COMMUNITY PARTNERS:

Gina Vieira/Ward Museum (Green Center):  Ms. Vieira has been an excellent resource with field trips, available grants, and providing professional development for our teachers. 

​The Fruitland Community Center (FCC):  As a non-profit organization, they support funding for our “Going Green” initiative. In addition, each year the Third Grade classes receive cabbages from Bonnie Plant's "Cabbages in the Classroom" program (http://bonniecabbageprogram.com/). The students care for the cabbages until they are large enough to transplant. They then donate the plants to FCC's community garden, where the cabbages are tended to by FIS students and other local students enrolled in FCC's afterschool and summer programs. The produce is eventually harvested and used to provide meals to these students and their families. (Please see photos above)

Fruitland Water Treatment Plant:  Employees of the local water treatment plant presented information about the water cycle and the process for treating local water for consumption. They also talked about the impact of hazardous practices on the environment. Students were given informational activity packets to complete, as well as stickers stating ways to conserve water. 

Choptank Electric/Tom Tyndall and Kevin Wright:  As a community business, representatives from Choptank presented to the students ways to conserve energy by unplugging “phantom” appliances. Students were made aware of the energy drain of the appliances and shared this information at home. 

SYSTEMIC PARTNERS:
- Susan Jones, Director of Elementary Education
- Brian Raygor, Science Supervisor K - 12
- Gerrie Wiersberg, Green Leader