Prince William County Public Schools on Oct. 1 recognized 16 schools as first-time recipients of the Virginia Naturally environmental education designation, part of the division's Thriving Futures Focus segment.

The designation is the Commonwealth of Virginia's official environmental education recognition for schools. Melinda Landry, sustainability coordinator with the PWCS facilities department, said the division now has 30 Virginia Naturally schools, with 16 receiving the award this year and 14 renewing their recognition.

"Virginia Naturally is the official Commonwealth of Virginia's Environmental Education Recognition Program for schools," Landry said. "These schools integrate environmental literacy throughout their school day. They embrace project-based learning and create space for that explorer moment where students ask questions and connect their learning to the world they see around them."

Superintendent Michelle McDade thanked the schools and staff for their work. "This distinction really highlights the work that PWCS has and continues to do to ensure that we are investing and engaging in sustainable practices," McDade said.

Board vice chair Tracy Blake introduced individual awardees by district. The board identified schools from multiple districts during the recognition, including Minnieville Elementary School (Minnieville), Unity Braxton Middle School, Ashland Elementary School, Bennett Elementary, CD Hylton High School, Loch Lomond Elementary, Saunders Middle, Yorkshire Elementary, Buckland Mills Elementary, Chris Young Elementary, Unity Reed High School, Nokesville School, Jenkins Elementary, Carriage Dale Marshall Elementary, Marshall Elementary and Occoquan Elementary.

Landry described the division's Virginia Naturally work as aligned with PWCS's Launching Thriving Futures strategic plan: using school buildings and grounds as teaching tools and promoting student-centered, hands-on learning. She also highlighted PWCS EcoQuest, an annual incentive program that promotes energy conservation and student-centered sustainability learning.

Board members and school staff invited honorees forward for photographs and a small token of appreciation.

The recognition occurred during the public meeting; no formal board action was recorded as part of this segment other than adoption of recognition items later on the consent/acknowledgements agenda.