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Sparrows Point High's Mission Statement
Our Vision: Sparrows Point High School honors tradition, instills integrity and exceeds expectations. Our students will be supported within a community oriented, student centered, academically challenging learning experience which nurtures their educational and career aspirations. Our Mission: We will provide students with real world opportunities, a focus on environmental literacy and a safe and positive environment that equips them to flourish as responsible citizens. Our Motto: POINT PRIDE. Honor Tradition. Instill Integrity. Exceed Expectations. |
Green School
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Top 5 Accomplishments
#1 – Sparrows Point continues the long standing tradition of celebrating our Green School status and commitment to the environment through our Trashy Fashion show.
#2 – Students in every grade level and in several subject areas participate in environmental education that includes outdoor hands-on learning, field trips, and guest speakers. Environmental education is woven in to our school climate in many different ways. We are very proud of this!
#3 – Students worked to increase our well established (student run) recycling program to include the recycling of markers and ink and laser cartridges. Awareness of the increased recycling was brought to the attention of the student body through the use of video announcements and posters throughout the building. Our recycling accomplishments include the placement of a second recycling dumpster on our campus to accommodate the increased recycled materials.
#4 – Combined efforts between students and staff allowed Sparrows Point to expand our habitat restoration efforts to include a larger native plant garden, the addition of a bug hotels, and make plans for a new bluebird trail when we return to school.
#5 – During the building closures due to COVID-19 and through BCPS ransomware attack our student Green Team remained active and encouraged fellow students to practice sustainability and continue to be stewards of the environment while at home. Follow us on Instagram SPHS_GreenTeam
Summary of Green School Efforts
Our 35-acre campus is uniquely located within walking distance of Chesapeake Bay tributaries and tidal wetlands, making it the perfect location for hands-on learning! Not only do we have an outstanding outdoor learning center, but we also own a fleet of canoes dedicated to aquatic research. We believe that students learn best ABOUT the environment by BEING IN the environment, not just a classroom. Field experiences are strongly integrated into our rigorous academic program to prepare students for real world application.
S.P.E.C.I.E.S. (Sparrows Point Educational Center In Environmental Studies) is our magnet program here at Sparrows Point High School. An environmental focus is already a part of our curriculum at SPHS and with our magnet program, we are leading the way in merging instructional technology with Environmental Science.
The school community includes 1,130 students in grades 9-12, 69 teachers and over 25 additional support staff. Because of our proximity to the Chesapeake Bay Sparrows Point High School students understand the importance of the environment in providing ecosystem services, natural resources, employment, and recreation. Just as our mission states teachers and staff at SPHS strive to provide students with real world opportunities, a focus on environmental literacy and a safe and positive environment that equips them to flourish as responsible citizens. It is the goal of SPHS to develop citizens with the understanding that it is their responsibility to protect, preserve, and sustain our natural resources.
SPHS became a Green School in 2014. Since then the school has maintained many of its green initiatives as well as implemented new programs and practices. Our faculty and staff are focused on an interdisciplinary approach to integrate environmental awareness, investigate environmental concepts, and immerse students in outdoor education.
Student driven sustainability practices focused on water conservation and pollution prevention, solid waste reduction, habitat restoration and structures for outdoor learning. Our students were provided opportunity to identify problems and propose solutions to local environmental issues. Students were challenged to design ways to prevent and reduce soil erosion. Students participated in litter clean-ups on the school campus and in the community, Students expanded current recycling efforts to include drink containers in the cafeteria with their sights set on increasing efforts into the future. Students removed invasive species, restored habitats, and maintained native plants and trees.
We have continued to develop partnerships within our community. Sparrows Point students utilize these partnerships to expand and share our environmental awareness. These partnerships benefit not just our students, but our community as a whole. Through our partnerships we have engaged parents, administration, environmental professionals and organizations. We have influenced students from elementary and middle schools, cultivating a culture of environmental awareness that we hope will sustain and grow for many generations into the future.
