Pine-Richland's Eden Hall, Hance elementaries honored for creating healthy, sustainable environments

There’s always a chance that winning an award one time could be a fluke.

But when the honors start piling up, there’s an even better chance that there’s something worthy of recognition.

The district’s efforts to create a sustainable, healthy learning environment during the past several years has caught the attention of environmental advocates.

Hance Elementary and Eden Hall Upper Elementary are among six Western Pennsylvania schools to be honored by Women for a Healthy Environment, which was established in 2016 to promote the creation of healthy work and learning spaces.

The organization focuses on educating people about environmental health risks and providing recommendations on how to address the problems.

Eden Hall previously received a Healthy Schools Award from the organization in the 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2021-22 school years. Hance was honored by the group in the 2018-19 school year.

“Women for a Healthy Environment has designed this program to celebrate a school’s successes, no matter how large or small,” said Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis, the organization’s executive director.

“We are honored to empower schools to go above and beyond in their commitment to creating green and healthy learning environments for both students and staff,” she said. “Studies have shown that when children are in healthy academic settings, their performance increases. By providing the resources, tools and knowledge to move toward more sustainable practices, we are all working together to create a more vibrant future for all.”

This year’s other award recipients are the Ellis School, Steel Valley School District, Allison Park Elementary School and Arsenal Middle School.

Organization officials said in a news release that the Healthy Schools Recognition Program provides an annual opportunity “for schools to shine while working to improve the lives of students and all school personnel. This year’s awardees are celebrated for their dedication to building safer and healthier learning environments in and around their schools.”

Eden Hall received recognition from the women’s organization for maintaining its High Honor Roll status by earning the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Award during the 2021-2022 school year.

Eden Hall has taken steps to implement sustainable features on its campus such as skylights, plants and trees native to Pennsylvania.

So-called “no mow” native grasses have been introduced on the grounds along with heat reclaiming devices to improve efficiency.

Award presenters described the atmosphere at the school as a place where “students and staff are empowered through various initiatives including a school energy-saving program to keep up this important environmental work.”

Hance was selected in the High Honor Roll with Distinction category for receiving the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Award for its commitment to sustainability.

The organization noted that one of Hance’s unique accomplishments is a tree bookshelf with more than 30 different books on the topic of sustainability.

Students also completed the Eco Student’s Guide to a Healthy School, a project in which students complete a workbook as a guide to learn about environmental health factors that create a healthy school.

The organization’s officials described Hance as a “great example to other schools and districts of how to integrate sustainability practices into the school.”

Kristen Justus, the district’s assistant superintendent for elementary education and curriculum, said Pine-Richland has a strategic focus on sustainability.

“Beginning in the spring of 2022, the district launched a Sustainability Leadership Council and has been further engaging student leaders and principals at each school with district administration,” Justus said.

“We are proud of our students’ contributions and the improvements to our recycling efforts and messaging, which the students adopted as a key focus for the 2022-2023 school year,” she added. “In addition, the district has taken on a preventative testing schedule that goes above requirements and ensures a healthy learning environment for all students.”

Last year, Eden Hall Upper Elementary and Hance Elementary were among 406 schools nationwide named as America’s Healthiest Schools for the 2021-2022 school year.

The recognition, awarded by Alliance for a Healthier Generation, celebrates schools’ dedication to supporting the health and well-being of students, staff and families.

Pine-Richland also is one of only six districts in the nation where an electric school bus pilot program is being tested by its transportation provider, Student Transportation of America, one of the largest school bus companies in the United States.