Mother Seton Academy’s MFEP initiatives

Linda Clarke-Tucker, Ministry Lead for Marianist Encounters at Mother Seton Academy, Baltimore, MD, sends us this update about the school’s Spring initiatives and its recognition through the Baltimore City Department of Public Works.

As the 24-25 school year comes to a close, Mother Seton Academy was very active during this spring semester. Apart from participating in Mayor Brandon Scott’s Spring Clean-up and continuing in the Eco-Warriors of the Future Challenge, the Green Team continued to perform its bi-weekly cleanup of the MSA community. In addition to this ongoing initiative, MSA launched a sneaker recycling initiative and its in-house recycling teams.

Student teams are responsible for collecting the recycling from classrooms and offices in the building, and our 8th-grade gentlemen were tasked with checking the recycling for non-recyclables and disposing of the recycling. 

Our first annual Recycled Sneaker Drive was held in January. We collected 75 pairs of gently worn sneakers and casual shoes to be refurbished, if possible, and distributed to young people throughout the world who do not have shoes.  We were able to provide 50 pairs of shoes for our effort to be distributed. 

In March, our 7th-grade life science class visited the Ashburton Water Filtration Plant. Here, they learned about how our drinking water is processed and sanitized in our city and just how much of the water in surrounding counties is provided by Baltimore City. Students were able to see step by step the process of cleaning our water and making it safe for consumption. They were also able to see how testing is performed to detect bacteria and other potential pathogens in our water supply.

Our 7th-grade students also created their first Capstone Research project. The issue of Urban Heat Islands and its effect on minority communities has become a major environmental justice problem throughout the country, particularly here in Baltimore, with the death of a Department of Public Works employee due to excessive heat and difficult working conditions. Our students researched various aspects of urban heat islands, such as the effect on health, socio-economics, quality of life, and racial disparities regarding urban planning and the limited amount of green space in urban areas. This research opened their eyes to a major problem in our communities, and they were able to develop some viable options to help mitigate this problem.

This research also enabled me to participate in the Maryland Climate Teach-In. Educators choose areas of the environment or conservation to focus on with their students and provide opportunities for students to change how they view our environment and our planet as a whole.

Mother Seton Academy was once again invited to the Baltimore City Department of Public Works Eco-Warriors of the Future Luncheon, where we received honorable mention coming in 4th place against 73 schools in this year's competition. A special citation from the Baltimore City Council was conferred on Mother Seton Academy for our work on the environment and helping to make Baltimore City a cleaner and greener place.

Looking forward to the new school year, Mother Seton will continue its efforts to make a difference and be good stewards of the planet. We will continue all the above initiatives, and we will be growing food as well. We will be the stewards of 6 raised beds in a community green space called Ujamaa Cove. Students will be planting in the fall and spring to provide vegetables for our school's cafeteria, and we will also begin composting. 

Photos First row: 7-grade Capstone Urban Heat Islands Research project; Baltimore City Council recognition; Eco Warriors and MD Climate Teach-In; Second Row: Green Team caring for indoor environment; Sneaker drive; Third row: Ashburton Water Filteration Plant trip; Fourth row: Student and Parents Mayor's Spring Clean up; Fifth row: Recycling team