Harbor School recognized for resiliency leadership, by Nathan Weiser

In this, the Harbor Middle School’s first year of existence its students efforts have earned the school major recognition.

On Monday, June 12, the school was officially recognized as the New York City Ready School of the Year based on the students’ continued work focused on climate resilience and its work towards environmental justice in Red Hook.

The award, which is only given to one school each year and has been awarded each of the last 14 years, was presented by the New York City Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management.

The Commissioner of Emergency Management, Zac Iskol, talked about how students are learning about how to defeat the challenge of climate change and how the students give him hope for the future.

“You are learning it in school, you are practicing it, you are bringing it to your community and spreading it across the city,” Iskol said at the ceremony in the auditorium. “It is for that reason that I can not think of any school that is a better recipient for the Ready School of the Year award. You are helping make sure our city and our world is going to be better prepared for the challenges.”

Kevin Moran, chief schools operations officer, congratulated the school on its award on behalf of the chancellor. He was affiliated with the Harbor High School when it started in Bushwick and said it is incredible that years later there is a Harbor Middle School in Red Hook.

“I want to thank the students and your teachers,” Moran said. “I  congratulate you, and I appreciate what you are doing.”

Commissioner Iskol brought up the concern about the future of the climate. He talked about the recent wildfires in Canada that brought smoke and haze to Brooklyn and that Red Hook is very familiar with the challenges of climate change going back to Hurricane Sandy.

“As I have learned about your curriculum and the work that your teachers are doing with you, one of the things that gives me so much hope for the future is because of you,” Iskol said. “I know just like earlier generations met the challenge of WW2, you guys are going to be the ones that defeat the challenge of climate change.”

Comptroller Brad Lander he would “double down on my effort to make sure we dramatically expand roof top solar in NYC.”

Councilmember Alexa Aviles, who is Red Hook’s city council member, was also on stage.

During the award presentation, the Harbor Middle School students taught a lesson on stage which included a video presentation on the importance of environmental justice for New York City. They discussed how hazards like extreme heat and flooding are exasperated due to climate change.

According to STEAM teacher Lynn Shon, a big factor in Harbor Middle School winning is Principal Figueroa giving the teachers the freedom to build a curriculum that addresses critical issues in the community.

“The curriculum, and teaching that curriculum, and empowering students with the knowledge is necessary for them to realize what is going on, but also how to advocate for solutions,” Shon said. “I think it is linked to being able to engage students in authentic real world tasks that allow them to better their community.”

The school found out about two months before the official presentation that they had won the award. They were awarded based on the totality of projects and curriculum that the students did throughout the year.

One previous project earlier in the school year that factored into winning the award was the work on wind turbines.

“The students designed wind turbines that actually generated electricity,” Shon said. “It was really incredible. They tested all these different blades because there is a new off shore wind farm being built off of Sunset Park. We want to make sure that our kids have access to those jobs.”

Principal Figueroa has a mission to create and expand opportunities for the students so they can continue to design and use renewable energy to its max. In doing that, the school provides opportunities for students to get experiences in careers.

“Learning a career or a trade is really important,” Principal Figueroa said. The school was excited to find out the same day that the Office of Emergency Management is giving the school a shipping container and solar panels to power it.