Six Brevard County Schools Earn City’s Annual Environmental Community Outreach Awards
By Space Coast Daily // March 25, 2025
environmental care and ownership
BREVARD COUNTY • FLORIDA — Sherwood, Gemini, and Sea Park Elementary Schools, West Melbourne School for Science, Verdi Eco School, and Melbourne High School have all earned the 2024-2025 ECO School awards.
The City’s Environmental Community Outreach Division presented these schools with the annual ECO awards to recognize their efforts toward environmental care and ownership.
All six schools earning this year’s awards had hands-on activities for students that focused on environmental sustainability.
Gemini Elementary students in first and fifth grades learned about the Indian River Lagoon and how to keep the plants and animals healthy.
They learned to keep themselves healthy by growing their own food and then having a salad day to enjoy the fruits of their labor. They also recycled and reused many different materials for art and science classes.
“Think Green” sign reminding students to turn off lights when not in use posted over a light switch.
Sherwood Elementary students partnered with the Brevard Zoo’s Save Our Shores program to help conserve and restore our native ecosystems. Pre-K students collected Styrofoam for recycling at Publix grocery stores. They also grew flowers and vegetables in their garden. They will be starting a sneaker recycling project with Teracycle.
Sea Park Elementary has a large garden with vegetables, fruits, and flowers for butterflies. The art teacher uses recycled materials for projects and art shows.
The third and fourth grade students used recycled materials to create a 3D mural representing the plants and animals of the Indian River Lagoon.
West Melbourne School for Science held a monthly garden day, during which students and families of all grades gathered to engage in community activities.
Fifth-grade science students created rockets out of recycled soda bottles. Sixth-grade STEM classes used and maintained compost bins in the garden area. The students also cared for ducks, mice, snakes, and fish.
Verdi Eco School students partnered with the Surfrider Foundation to monitor water quality in the Indian River Lagoon.
Their garden had a composting hole, and they also did vermicomposting (decomposition using worms). The students used recycled materials in robotics to create prototypes and solar cars. Students also learned proper animal care.
Melbourne High School students grew mangroves in their marine science classes and scooped water from empty coffee cans for analysis and storage.
The SWAT club did regular beach clean-ups, and the students have started a clothing swap for students and staff. The students used various recycled materials to make art projects that reflected what they had been learning.
