Ladue Schools proved once again that sustainability is woven into the very fabric of its district at last week’s 2026 Annual Green Schools Award Ceremony. Joining over 300 guests from Missouri and Southern Illinois, our students and staff were celebrated for their leadership in environmental stewardship, securing major wins across the Green Schools Quest and the prestigious Missouri Green Ribbon programs.

This marks the sixth consecutive year (excluding 2020, the pandemic year) that at least one of our schools has been recognized at this event.

LHWHS took center stage as they were officially recognized as a National Green Ribbon School. This is the highest level of recognition in the state, awarded to schools that excel in reducing environmental impact, improving health and wellness, and providing effective environmental education.

The high school’s sustainability efforts have evolved from individual passion projects to a coordinated, schoolwide movement. Key initiatives highlighted during the ceremony included:

• Idle-Free Ladue: This student-led campaign achieved an incredible 25% reduction in vehicle idling in just one month through data collection and community outreach [21:51]. This project also earned LHWHS the 2025-26 Green Schools Quest Winner title in the High School Veteran category.
• Waste Reduction: Implementation of single-stream and battery recycling, alongside digital "cleanup" campaigns to reduce responsible data usage.
• Biodiversity: Ongoing community service to maintain school grounds and promote native species.

Additionally, Old Bonhomme Elementary earned the Lower Elementary Veteran award in the Green Schools Quest for their project, "The Guardians of the Garden."

Faced with a drainage problem in their sensory garden, first-grade students moved from "problem to solution" by engineering a rainwater harvesting system. They installed a 50-gallon rain barrel and planted 12 native species specifically chosen to reduce standing water during heavy rains.

Lastly, Conway Elementary was honored with the Theme of the Year - Elementary award for its exceptional focus on water conservation.

Through their "Adopt a Storm Drain" project, first graders became local scientists. They collected trash around storm drains and school grounds over a three-week period to prevent water pollution. To ensure long-term impact, the students created permanent educational signage to teach the community how storm drains connect directly to our natural waterways.

The ceremony also welcomed Ladue Middle School into the Missouri Green Schools family as a new enrollee, signaling our district’s commitment to a sustainable future.

“Sustainability isn’t just a lesson in a textbook for our students; it’s a call to action,” said Superintendent Dr. Jim Wipke. “By tackling real-world issues like water runoff and air quality, our students are developing the durable skills of problem-solving and civic leadership. We are incredibly proud of the ‘Green Teams’ across our district for driving this change.”