, community members, parents, and administration all collaborated on the Green Schools effort, continuing green events that were already a tradition and brainstorming new ideas to expand Poly's green culture.
Our teachers were extremely supportive of our application process. Many who had not even dreamed of incorporating sustainability into their lesson plans agreed to give it a try and had huge successes. Teachers reported increased thoughtful discussion skills among students who completed sustainability-themed lessons and cited the relevance of the topics being presented as a motivator for student participation. Over the last two years, classes from AP English Literature to Honors Physics, and any class in between, incorporated sustainability topics into their discussions. Additionally, in order to engage the entire student body, Poly hosted its first environmentally focused advisory, a period dedicated to discussing important issues with students. This advisory was student-facilitated (not teacher facilitated like it normally is) and mentioned Poly's Green Schools application process as well as environmental issues facing Baltimore. Thus, essentially all students received green education at Poly through a hands-on, peer-based discussion process. A wear-green-to-school day in honor of America Recycles Day in November 2015 also publicized the Green Schools application process. Our teachers also engaged in a school-wide professional development led by a Green Leader.
Student-based projects were extremely diverse and hosted by multiple clubs, including the school's Environment Club, Aquaponics Club, Gardening Club, and Big Sib Little Sib peer mentoring program. Projects were centered around the four categories of water conservation and pollution prevention, energy conservation, waste reduction, and habitat restoration. Examples include developing a completely sustainable aquaponics system (engineered 100% by Poly engineering students and supported by a solar panel system installed in Poly's side parking lot to minimize the system's carbon footprint), building oyster reef habitat balls to give back to the Bay, performing school publicity campaigns to reduce energy and water usage, and multiple recycling drives. At Poly, these student projects are organized by students, for students. Students even helped to write most of the proposals for the grants that they received to fund these amazing projects.
Finally, Poly has branched out to involve in the local community. Weed Warriors came on campus to help us remove invasive vines, and Blue Water Baltimore helped us plant trees to reforest the campus. Outside of the campus, Poly students helped out at a local stream removing invasive vines with community members and traveled to Blue Water Baltimore events throughout the city to give back to the organization and to urban forestry.
It's been a long but thoroughly gratifying journey, but this is not the end of the road. If we are awarded the Green Schools certification, we plan on using it as momentum to achieve new and bigger environmental dreams at Poly (green roof, anyone?). The Green Schools application has truly helped to give our environmental goals direction and break down our aspirations into achievable steps. This is only the beginning of a sustainable high school campus. Poly Pride!!
Poly Students Speak on Green Schools Process
Why should Poly be a Green School?
Personal Piece
Kyle Low, Environment Club president
Four years ago, when I came to this school, Baltimore Polytechnic had little to do with sustainability. Becoming a Green School was
unexplored territory and little of the school’s spotlight was placed on the environment. The school’s Environment Club believed this could be changed. My peers and I believed that one day sustainability could be part of Poly’s culture rather than just some odd corner of the school. Rather than seeking to do everything for the school, this group sought to initiate a change in the school’s entire culture regarding sustainability. It has been a success so far as the teachers and students have been rallying with this effort to change Poly.
Environmentalism is now widely spoken of in the school, supported with events now like assemblies, drives, and spirit days. Clubs that do environmental things are being increasingly recognized by the school and the city, and green is becoming mainstream at this school! Teachers are listening to the ideas of students, and are now, especially in the past year, incorporating more and more sustainability-focused lessons in their classes. A major success for the Environment Club is that an environmental advisory, a class session for every class in the school, is being done to discuss this Green School process and involve every single student and teacher in the environmental discussion.
For a traditional Green School, the administration typically writes the application. Here at Poly, we put the US in sustainability. Fellow Environment Club members and I wrote the entire Green Schools application as part of a student-driven initiative to transform Poly into a Green School. We built a support team of administrators for years to come, but in the end, it was students who coordinated Poly's effort to become a Green School. And that is a beautiful thing.
Peace, Love, Green.
Kyle
Four years ago, when I came to this school, Baltimore Polytechnic had little to do with sustainability. Becoming a Green School was
unexplored territory and little of the school’s spotlight was placed on the environment. The school’s Environment Club believed this could be changed. My peers and I believed that one day sustainability could be part of Poly’s culture rather than just some odd corner of the school. Rather than seeking to do everything for the school, this group sought to initiate a change in the school’s entire culture regarding sustainability. It has been a success so far as the teachers and students have been rallying with this effort to change Poly.
Environmentalism is now widely spoken of in the school, supported with events now like assemblies, drives, and spirit days. Clubs that do environmental things are being increasingly recognized by the school and the city, and green is becoming mainstream at this school! Teachers are listening to the ideas of students, and are now, especially in the past year, incorporating more and more sustainability-focused lessons in their classes. A major success for the Environment Club is that an environmental advisory, a class session for every class in the school, is being done to discuss this Green School process and involve every single student and teacher in the environmental discussion.
For a traditional Green School, the administration typically writes the application. Here at Poly, we put the US in sustainability. Fellow Environment Club members and I wrote the entire Green Schools application as part of a student-driven initiative to transform Poly into a Green School. We built a support team of administrators for years to come, but in the end, it was students who coordinated Poly's effort to become a Green School. And that is a beautiful thing.
Peace, Love, Green.
Kyle
Top Five Accomplishments
1) Advisory.
Students in Poly wrote and organized an advisory about environmental issues to be presented to all students during a special period.
2) Aquaponics.
Students in Poly have built and expanded an aquaponics lab since 2014 to study different sustainability themes; solar panels are being installed to power the aquaponics system.
3) Clothing Drive.
Students in Poly planned and executed a clothing drive in December 2015, receiving overwhelming amounts of clothing to donate to the Purple Heart in the theme of recycling.
4) Oyster Ball Building.
Students in Poly have begun to work on building oyster reef habitat balls to help restore the Bay's oyster populations.
5) Environmental Spoken Words.
Students presented environmental spoken words at holiday assemblies at 2014 and 2015. This brought the environmental theme to the assemblies and reminded people to consider the Earth during the holiday season.
Students in Poly wrote and organized an advisory about environmental issues to be presented to all students during a special period.
2) Aquaponics.
Students in Poly have built and expanded an aquaponics lab since 2014 to study different sustainability themes; solar panels are being installed to power the aquaponics system.
3) Clothing Drive.
Students in Poly planned and executed a clothing drive in December 2015, receiving overwhelming amounts of clothing to donate to the Purple Heart in the theme of recycling.
4) Oyster Ball Building.
Students in Poly have begun to work on building oyster reef habitat balls to help restore the Bay's oyster populations.
5) Environmental Spoken Words.
Students presented environmental spoken words at holiday assemblies at 2014 and 2015. This brought the environmental theme to the assemblies and reminded people to consider the Earth during the holiday season.