• Rick Asselta, center, is surrounded by children after speaking to students at the AIS Magnet School Wednesday, May 9, 2018, about his project to raise money for honeybee kits for Puerto Rico. Asselta has lived in Puerto Rico for several years with his wife, who is from the island. Photo: Carol Kaliff / Hearst Connecticut Media / The News-Times
Photo: Carol Kaliff / Hearst Connecticut Media
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Rick Asselta, center, is surrounded by children after speaking to students at the AIS Magnet School Wednesday, May 9, 2018, about his project to raise money for honeybee kits for Puerto Rico. Asselta has lived in Puerto Rico for several years with his wife, who is from the island. less
Rick Asselta, center, is surrounded by children after speaking to students at the AIS Magnet School Wednesday, May 9, 2018, about his project to raise money for honeybee kits for Puerto Rico. Asselta has lived ... more
Photo: Carol Kaliff / Hearst Connecticut Media
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DANBURY — The Western Connecticut Academy for International Studies has been named a 2018 Green Ribbon School for its environmentally sustainable practices by the U.S. Department of Education.

The academy is one of 46 schools nationwide — and only one of two magnet schools — to be chosen for the distinction Wednesday.

“We commend your school for its leadership in facilities, health, and environmental education,” the department wrote in its letter to AIS Principal Christopher Roche. “Your school is representative of promising practices to improve achievement and equity, not only for aspiring green schools, but for all schools.”

The Green Ribbon designation highlights schools that teach effective sustainability education, improve health or reduce their own environmental impact and utility costs, according to the department.

AIS teachers and students incorporate recycling, gardening and learning about the environment throughout their curriculum and projects. Last week, students gathered to send hundreds of seeds to Puerto Rican families to help restart their farms after the devastation of Hurricane Maria last fall and they will grow many of those same flowers and foods at the school.

The academy is a kindergarten through fifth grade magnet school open to all Danbury students and area towns through a lottery system. The school opened 12 years ago and focuses on global studies, including foreign languages, and now has more than 400 students.

In 2014, AIS was selected by the Connecticut Association of Schools as “Elementary School of the Year.”

“We are so proud of the efforts being made at AIS to be a ‘green’ school and teach our students about sustainability,” Superintendent Sal Pascarella said. “Since the school opened more than a decade ago, sustainability has been one of its top priorities, with the past and present leadership incorporating recycling efforts, gardening and other environmental commitments into the curriculum.”

An award ceremony for all of the winning schools will be held Sept. 19 at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C.

zach.murdock@hearstmediact.com