South Whidbey Elementary School recently received some recognition for its work in environmental education.

Pacific Education Institute, a state organization that provides resources for teachers, named South Whidbey Elementary School as FieldSTEM School of the Year for 2023. FieldSTEM is a term that Pacific Education Institute has coined to refer to the fusion of science, technology, engineering and math with language arts, social studies and art.

The elementary school was nominated by Molly Griffiths, the school’s Pacific Education Institute regional coordinator, and Principal Susie Richards is stoked.

“It’s just really exciting for us to have that level of recognition,” said.

The award-winning elementary school was honored at a celebration in Olympia. Richards said it was exciting to meet state legislators there who support environmental education programs.

From kindergarten to fifth grade, students at South Whidbey Elementary School follow a farm, forest and sea thematic approach to learning. A nearby network of trails is regularly accessed.

“Many of our classes are going out and studying the forest,” Richards said. “Different grade levels take different approaches on that, like our second grade is really focusing on the bird population. Some of the older grades are looking more at habitat.”

Students also attend lessons at the Maxwelton Outdoor Classroom, where the school partners with the Whidbey Watershed Stewards. Under the guidance of third grade teacher Lori O’Brien, students raise salmon from eggs and release them in Maxwelton Creek every year.

In addition, kids learn a great deal about all sorts of whales, thanks to the Orca Network and Deception Pass State Park rangers. And some outdoor learning grants have made it possible for fifth and sixth graders to spend two nights camping.

“The community partnerships are really key to the work,” Richards said.