Bridgeway named Green Ribbon School for positive environmental impact

Bridgeway Elementary School was named a Missouri honoree through the national Green Ribbon Schools award program. Bridgeway is one of three schools in Missouri to earn the distinction this year, which recognizes schools, districts, postsecondary institutions and early learning centers for their leadership in environmental impact, health and wellness and sustainability.

Last fall, Bridgeway was named a 2024 Missouri Green Schools Seedling honoree, one of 10 schools statewide to reach that level. The program has five levels of recognition: seed, sprout, seedling, sapling and flowering dogwood. Of the 17 schools honored across all levels, Missouri can submit up to five honorees to advance to the national level.

Achieving seedling status meant Bridgeway met criteria in earlier levels, such as completing a Sustainability Tracking and Roadmap Tool (START) survey, conducting a self-assessment, establishing a staff sustainability committee and beginning to measure energy, water or waste use.

Additionally, those meeting the seedling level of achievement must established a green team of at least three staff members, measure consumption in at least one area of energy, waste and/or water and achieved the second tier of difficulty for one START metric. 

As a state honoree, Bridgeway was eligible to submit an application to be honored at the national level by showing progress in three Pillars of a Green School, which included:

• Pillar I: Reduced Environmental Impact and Costs - Bridgeway made significant facility upgrades, including energy-efficient lighting, updated HVAC systems and water bottle filling stations, while also adding stormwater retention features and expanding gardens and outdoor classrooms. Students and staff have revived recycling and composting programs, created a Green Team to lead waste reduction efforts and host an annual pumpkin smash to reduce food waste. 
• Pillar II: Improved Health and Wellness of Students and Staff - Bridgeway emphasizes clean air, natural light and safe pest management practices, while providing nutritious meals, daily physical activity and outdoor learning opportunities. Additionally, Bridgeway offers diverse after-school clubs, wellness initiatives for staff and effective counseling and nursing support. Programs like the Backpack Food Program, family engagement events and belonging initiatives promote inclusivity, mental health and belonging for all students and staff.
• Pillar III: Effective Environmental and Sustainability Education - Sustainability is integrated across the curriculum through garden-based learning, recycling and composting initiatives and hands-on STEM activities. Students engage in real-world environmental stewardship, from vermicomposting (a process that uses red wiggler worms to break down organic materials) and native habitats to monarch butterfly tagging and honeybee studies. Field trips, guest speakers and Fifth Grade Camp extend classroom learning, while staff professional development ensures sustainability education remains a strong, embedded priority. Bridgeway also has an after-school Green Team club focused on promoting sustainability and environmental action.

Read Bridgeway’s application.

“Bridgeway’s sustainability efforts help teach students life lessons in how to care for one another, themselves and the environment, and most importantly help teach an understanding of how everything is connected,” said Jeanne Fernandez, reading specialist and Missouri Green School lead, in the school’s state application. “As a school dedicated to a more sustainable community, we want those lessons to help guide students to develop into productive citizens of the future. We have long been working on sustainability efforts at Bridgeway, but know there is still much more to do. We also know that the work we do is all connected, and it is the work of many dedicated staff members that make it all happen. We are proud of our accomplishments so far, and look forward to continuing the green trajectory.”

Bridgeway is the first Pattonville school to be recognized as a Missouri honoree in the Green Ribbon Schools program, setting a district benchmark for sustainability and environmental education. Since the program began in 2011, 767 schools nationwide have been recognized for their efforts.

“We applaud you and your team for all the often selfless work you have done over the years, which has culminated in this honor,” said Anisa Heming, director of the Center for Green Schools. “Your school’s leadership is a beacon of hope and inspiration not only to us, but to other schools who might be considering a similar journey. Your school and your sister green schools have saved many tons of carbon from contributing to climate change while saving a ton of money, while providing safer and cleaner learning environments for your students.”