Hillcrest Elementary School in Oak Harbor is working toward becoming a green school, and it’s well on its way.

Recently validated a Level 1 Certified Washington Green School, Hillcrest has been nominated by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools award.

The school is doing many things to be more ecologically sound, teacher Jodi Crimmins said.

With chickens for eggs, composting bins and a Green Club that works to boost composting efforts and to help educate students and families on how to reduce waste, Hillcrest has been certified on a “grounds and garden” level, Crimmins said.

“We began the process and quickly got certified, and it got really exciting, so we just started asking ourselves, what else can we do?”

When they learned of the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools award, they put in an application, summing up everything they do to be more green. That includes the aforementioned, as well as energy efficient lighting and efforts to reduce water waste and to teach students and their families how to live more sustainably and produce less waste.

When Gilda Wheeler, the sustainability program supervisor at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in Washington, wrote to Hillcrest, it was to tell them they were one of only three schools from Washington to be nominated for this national award.

The Green Ribbon Schools award is given to schools or districts that reduce environmental impact and costs; improve the health and wellness of schools, students and staff; and provide environmental education, according to the Green Ribbon Schools website.

This year’s winner will likely be announced in April.