January Green School of the Month Award

EcolifeSTL.com congratulates all the students, teachers and especially Principal Esperansa Veal of Patrick Henry Downtown Academy for being the January "Green School of the Month."

The school was chosen for this award because of the numerous green activities they are engaged in.

It is their goal is to become the first urban GREEN Model Pilot School.

Some of their initiatives include:

1. Removing asphalt in the playground area and replacing it with dirt and grass. This is a monumental achievement especially for a city school where it is common to have no or very little green area.
2. Starting a composting and gardening program which will result in using their homegrown vegetables from their garden at a nearby senior center.
3. Washington University's architecture school has 20 students signed up for a class next semester - spring 2010 - called "Collaboration between Washington University Students and Henry Downtown Academy Students.”

There will be two sections of this two credit course, with Wash U students working on-site every Monday from 9:30-11 and 1-2:30. This is what the course description says:

“Principal Esperansa Veal of Henry Downtown Academy is creating a remarkable place for her students who live in the neighborhood of the former Cochran Gardens Housing Project in downtown St. Louis. Principal Veal is clear in her conviction to provide each of her students with both literal and academic nourishment. She is working unceasingly to make the Henry Academy a safe and creative oasis for children, age pre-school through grade six. Principal Veal has a goal to have the Henry Downtown Academy students explore sustainable ways to live during the 21st century and contribute what they learn with other students throughout the world.

This new course invites Wash U undergraduate and graduate students from different fields of study to apply their discipline to the goal of designing and teaching hands-on problem solving projects for students at Henry Downtown Academy, a St. Louis Public School, located at 1220 N. 10th Street.

Gay Lorberbaum, with advising from Principal Veal, will work individually with each Wash U student to develop the right fit between the creative contribution each Wash U student wants to offer and the visions Principal Veal has for each age of the students at Henry Downtown Academy.”