Tahoma Junior High School is among four schools from Washington state that are nominated for the first national Green Ribbon Schools award.

The junior high is being recognized for its emphasis on environmental sustainability and overall school health and safety, both in its curriculum and its daily operation.

According to information from the U.S. Secretary of Education, this is the pilot year of the Green Ribbon Schools award. The award will recognize the highest performing green schools in the nation; winning schools will be announced on April 23. Each state is permitted to nominate three public schools and one private school.

The recognition award is the first comprehensive federal policy addressing the environmental impact, health and education of schools. It lays out a thoughtful vision for schools, sets a high bar for success, and will raise the profile of individual green schools and the states that encourage them, according to information from the U.S. Department of Education.

Two other Tahoma schools were recognized as being outstanding in two of the three “pillars” that comprise the Green Ribbon Schools criteria:

• Glacier Park Elementary School is named as a Washington State Green Leader school in Pillar 3, which relates to environmental and sustainability education.
• Tahoma High School is included as a Washington State Green Leader School in Pillar 2, which relates to healthy school environments.

All three Tahoma schools applied for the Green Ribbon Schools award; winners were chosen by the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.