Calling all school EcoTeams:
Locker cleanout as stewardship!
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Spring is here and
you know what that means...your locker
likely needs a good clean out!!! Place bins in strategic spots in the hallways during locker clean outs--clearly marked for RECYCLING, REUSE, AND GARBAGE.
If you don't have bins, sturdy cardboard boxes will do.
The REUSE materials (pencils, pens, binders, rulers, etc.) can be sent to Arts Junktion. Maggie says, "Keep paper that is used only on one side! Be creative--start a collection box for classrooms or make a recycled paper notebook for yourself or for friends."
Now that many schools have switched to once-a-week pickup, it will be important not to wait til the very end of the year for all clean outs!
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TDSB schools win the Green Scenez Youth Video Challenge
Bloorlea MS, Northview Heights SS, Harbord CI, and Dr. Norman Bethune CI, were winners of Livegreen Toronto's video challenge. This city-wide event grew out of a school video challenge organized by student Alison Lee at Marc Garneau! Congratulations everyone! To view these neat videos, click here.
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Ontario Environmental Policy framework expectations and EcoSchools
The EcoSchools program is a straightforward way for schools (and our Board) to fulfill the expectations of the Ministry of Education's new environmental education policy framework. It provides the structure and support for individual schools to develop students' environmental learning and provide opportunities for action. Program Coordinator Richard Christie's letter to all principals describes the 6 EcoSchools EcoReviews as forming the basis for the environmental action plan that Acting Today, Shaping Tomorrow requires of all schools.
During May and June EcoSchools staff are engaged in
auditing schools wishing to apply or re-apply for certification.
However, if you are a new school interested in working toward certification in the next school year, elementary and middle schools should contact Mary Lovett and secondary schools should contact Maggie Ballantyne.
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Certification Audit time is here!
The culmination of the EcoSchools year is the annual certification audit of all applicants. It is a chance to assess just how far you've come, and look at where new opportunities for greening your school may lie. It is also, as EcoSchools Specialist Mary Lovett says, "a wonderful time to celebrate all schools' hard work, and our department's chance to say thank you in person. We learn so much from
our visits, and it is inspiring to watch the program grow and deepen in so many of our schools."
Look for an email sent to the principal, head caretaker, and main EcoSchools contact announcing the date and time of your EcoSchools certification audit visit. We urge that all key players (principal, caretaker, teachers, parents, and students) be present for the audit to make the most of this learning opportunity. This year because the revised program expectations are more demanding, you may not achieve the same certification level you reached last year. Because scoring has changed, the auditor will not be able to tell you your final score on the audit day.
Thank you for participating in the EcoSchools program. We look forward very much to visiting each and every school that has applied!
For more information, contact EcoSchools Conservation Specialist Wendy Abbot or 647-224-4382.
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Behind the scenes: Energy conservation at the TDSB!
In examining the way schools are run as well as what is taught, EcoSchools asks people to see schools as complex organizations. The school's energy use is a prime topic because of the connection to climate change. And what you see in the EcoSchools Energy Conservation EcoReview is just the tip of the iceberg. The TDSB energy story is many-faceted. Many different departments play a role in the interconnected web of people and technologies that reduce energy use and explore renewable energy sources.
The Energy Projects Group (EPG) is headed by the Energy Projects Engineer Hasu Amin, and includes Malcolm Lander, Maurice Buonastella, Tom Mills, Thomas Thomas, and Dean Pacini. The team's mandate is to review energy consumption in schools (both electricity and gas) and develop a program for energy retrofits.
Despite having limited resources and in addition to heavy day-to-day workloads, this group is following a long-term plan for conserving energy through modifying existing lighting and installing and upgrading building automated systems (BAS). It develops energy standards to measure performance by, reviews new technologies, hires consultants to examine the feasibility of installing different systems on particular schools, and manages projects. The group is also responsible for providing painstaking analyses of designs, looking at the costs and savings for each measure being implemented. Its tasks are complex and demanding.
An EcoTeam member asks, "what is the BAS"? To read the whole story click here.
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Essential tools for green schools
Here are this month's tools. The first one is new and sits on the ecoschools home page.
- The Green Paper Calculator has been designed to make it easy to figure out how much you need to reduce your paper use by so that your school uses only 100% recycled paper--and still stays within budget! See the story in the March issue of the EcoSchools newsletter that describes how Harbord CI made the switch this year.
- Obsolete or surplus text and library books can be reused and/or recycled. This tool provides contact information on where to sell or give away text books and check the resale value of texts; and the steps needed to recycle small and large quantities. (Also can be found in the EcoSchools Certification Toolkit, page 54.)
- Energy Star appliances reduce electricity use dramatically. Schools are encouraged to see if they can consolidate appliances wherever possible. And when it comes time to replace any, please order your refrigerator, dishwasher, or clothes washer from the Purchasing & Distribution Services Appliance Catalogue.
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Exemplary practice (4)...transforming your spring fair into an eco-fair!
As EcoSchools Specialist Mary Lovett travelled about auditing schools last spring she heard about a growing phenomenon, the "eco" fun fair.
Parents who supported environmentally conscious behaviour all year long had begun to look at the huge garbage production that a spring fair can produce and felt ashamed of the contradiction it represented. So they set out to add an "eco" dimension to the annual fun fair. Clearly it's a wonderful way to fulfill the expectation about "using ideas and action to build community" in EcoSchools Certification section 5.
How much fun can organizers have challenging themselves to make their spring fair eco-friendly? A lot, to hear the stories of parent leaders at Bennington Heights and Earl Beatty public schools. What steps you can take toward making a celebration "green" depends on when you start, how many volunteers you have, and how big the event is. Thank you to Traci Reynolds and Tara Donovan, the two parent leaders who agreed to share some of their tips and insights. Read more.
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Seasonal advice
Planting days are coming...but
watering is needed now!
Despite the wet weather, trees that
were planted in the fall need watering this time of year, right through the summer
and into the fall. It's best to water new trees (planted in the last 2-3 years)
weekly with 30 gallons of water from May through to August. For a reminder of
watering guidelines and a helpful approach to watering trees planted in groves,
review the bucket watering method (EcoSchools
Certification Toolkit, pages 114-115).
Planting days are almost upon us! After
the May long weekend you can be relatively sure soil will be safe from frost. Refer to our helpful tips and a checklist for preparing planting events (EcoSchools Certification Toolkit, pages 88-89).
Questions? Contact Samara Newman, School Ground Greening Consultant or at 647-227-8987.
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TDSB as Canada's greenest school board -- A story in five parts
Growing out of an idea brought forward by our Communications department, we have pulled together version 1 of the ongoing story of how people and programs are greening the Toronto District School Board. EcoSchools is a very important part, but it is not the whole story. Many other departments, some with direct connection to EcoSchools programs, others more indirect, have been playing a role for many years. The story of the energy management group's work below is but one example. Each day this Education Week, we will be posting a story based loosely on the 5 EcoSchools categories. We think of this series as "version 1" because there will be a need to revise and include more material over time. Of course we worry that we can't name everyone who is doing such fine work. Let us know of outstanding examples that we might add to version 2! To read these stories, click here.
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Earth Hour Plus! at Amesbury PS
The memory of our schools and offices record-breaking energy savings during the TDSB Earth Hour (27.8%) and Earth Hour weekend (16.01%) may be fading in most places, but not at Amesbury PS. Last September, with support from principal Steven Bannerman and head caretaker Seymour McCallum, teacher Roberto LiVolsi introduced the idea of an Earth Hour club as one of 4 new environment clubs at the school. It demonstrated to the students how simple decisions can have deep, lasting impacts. "The kids were on board right away. They are in tune with something that many adults aren't. They want to do it first--there's a hunger to be leaders. The advantage to starting so early is that it gives people time to adapt. At first some teachers felt they just couldn't manage without classroom lights; now everyone is willing to participte." Earth Hour now happens every Friday afternoon. The awareness-building and behaviour change potential over time is huge. Read more.
If you have an Earth Hour Plus! story, let us know!
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Earth Day report from TDSB's Outdoor Education centres
Our 10 outdoor education centres are a rich educational resource. They specialize in taking teaching and learning beyond the indoor classroom. Immersing visiting students and teachers in the natural and built environment brings learning to life. While the expression "every day is Earth Day" is often used casually, it has real meaning as a description of the approach taken at our outdoor education centres. To read about the great variety of Earth Day activities at the different centres, click here. Special thanks to Hillside Outdoor Education Site Supervisor Jane Wadden for providing this overview!
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Kipling CI club is Green Toronto Youth Award winner!
Amid supporters' cheers, Kipling CI's Enviro-link club took the top award in the Youth category at this year's Green Toronto Awards. Kipling's team has focussed on its local community's needs in bringing a used clothing drop box to the school to serve local low-income residents. Campaigning to reduce food container garbage in the school is ongoing. Its Peace Garden contains plants from around the world to reflect the school's diversity, and the team send its messages home in Somali, Urdu, and Diri using Synervoice technology. Including everyone is a major goal of this school's student EcoTeam, so ably supported by staff advisor Raj Pannu and principal Roger Dale. Dr. Norman Bethune CI's seasoned environment club BEAT was a strong runner-up, and as one of the BEAT members said, "whoever wins, it's the planet that is the real winner." Congratulations everyone!!
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Contest winners: once-a-week pick-up draw
All schools that already have, or have signed up for, once-a-week pickup were included in the Earth Day draw
for 5 cases of 100% recycled paper to 10 lucky schools!
The winners are:
Armour Heights Downsview PS
Forest Hill CI Highview PS
Humber Valley Village JMS
J.G. Workman PS James S. Bell JMS
John Ross Robertson Jr. PS
Kingsview Village Jr. Norway Jr. PS
Thank you to everyone for responding to the challenge. And congratulations to the lucky winners. Principal Peggy Aitchison of Forest Hill C.I. probably spoke for everyone when, in her thank you, she said "We are a lucky bunch indeed to have a reward for doing what is right. When I look at the other names on the distribution list, I see I am in very good company."
For those schools interested in moving toward purchasing only 100% post-consumer recycled paper, see the green paper calculator description in this month's essential tools section.
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Steve's web pick!
Many students will be visiting the waterfront on bike rides, walks, visits to the Exhibition, or Ontario Place. They will certainly have an opportunity to see Toronto's waterfront wind turbine, built
by the Toronto Renewable Energy Cooperative and Toronto Hydro.
EcoSchools has developed a Virtual Tour of the wind turbine which features Ringo the ring-billed gull as host. Ringo uses lots of pictures and video footage to explain the history of the turbine, and the science and technology of wind energy. (The videos are slow to load, but they do work.) Provide time for your students to explore this website so they can feel smart when they go downtown and touch it for themselves!
Suggestions for using this website can be found in the TDSB's Toronto Wind Turbine Virtual Tour for Kids: Teacher's Resource. To download a pdf of this guide click here, or fax in the Order Form (appears in the EcoSchools Certification Toolkit, page 4).
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Environmental activism of all sorts is alive and well in our schools. There's far more going on than we can write about, or even know about! But we see a new trend emerging. Both teacher Roberto LiVolsi (see the Earth Hour Plus! story) and ecofair parent organizer Traci Reynolds (Exemplary practice story) strongly and gently emphasize the value of a steady, gradual approach to introducing change. It may be a sign of the times: change is necessary everywhere, and certainly in our schools. That's the mission of EcoSchools. But even when we feel a sense of urgency, we need to think about the advantages of a slow and steady environmental movement.
Remember--the turtle won the race. And look at the appeal of slow food!
Best wishes,
Eleanor Dudar
TDSB EcoSchools Specialist
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