WHEREAS, Franklin Sherman Elementary School in McLean, the recipient of two Eco-Schools USA Green Flag Awards, maintained its commitment to good stewardship of the environment during the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, the Eco-Schools USA program is administered by the National Wildlife Federation and recognizes schools that combine research-based curricula with effective, environmentally sound management of school grounds to create a unique learning experience; Franklin Sherman Elementary School won the award in 2012 and 2017; and

WHEREAS, students in every grade level at Franklin Sherman Elementary School participate in the program, and faculty and staff members receive regular training on how to best implement green strategies and educate students on environmental issues; and

WHEREAS, Franklin Sherman Elementary School has promoted waste reduction and energy management, built and maintained habitats for wildlife, and produced vegetables for the community from raised garden beds; the school donates unused food from the cafeteria to a food bank; and

WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Franklin Sherman Elementary School worked with a student at Northern Virginia Community College to ensure that the school's eight raised garden beds were well-tended in the summer, with local families and school staff members harvesting produce in the fall; and

WHEREAS, members of Franklin Sherman Elementary School's parent-teacher association coordinated a local Cub Scout troop and eight local families to clean and mulch the school's garden beds to prepare for new crops in spring 2021, which the school plans to donate to the food bank Share of McLean; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Franklin Sherman Elementary School, a two-time winner of the Eco-Schools USA Green Flag Award, hereby be commended for its ongoing work to protect and preserve the Commonwealth's valuable natural resources; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Franklin Sherman Elementary School as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the school's commitment to community service and good stewardship of the environment.