HISD’s Energy and Sustainability department has announced the winner of its first districtwide Earth Month Campaign to raise awareness about the environment and promote sustainable actions that reduce campus carbon footprints.

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Piney Point Elementary School received the top award and a $1,000 check to put towards a xeriscaped garden with Texas-native plants for their campus. To receive the top prize, campuses were required to take part in activities that raise awareness and educate the community on how human behavior impacts the environment. Schools accumulated Earth Month points for every activity completed.

“It’s super exciting, it’s something that our kids need to learn about, and it all starts here,” said Piney Point Elementary School Principal Bobbie Swaby. “We strive to get them trained early about how to reduce, reuse and recycle, so that our Earth can be a better place.”

During Earth Month, students across the district audited their campuses to identify ways to reduce water and waste consumption, and participated in community events including Earth Day Houston and Trash Bash.

HISD’s Energy and Sustainability Manager Debbie Reagan says she also gave classroom presentations to teach students about sustainability.

“My favorite memories from Earth Month 2016 are of the presentations that I made to student groups,” said Reagan. “Their questions are sometimes funny but always honest, and I’m not sure who learned more at the end of each session—me or the students. We look forward to increasing the number of participating campuses in 2017 and introducing more interactive events into the program.”

For more information on the Earth Month Pledge, visit HoustonISD.org/GoGreen.