TCE earns national recognition for sustainability efforts

Tates Creek Elementary is among the 2019 National Green Ribbon Schools, having demonstrated excellence and commitment in all three areas of sustainability: building efficiency, environmental literacy, and student/staff wellness. Among its strong points, TCE is the first school in the district to hire a full‐time wellness coach, and each classroom has a “wellness corner” to help students feel calm and focused. TCE also offers yoga to adults after school and Girls on the Run for fourth- and fifth-graders. In addition, students cultivate a vegetable garden in the courtyard, lights are on automatic shut-off, bathrooms feature air dryers, and rubberized nonslip flooring lessens the need for chemical waxing. Tates Creek has also planted trees on school grounds, added water-bottle filling stations, and eliminated straws in the cafeteria, among other initiatives.