Loudoun County Public Schools -

Three Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) – Blue Ridge Middle School, Farmwell Station Middle School and Woodgrove High School – have been recognized by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) for including environmental literacy in their curricula through the Virginia Naturally School Recognition Program. This year marks the 16th year Blue Ridge Middle has been recognized, the second year for Farmwell Station, and the first year for Woodgrove. These three schools are among 58 statewide to receive this recognition for the 2023/24 school year.

As the Commonwealth’s official environmental education school recognition program, DWR’s Virginia Naturally School program honors exemplary efforts to increase environmental awareness and stewardship among K-12 students. Schools were evaluated based on two criteria:

• Authentic, hands-on, real-world learning that takes place in the classroom emphasizes environmental/sustainable education and includes civic engagement and/or STEM connections.

• Learning that expands beyond the classroom setting (often referred to as meaningful field experiences) to connect back to what students are learning in the classroom.

To meet these criteria, each school developed activities and lessons that help foster appreciation or awareness of the natural world. Blue Ridge Middle Schools’ environmental activities included establishing an outdoor classroom for students to observe animal and plant life. “Our approach to environmental appreciation and study reflects our community. Our students and their families value these school-based initiatives. All students benefit from this ‘outside’ education,” said principal Brion Bell. 

Woodgrove students are engaged in a variety of environmental conservation and awareness activities such as maintaining the school’s gardens, analyzing water quality, learning how to grow disease-resistant plants, and observing the natural areas that surround Woodgrove to understand the role of habitat in species preservation. 

Manju Gomathinayagam, a 7th-grade science teacher and key coordinator of Farmwell Station's Virginia Naturally Schools award application, said, “This award validates the innovative, relevant and meaningful lesson plans our teachers bring to their classrooms, across subjects and grade levels. Sustained commitment from teachers and staff is crucial for fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of our environment among students.”