Principal’s Environmental Education Action Plan
School: North Carroll High School
Principal: Kim Dolch
Planning Partner(s): Gina Felter, Scott Lavender
What is my five year vision for my school’s environmental education plan?
1.
In the next five years, NCHS plans on moving toward Green School status
through the implementation of the following:
-all teachers will effectively use EIC in at least one classroom lesson
-growing native plants in the greenhouse in connection with the Carroll
County Outdoor School
-increasing community partnerships and creating new ones
-adding native plantings/schoolyard habitat on the school grounds
- continue vermin-composting and begin a compost pile outside
-begin Science Research in which students use environmental issue
investigation to learn about some of the Bay’s keystone species
-improve the instruction in both the terrestrial and aquatic ecology courses
-expand the bluebird trail and use data in math classes
-continue to maintain and improve the NCHS chestnut orchard in
connection with the American Chestnut Foundation
-expect that all teachers will take their students outside for an activity at
some point in the school year
2.
What is my vision for how my school will be different in one year as a result
of this program? How will I assess the impacts of this program?
In the next year, NCHS plans on beginning to complete all of the items listed
above so that we can achieve MD Green School status. We will begin science
research class, increase community involvement and expand on some best
management practices that have begun this past school year. We will utilize
attendance data, standardized test data and attitudes/behaviors of students and
staff to assess the impacts of these programs.
3.
Who are the key stakeholders in your school community who need to be
engaged in this effort? (List names)

Faculty? All faculty will be involved – especially the science department

Staff? All staff will be involved – Janet Blum (cafeteria manager), Harold Leese
(building supervisor)

Parents? Parent booster groups

Students? NCHS Green Team, ecology class students, science research students

Community Members/Organizations? Hampstead Business Association

Others?
4. What are the likely instructional connection points? (Who on my staff can
confirm/investigate this?)
Instructional connection points should be made in all disciplines in the use of EIC in
the coming year. Specific courses for integration of environmental issue investigation
include science research, aquatic and terrestrial ecology, horticulture, landscaping,
foundations of technology, AP environmental science and issues.
5.
What are my structural/operations/grounds resources? What can be developed
on or near my school property?
Currently NCHS has a chestnut orchard, bluebird trail, school-wide recycling and
vermi-composting. We plan on expanding on these projects as well as utilize a
nearby stream and water retention area for instruction. We also plan on adding some
native habitat plantings to enhance the watershed on our school grounds.
6. What/who are my community resources? (PTA, school system, non-profits,
other?)
The community resources that we plan on utilizing include the Chesapeake Bay Trust
grant program, the Carroll County Board of Education and the Carroll County
Outdoor School. We also plan on exploring other booster organizations that may add
resources for our projects.
7. What funding opportunities exist to support this initiative? Who in the school
community can help develop/investigate new funding sources?
Funding opportunities will come from grants that will be written to the Chesapeake
Bay Trust and the Carroll County science supervisor. The Carroll County Outdoor
School will also donate some planting materials for our projects.
8. How will I drive/implement this initiative? Check all that apply:
 School Improvement Team
 Parent Teacher Association
 Student Council/Environmental Club
 Green Committee
 Other: _____________________________________________________
9. How will I introduce this program to my staff and school community?
The MD Green School program has been introduced to staff through a presentation
using the ecological footprint online and some other locally created products. We
plan on visiting Hashawha Environmental Center on the first day back to introduce
teachers to some new common core standards of teaching, as well as to improve their
local environmental literacy. Other faculty programs will follow as the year
progresses. The school community will be introduced through the website,
newsletters, parent presentations and student instruction as the Green School program
is integrated throughout NCHS this year.
By the end of the retreat, you should be prepared to share some highlights from your
action plan. When we meet during the school year we will share how your initial efforts
have turned out and how you have revised your plan and expectations.