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Greetings! 
Welcome to the first issue of the EcoSchools Newsletter, born of our desire to keep in touch as our numbers grow. This year we have 264 certified EcoSchools, up from 174 last year, and
a huge increase over the 13 schools we certified in Year One, five short years ago.
This short newletter is where you
can find us every month. We'll aim
to keep you up-to-date on the latest
EcoSchools events and campaigns that you can participate in.
We are sending this first issue to everyone whose email
address we have obtained through an EcoSchools-sponsored event. If you do not wish to receive further issues, simply
click the "SafeUnsubsribe" link at the bottom and we will
happily remove you from the list! If you like what you read, please consider forwarding it to a colleague or friend.
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 Better Than Gold!
TDSB EcoSchools never stands
still. This year we are excited to
be introducing a platinum level of certification. As we look for ways
to become ever more sustainable, platinum schools will allow us to learn a lot about how schools can reduce their impact quite dramatically -and in so doing, become yet more inspiring examples to our students, parents, and staff! Thirty-four schools had applied to be considered for platinum certification by the November 17th deadline. Initial audits by a third-person auditor will begin in January 2009. For more details on the requirements for platinum schools, see page 8 of the EcoSchools Certification Guide and Planner.
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Open House
Students at this gold EcoSchool play
a role in all action areas, and excel
at making the most of EcoReviews
and waste and energy monitoring posters to diagnose and address problem areas. Seize this New Year opportunity to pick up new ideas
and meet like-minded people.
To register: TDSB staff go to Key to Learn, EcoSchools section; parents, volunteers, and others contact fran.raymond@tdsb.on.ca.
For more information, click here.
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Workshops 
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
4:30-7:00 pm
Bloor CI
Four short workshops in a single afternoon are tailored to
help you to get the program off the ground in implementing EcoSchools. Build team spirit-bring enough members to attend all workshops!
Open to teachers, parents, guardians, and other members of EcoTeams. Light dinner and time to share ideas included.
To register: TDSB staff go to Key to Learn, EcoSchools section; parents, volunteers, and others contact fran.raymond@tdsb.on.ca.
For more information, click here.
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Paper Cuts! 
Our schools provide the best examples of how to change old habits.
When she was principal at Cassandra
PS, Rhoda Potter consulted staff regularly about how to conserve paper. "It's important to let staff see the whole picture. I wanted them to know how paper fit into the school's budget. And
I invited them to think about what else
we could spend those dollars on if we used less."
Several ways to change paper use were introduced at Cassandra.... By the time Rhoda proposed that they try
out a "paper budget" for each teacher, the idea had been well-prepared for. Each teacher was given 2 packages of
paper (1000 sheets) at the beginning of each month.
But what if they needed more? To read the whole story,
click here.
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Does your classroom computer
show a flashing green light?
Project Standby is EcoSchools/IT's
newest initiative to reduce computer electricity use. People no longer have to manually shut down their machines. After 30 minutes of inactivity, or at day's end, the computer automatically goes
into standby as long as the user has logged off.
To check whether or not a classroom computer goes on standby, look for a flashing green light on the power bar on the front of the computer.
Why does this matter?
(1) Huge savings! When all 60,000 computers are equipped
to go into standby mode, we will save 34.1 million kWh of electricity savings. That means fewer greenhouse gases and
a dollar saving of at least $2 million annually.
(2) Technology still needs people! When there's no flashing light, IT needs you to call the Enterprise HELP desk: 416-395-HELP (4537), option 5. Otherwise there's no way to know which machines need attention! Have the serial number of your computer ready to report.
If there are 6 or more computers not going into standby mode, the HELP desk will arrange to "push" the standby software to all computers again. In this case, you do not have to report the serial numbers.
Every computer counts! Check for the flashing light to see if your computer goes into standby mode after 30 minutes of inactivity. Do your bit to slow climate change!
REMINDER: STUDENTS MUST LOG OFF OR THE COMPUTER WILL NOT GO INTO STANDBY.
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New Lunchroom
Recycling Barrels are
50% off!
Make those unsightly overflowing recycling bins in your lunchroom
or cafeteria a thing of the past!
These capacious new lunchroom recycling barrels can
make recycling a pleasure. And to say thanks for your efforts, EcoSchools offers a 50% subsidy for each barrel purchased.
Here's how:
(1) Place your order with Flexo Products Ltd. using SAP.
(2) Send your Cost Centre (CC) and General Ledger
(GL) numbers and total amount spent to fran.raymond@tdsb.on.ca. She'll do a journal entry and reimburse the school for 50% of your total cost.
The barrels come with a lid and are available in 20- and 32-gallon sizes, and come highly recommended by the 15 schools that piloted them last spring.
The 50% subsidy applies to all recycling boxes and lids (but not toters). Order from the Distribution Centre and send Fran the total amount you've spent and your CC/GL numbers. She'll reimburse your account.
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 Evergreen Funding: January 16, 2009 Application Deadline.
Looking for funding sources to begin
or expand a school ground greening project? January 16, 2009 is the application deadline for Evergreen's funding of $500-$2000. Pay special attention to student involvement, plans for maintenance, and well-articulated
project goals as you prepare your application.
For more details, check out the EcoSchools Toolkit and scroll down to section 4 to find tips for writing a thorough and persuasive funding application. Be sure that you have applied for a Design Consultation (also in section 4) with our EcoSchools school ground greening staff.
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Want Support in Starting or Expanding Your EcoSchools Program?
Are you struggling to get EcoSchools to fly at your school? Looking for a mentor?
Schools applying to become platinum-certified must mentor a school that wishes to get started on, or improve, its EcoSchools program. Thirty-four schools are applying to become platinum, and several are looking for a school where they can lend a hand.
Could your school use a boost in any or all areas of its environmental performance?
The terms of what is involved will be worked out between partner schools, based on need and time available.
To explore this possibility further, principals can contact EcoSchools Consultant Rhoda Potter at rhoda.potter@tdsb.on.ca. Act now while this opportunity exists!
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Steve's Pick!Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution-and How It Can Renew Americaby Thomas Friedman
New York: Farrar, Straus &
Giroux, 2008.
Instructional Leader Steve Bibla finished Thomas Friedman's best-seller Hot, Flat, and Crowded just in time to tell EcoSchools Newsletter readers about it.
This book does a fine job of putting our unsustainable way of life into perspective by helping readers understand the scale of the problems it creates. The words Hot and Crowded need no explanation. But what does Friedman mean by Flat? The East's adoption of the West's consumer-oriented industrial practices means that more and more of the world's population has access to meat and products dependent on fossil fuels and metals - a shorthand way to describe how the playing field has been 'flattened.' And that translates into rapidly mounting pressure on our natural resources.
The book is an eye-opener if you haven't stopped to think about how utterly dependent we are on oil for the comfort and convenience of our lives. More than that, it sounds a warning about global security.
To read the whole review, and learn about Steve's encounter with a student entrepreneur, click here.
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Feedback is welcome at Talk to us. Even if we can't implement all your good ideas right away, we look forward to hearing from you!
Best wishes for the holidays from the whole EcoSchools staff.
Eleanor Dudar
EcoSchools Specialist
Toronto District School Board |
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