Katherine Johnson Middle School Wins First Place in Regional Watershed Competition

Students from Katherine Johnson Middle School (KJMS) earned top honors and a $1,000 prize in the annual Caring for Our Watersheds competition. Sponsored by EarthForce and Nutrien, the challenge invites students from across the region to explore their local watershed, identify an environmental issue, and propose a realistic, impactful solution.

 

The winning project, titled “Raise and Grow Locally,” focused on reducing the community’s carbon footprint through sustainable food practices. Students connected local food production to environmental stewardship by creating a more circular waste system — hatching and raising chickens in their outdoor classroom and feeding them leftover food scraps from the school cafeteria.

 

From incubating eggs to constructing a chicken coop, the students took a hands-on approach to environmental learning and made a tangible impact right on campus.

 

“We are incredibly proud of our students and staff at Katherine Johnson Middle School for their creativity, teamwork, and commitment to environmental responsibility,” said Jeff Platenberg, Superintendent of the City of Fairfax Schools. “Projects like this demonstrate the power of hands-on learning and show how students can be active problem-solvers in their own communities.”

 

Check out the project here:
https://youtu.be/XAjNTdSlHLc
https://youtu.be/OG3kTQML24shttps://youtu.be/OG3kTQML24s