Marylin STEAM Academy Recognized as a California Green Ribbon School for Second Consecutive Year
Marylin STEAM Academy Recognized as a California Green Ribbon School for Second Consecutive Year
February 19, 2026 - Livermore, CA - The Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD) proudly celebrates Marylin Avenue STEAM Academy’s back-to-back recognitions as a California Green Ribbon School (Gold) by the California Department of Education (CDE). Marylin first achieved this honor in 2025 and has once again earned the distinction for 2026. The school is one of only 26 in the state to be recognized for their outstanding efforts to resource conservation, health and wellness promotion, and environmental literacy.
“We are incredibly proud to highlight the hard work and dedication that our students demonstrate each day as responsible stewards of their environment,” shared Principal Joe Meunier. “Their daily, thoughtful choices, influenced by their impactful project-based lessons and learning, have led to meaningful outcomes that really make a difference for our entire community. As we continue to build upon our partnerships with local and state organizations and community groups, learning opportunities for students continue to grow both in the classroom and through after school enrichment programs. Marylin Avenue STEAM Academy continues to make strong academic progress, and our Green Ribbon recognition reflects the depth and diversity of learning experiences we provide.”
One of the newest enhancements to Marylin’s environmental education and health and wellness efforts is its recently renovated school garden. The garden marks an exciting new chapter for hands-on, outdoor learning for all students, grades TK to five, who visit twice a month to engage in lessons on growing, nurturing, and cultivating fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs. In the spring, students will begin planting and transforming the space into a vibrant living classroom. Kindergarten students will kick off the season by learning about pollinators and various parts of a plant, culminating in the planting of their very own pollinator garden. Through these experiences, students will build environmental awareness, deepen their connection to where food comes from, and strengthen their environmental leadership skills.
“Our garden allows us to take hands-on learning to the next level with a learning space designated for all students.” shared Shannon Higgins, STEAM Instructional Coach. “Thanks to the vision and investment of time by teachers Anne Rosendin and Joanna Martinez, all Marylin students including those with exceptional support needs (ESN) will have access to a well-planned and innovative garden environment that will enhance their experiential learning.”
From the garden to the lunchroom, Marylin’s multi-purpose room functions as a daily classroom for students to learn and actively participate in reducing waste, proper sorting while reinforcing their understanding of the benefits of recycling and composting. Students utilize an AI-powered waste auditing program that uses student-photographed lunch bins to track diversion, contamination, and recycling efficiency. Continued progress in the school’s waste reduction is due in great part to the resources and partnerships provided by the Alameda County Waste Management Authority (StopWaste), Go Green Initiative, Fertile Groundworks, and Livermore Sanitation.
In addition to its state-of-the-art solar array which generates 100% of the school’s electricity needs, Marylin’s bond-funded infrastructure improvements completed last fall included several green energy modernizations that continue to pay dividends in Marylin’s sustainability efforts. Energy-efficient LED lighting and HVAC systems, a bioretention system that captures and filters stormwater to replenish groundwater, smart irrigation timers that reduce water use, and native, drought-tolerant landscaping have all helped to reduce energy costs and environmental impacts for the school.
The success behind Marylin’s recognition as a California Green Ribbon School is the result of the coordinated efforts of its students, staff, families, and community partners. Together, the Marylin community has embraced environmental responsibility as a core part of its culture and remains committed to continuously raising the bar in its sustainability efforts.
To learn more about the California Green Ribbon Schools program, read the official press release from the CDE: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/e473ea1e/7iHb_-vN4EKHk6rv4_WoTA?u=https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr26/yr26rel06.asp
Photos courtesy of LVJUSD:
Photo #1: Fourth grade students make windmill lifts to learn about renewable energy.
Photo #2: TK student observes their cucumber seeds in soil.
Photo #3: Kindergarten students learn about the water cycle and water conservation from Zone 7 Water Agency.
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ABOUT LIVERMORE VALLEY JOINT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
LVJUSD is an award-winning district that serves approximately 13,000 students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade at nine elementary campuses, two TK-8 schools, three middle schools, two comprehensive high schools, and two alternative schools. LVJUSD features International Baccalaureate Programmes, a Dual Immersion Program, and a STEM pathway, TK-12. LVJUSD’s core values–integrity, innovation, collaboration, inclusion–serve as the guiding principles for every action taken and decision made in pursuit of student growth and success. For more information about the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District, please visit https://link.edgepilot.com/s/3d8f880e/8HMLTlXdPk_B6BlE-HWzXA?u=http://www.livermoreschools.org/.
PRESS CONTACT:
Michelle Dawson, Director of Communications & Engagement, [email protected] (925) 960-2917
Michelle Dawson
Director of Communications & Engagement
Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District
925-960-2917
925-409-6577 (cell)
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