H.W. Mountz Elementary School proudly announces its achievement of the Bronze level certification with Sustainable Jersey Schools for environmental stewardship, a significant milestone in our commitment to sustainability and eco-conscious practices. This recognition highlights our school's dedication to creating a greener and more sustainable future for our community. This comprehensive submission process demands a total of 150 points across six categories. We surpassed this requirement by earning 160 points across nine categories.
Under the leadership of Principal Daniel Layton, with invaluable assistance from our Green Team Faculty members—Assistant Principal Mrs. Natalie Levine, Superintendent Dr. Stephen LaValva, and dedicated teachers Mrs. Mary Pearce, Miss Margaret Ping, Mr. Steve Janelli, and Mrs. Tara Deaver—our school has made remarkable strides in environmental initiatives.
We extend a special thank you to our parent representative, Mrs. Kerri Talucci, and Mr. Jared Kaloostian for their unwavering support. Their involvement has been crucial in implementing and sustaining our green initiatives, including the impressive collection and recycling of over 1,000 pounds of soft plastics. This effort has earned us a Trex Bench, which enhances our school grounds and further symbolizes our commitment to sustainability.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the students who played a pivotal role in our Green Team. Their dedication and hard work in conducting food waste audits, recommending greener practices (i.e. working to eliminate the delivery of individualized plastic condiment containers in lieu of large containers to be shared by all), and leading the soft plastics drive were instrumental in achieving this certification. Special recognition is due to the following student members:
Grade 5: Charles Boucher, Liam Maloney, James Schrader, Vasiliki Mackres
Grade 6: Helgstel Asamoah-Kyere, Dylan Talucci, Dylan Remensnyder
Grade 8: Emma Vaclavik
H.W. Mountz Elementary School is proud to be one of only 18 schools in Monmouth County to receive the Bronze certification. This achievement underscores our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and fostering environmental responsibility among our students.
Over the last school year, we created a practical outdoor learning and dining space, upgraded our District website to improve digital communication, and introduced a new Student Information System with a revamped parent portal to cut down on paper-based communications between home and school. We have also passed a sustainability policy, installed LED lighting to replace all of our fluorescent lights, replaced our boilers with high-efficiency models, and are working to replace all of our classroom mechanical systems.
As we celebrate the recognition as a Sustainable Jersey school, we remain steadfast in our mission to contribute to a cleaner future for generations to come. Our ongoing efforts and initiatives reflect our dedication to creating a positive environmental impact and educating our students about the importance of eco-friendly practices.
