What are EcoSchools All About?

"Becoming an EcoSchool means examining the decisions we make in running our schools, inside and out - from modifying practices in our classrooms, offices and boiler rooms to designing the school ground as a place for healthy, enriched learning. It's a program where the school itself becomes a place for teaching and learning about how to create a healthy future."
- Richard Christie, Program Coordinator School Services TDSB

The EcoSchool program focuses on four main areas:

1. Waste Minimization

2. Energy Conservation

3. School Ground Greening

4. Ecological Literacy

Schools that have programs in place on average send 30% less waste to the landfill and use 12% less electricity. More importantly, students involved in the program are learning how to be responsible stewards of our environment.

Why is the program important? We are seeing evidence everywhere of the negative effects of human activity on our environment. We need to be concerned!!!

The EcoSchool certification program formally recognizes a school's environmental initiatives. The certification process ensures consistency and fairness in setting standards. The program is growing: in 2003-2004, 13 schools in Ontario were certified. In 2006-2007, 251 schools in fourteen school boards were certified. For more information, click here.

Currently HWDSB does not have an EcoSchool program in place. Individual schools within the board can independently become certified through the Ontario EcoSchool program. HWDSB hopes to have a program in place by September 2008 with some pilot schools starting at that time.

In the meantime, at SWO we recognize the importance of these initiatives and are in the idea and planning stages of implementing some environmental programs on our own. We will start small at first, but who knows what we can accomplish once we get the ball rolling! :-)