On Jan 16th Sharon Byrne and myself attended an open house at an EcoSchool in the Toronto District School Board. TDSB has been very progressive in their environmental programs and has 173 schools in their boards that are certified EcoSchools. Here are some things we learned from their presentation by staff and students:
- it started small: reducing paper (reusing, buying different paper, etc), increasing the use of recycling in the school and litterless lunches
- now it includes activities such as planting different tree species on the school grounds, implementing a "grey" box (reusable materials for art supplies, etc), used book exchanges, litterless lunches on an ongoing basis, "walking" Wednesdays (very popular!)
- the school is excitedly planning to have a visit from CityTV who will broadcast the weather from their school and discuss the EcoSchool initiatives on TV!
- the students were very involved and consisted of mostly grade 6s with some grade 4s and 5s "in training" - they were called the "Eco Owls"
- students played a leadership role in teaching others to care for their environment - they put up posters, played eco-friendly games and encouraged walking
- students and staff also carried these values to their homes and often changed the way they did things at home
- each class in the school was responsible for a Monday morning message to read over the announcements. The students often used great creativity such as poems or songs for their messages. E.g. "Hey boys and girls, we can save the world..." to the tune of Joy to the World
- once a month a team would conduct an "investigation" or each classroom which is a checklist of practices for garbage, recycling, lights off, computers off, shades open for sunny days, closed at night, etc. The top class would be presented with a plaque that was displayed outside their door for the month
- presenters mentioned importance of educating staff as well as students and the importance of teaching children environmental values at a young age
- EcoSchool initiatives can be related back to the SIP and developing the whole child - responsiblity for selves and their environment
- environmental theme was incorporated into the curriculum along with excursions to experience their environment as much as possible
- we saw a multi-media presentation put together by a grade 5 class entitled "Greenmakers - Change the Way We Live and Think" that consisted of music, art, science and language - it was amazing!
For more information about this school itself, visit their website and click on "current school profile". http://www.tdsb.on.ca/scripts/Schoolasp.asp?schno=4520
It was definitely worthwhile visiting this school to see that this program is making a difference, not only in reducing the school's impact on the environment, but how the values are carried over into lives outside of school as well. Sharon and I are looking forward to talking more about it at our next meeting!
- Susan Willis
- it started small: reducing paper (reusing, buying different paper, etc), increasing the use of recycling in the school and litterless lunches
- now it includes activities such as planting different tree species on the school grounds, implementing a "grey" box (reusable materials for art supplies, etc), used book exchanges, litterless lunches on an ongoing basis, "walking" Wednesdays (very popular!)
- the school is excitedly planning to have a visit from CityTV who will broadcast the weather from their school and discuss the EcoSchool initiatives on TV!
- the students were very involved and consisted of mostly grade 6s with some grade 4s and 5s "in training" - they were called the "Eco Owls"
- students played a leadership role in teaching others to care for their environment - they put up posters, played eco-friendly games and encouraged walking
- students and staff also carried these values to their homes and often changed the way they did things at home
- each class in the school was responsible for a Monday morning message to read over the announcements. The students often used great creativity such as poems or songs for their messages. E.g. "Hey boys and girls, we can save the world..." to the tune of Joy to the World
- once a month a team would conduct an "investigation" or each classroom which is a checklist of practices for garbage, recycling, lights off, computers off, shades open for sunny days, closed at night, etc. The top class would be presented with a plaque that was displayed outside their door for the month
- presenters mentioned importance of educating staff as well as students and the importance of teaching children environmental values at a young age
- EcoSchool initiatives can be related back to the SIP and developing the whole child - responsiblity for selves and their environment
- environmental theme was incorporated into the curriculum along with excursions to experience their environment as much as possible
- we saw a multi-media presentation put together by a grade 5 class entitled "Greenmakers - Change the Way We Live and Think" that consisted of music, art, science and language - it was amazing!
For more information about this school itself, visit their website and click on "current school profile". http://www.tdsb.on.ca/scripts/Schoolasp.asp?schno=4520
It was definitely worthwhile visiting this school to see that this program is making a difference, not only in reducing the school's impact on the environment, but how the values are carried over into lives outside of school as well. Sharon and I are looking forward to talking more about it at our next meeting!
- Susan Willis
1 comment:
- Good work :)
- A little fact for everyone: By 2100, Peru's Quelccaya, source of water for ten million people will be gone!! :| :(
- good joooob :)
- if you'd like to look at the book where i got that face from it is called "Action Magazine - EcoZone"
- jessica♥
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