Be in touch with Zack and Julia in Copenhagen!
Zack's twitter: ZackGoGreen
www.zackgogreen.blogspot.com
Twitter: UWSPatCOP15
Facebook: UW Goes to Copenhagen!
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 New Environmental Education Program at Evergreen Brick Works
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Evergreen
is excited to announce the much-anticipated opening of school programs at Evergreen Brick Works in September 2010.
Located in the heart
of the Toronto's ravine parkland, the revitalized historic Don Valley
Brick Works will host year-round innovative environmental education
programs for classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12, with focus programs
for grades 3-5. |
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Earth Hour and Copenhagen Climate Change Talks
You can learn more about the Copenhagen talks coming up in December, vote for Planet Earth, and get other ideas for action by visiting WWF
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Organizing for April 2010 "Operation Litterless" Underway
EcoSchools Section 1: Question 1.6; Section 4: Question 4.6
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The Marc Garneau CI
Operation Litterless committee is now planning the third annual
clean-up of City parks. The simultaneous clean-up of 5 parks last year
was a huge success. Organizers are seeking participants from all
secondary schools for the April 14, 2010 event. Parks listed for
clean-up so far are West Dean Park, Sunnybrook Park, and Allan Gardens.
If
you would like to help with organizing the event between now and April,
contact the Marc Garneau CI ecoteam. Meetings are held at
the Board's main office, 5050 Yonge Street (Yonge and Shepphard). The
next meeting is Thursday, December 3rd, 4:30-5:30 pm. All welcome!
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What  is COP15?
COP stands for "Conference of the Parties" which is the name given to all nations that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol. They are "parties to" the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). "15" is the number of such annual conferences on climate change that have been held since the first one in Berlin in 1995. COP15 is the official name of the climate summit. Its goal is "to establish an ambitious global climate agreement for the period from 2012."
Visit the COP15 website
for details about the summit, climate facts, a climate quiz, and more.
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Toronto secondary students educate about the UN Copenhagen Climate Summit
Excitement is running high at meetings of Students of Toronto for Environmental Progress (STEP) these
days. STEP members Zack Bernholtz (student, MacKenzie CI)
and Julia Chernushevich (MacKenzie alumna and now U of
Waterloo co-op student working with EcoSchools) will be STEP's
eyes and ears at the upcoming UN Copenhagen climate summit,
in touch daily via blogs and tweets! Zack and Julia will also take
postcards that STEP members are creating with questions for
youth delegates from different countries. Delegates' responses
will be captured on camera, and videos will be available online for
everyone to enjoy. Julia is also part of a larger University of
Waterloo contingent, but she is proudly carrying STEP and
EcoSchools colours as well!
Students are meeting weekly to share ideas and strategies
 for educating about climate change in their own schools. Actions include taking part in the UN's Seal the Deal campaign (Jarvis recommends the videos on this site); postering the halls with information about the climate change conference (Mackenzie); signing the Kyoto Plus petition (Martingrove; Earl Haig; Newtonbrook); creating a climate change video (Martingrove); sending a message to the Prime Minister (Earl Haig); writing letters and producing a video animation (Northview); and inviting parents to sign the their Kyoto Plus banner at Parent Night and organizing a post-COP15 meeting with the local MP (Marc Garneau). Some students are also leading Copenhagen awareness sessions in Grade 9 classes.
EcoSchools Section 1: Question 1.6; Section 4: Questions 4.6, 4.7
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Other options for action on the UN Climate Summit
EcoSchools Section 3: Questions 3.6; Section 4: Question 4.7
EcoSchools is glad to be joining with the Elementary Teachers of Toronto
(ETT) to disseminate information about this special opportunity to
involve students in one of the most important issues of our time!  The Earth Hour Lantern Project
invites classes to make and send a lantern to the Climate Summit as a
tangible way to "vote Earth." Lantern instructions kits include
lantern templates, step-by-step instructions and details for sending by
post. Mail by December 10th to have your lantern included in the Vote
Earth display in Copenhagen on December 16th. Elementary and secondary education packs are also downloadable. Call the Prime Minister. The David Suzuki Foundation
has a special page showing David Suzuki calling the Prime Minister and
urging Canadians to make and post a video of a short call for action
just as he has done. Top 5 stories win a personal call from David
Suzuki! Deadline extended to Sunday, December 6th. |
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The Policy Framework, the Vision of Hope and Ecological Literacy
The Ministry of Education's environmental policy framework Acting Today, Shaping Tomorrow (February 2009) declares that an environmental perspective is now a mainstay of education in Ontario in all classrooms and across subject areas, and an important guide to decision-making and planning by senior staff in all departments. TDSB Director of Education Chris Spence's Vision of Hope includes an entire "Going Green" section; an ambitious TDSB climate change plan is nearing completion. The EcoSchools program is already helping to make our board the greenest in Ontario.
Ecological literacy is at the heart of the EcoSchools mission. Its particular aim is to develop citizens with knowledge and values that lead us to live respectfully with nature, leading to a safer and more sustainable way of life. Ecological literacy is something we write about in all our guides to make it straightforward and meaningful for the classroom teacher. This year's Toolkit organizes its ecological literacy tools in terms of education in, about, and for the environment as described in the Ministry's definition of environmental education.
"Education about" the environment: new tools for making connections EcoSchools Section 3: Questions 3.3, 3.4
Education about the environment focuses on learning to  see the natural world in terms of its interconnecting systems. The better we understand the systems nature of the world--and how our human societies have an impact on natural systems--the clearer we can be about sustainable choices and actions. Simply put, life is a web. Nature is resilient, but human actions cause a lot more wear and tear on that web than ever before in human history.
Four different mapping tools are part of this year's toolkit, because maps or webs allow us to uncover or discover connections that are hidden or ignored. Once made visible by mapping, this connection-making is a main building block for learning to think in systems terms, or systems thinking. And that is the core of the definition of what environmental education is. Many of you are already helping students make lots of connections; some call this holistic education. What may be new is adding "nature" to the picture. These tools can help you do that as you plan your lessons. Send us your best maps; we'll share them with our readers!
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Current TDSB copy paper use fulfills all 3"Rs"
EcoSchools Section 1: Performance indicator 1.7
Our schools are now using less copy paper overall! Our latest figures show that schools' consumption of Earth Choice copy paper (contains no recycled content) has dropped in the past year. Although schools are significantly reducing paper use, at the same time purchase of 100% recycled Cascades paper has doubled. All 3 "Rs" are in play! For ordering information, click here.
With the Green Paper Calculator you can easily figure out how much you need to reduce your regular copy paper use so that your  school can order more 100% recycled paper--and still stay within budget! This amazing tool will also tell you how many trees you save, how much water you conserve, and the solid waste and air emissions you reduce depending on how many cases you purchase. See the March issue for the story of how Harbord CI made the switch last year.
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Earth Hour 2010 is March 27
EcoSchools Section 4: Question 4.7
Get involved early to make the most of Earth Hour itself! It is now becoming a jumping off point for year-long conservation efforts. This year we want to be able to track what actions schools take to observe Earth Hour. Write to  us to let us know what you are doing. Have you already begun? Last year a group of students at Amesbury MS began right in September to persuade staff and students to hold a weekly Earth Hour and showed them the importance of persistence in making a difference that was school-wide.
The David Suzuki Foundation has just released a new Get Ready for Earth Hour video to animate the campaign.
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Make hay while the snow falls!
EcoSchools Section 2.1: Question 2.2.1
Tools for planning. Winter is the perfect planning time for making your school grounds more vibrant places to play and learn! It's the season for exploring the Certification Toolkit for tools that capture years of experience of school ground greening staff past and present. The revised Road Map: Overview lays out a sequence of steps to greening with a special section on involving students; Board Support for School Ground Greening is a quick guide to which areas of work must be done by Board staff and basic information about tree costs and tree replacement; the Design Consultation and Board Approvals Process describes what you need to have ready before Board staff visit; and a comprehensive list of Volunteer Opportunities can open your eyes to new ways for the community to get involved.
Observing nature and people
1) Study the wind! Winter is the best season for studying the prevailing winds that may affect what you plant where. It's the best time to get a clear sense of where planting windbreaks will give the greatest comfort and save energy by shielding the school building.
2) Map desire lines! Given the choice, humans take the shortest possible distance from A to B. These have earned the  name desire lines-and winter is the perfect time to observe them. Look for tracks and trampled paths on your school ground after a fresh snowfall. Map the location of these trails. What might the depth and the width of a track tell you? How might this information influence any changes you plan to make to your grounds? Desire lines provide clues to how people move through space.
For more ideas about teaching and learning outdoors in winter, see "Learning doesn't hibernate" in Evergreen's Outdoor Classroom newsletter #20 Winter 2007-08
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Funding for Schools
 Metro Green Apple School Funding Program
This new funding program will award $1000 to a wide range of school projects designed to help the environment. Several of our schools have already received awards. Why not apply? You can also visit the site to view other projects. First-come, first-served until the funds run out.
Greening Projects
Looking for funding sources to begin or expand a
school ground
greening project? The Toyota Evergreen Learning Grounds
program deadline application is January 15, 2010. For the application
form and more information, visit Evergreen's Learning Grounds Funding page.
For tips on writing a persuasive application, click here.
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Best practice: negotiating a waste-free breakfast program at Bellmere Jr PS
EcoSchools Section 1: Question 1.1; Section 2: Question 2.3.1
When
Salvation Army staff approached Principal Azza Hamid and Vice-Principal Heather
Cairns last August to offer a breakfast program at Bellmere Jr PS, their first
thought was how good it would be for their students to start the day on a full
stomach. Their second thought was, "We
are a platinum EcoSchool; there cannot be any waste associated with the
program." And that was the basis of a conversation that led to the
Salvation Army agreeing to provide cereal with reusable bowls and spoons, with
compostable paper napkins to perch toast upon, and jam in large jars--not
individually wrapped portions. Bellmere students had already become accustomed
to bringing their own reusable drink bottles the previous year, which meant
that a waste-free breakfast program for well-fed students was assured! Cairns speaks admiringly of the Salvation
Army's willingness to meet their requirements: "The volunteers are very committed to the children's well-being, and
they know that this is part of making a better future for them." She is
even hopeful that the practice might spread to other breakfast programs run by
the organization. That's leadership!
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Character Development and TDSB EcoSchools 2009-10
EcoSchools Section 4: Questions 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7
Teaching and learning about conserving
Earth's resources is a keystone of character development in our times. It is really an old virtue reborn that summons people's willingness to care, be respectful and responsible, cooperate, persevere, and work well as a team to reach the lofty goals of environmental protection.
This fall seven schools volunteered to submit short summaries describing the connection between character development and EcoSchools in response to a Ministry of Education request. Click to read about Bellmere Jr PS, Cameron PS, Denlow PS, Dublin Heights E & MS, Fern Avenue PS, Martingrove CI, and Oakridge Jr PS . Selected submissions will be posted on the Ministry of Education website in January 2010. Our TDSB schools may or may not be chosen. We are pleased to have all of them on our website!
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"Who is Green?" comes to Oriole Park PS
 EcoSchools Section 4: Question 3.6
As part of reinforcing their school-wide theme "Live Brightly," all Oriole Park classes are participating in "Who is Green?"--a very effective "green" action program that involves each student taking a doll home in its handy suitcase box for a week! Organizers are building on last year's success of the "Who is Nobody" program in helping everyone focus on "living brightly." Initiated by the character education committee, the theme continues to resonate deeply, as the response at the recent riveting school assembly confirmed. And the doll--be it "Nobody" or "Green"--is just the "person" needed to keep living more brightly in everyone's mind day after day. The response from students, parents, and the larger community has been extremely positive. For details about this story and the program, click here!
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EcoSchools Section 2.1: "Look for" 2.1.12
NEW Tool: As the light fades we need more electricity to light our classrooms. Do we need as much as we use? This all-in-one classroom environmental monitoring chart is one means to help focus everyone's attention on conserving resources.
Colour copies can be ordered from Fran Raymond. We'd love to get your feedback on how well they work!
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Save resources: make Direct Line readily accessible to teachers
EcoSchools Section 2.3: Question 2.3.2
Principal of Glen Ravine Jr PS Vickie Venedam-Vaccaro is doing
her part to reduce paper use at her school by maximizing email communication. With Help Desk help, Vickie came up with a
method for sending messages of interest from Direct Line right to
the school's online Tel conference. That way she's saving precious resources--both paper that might have been used instead and her staff's time--while helping them to stay informed. Thanks to Vickie and also to Superintendent Kerry-Lynn Stadnyk who shared this good practice tip with us.
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EcoSchools is the TDSB's response to climate change. In each school it consists of many different initiatives and informs many day-to-day choices and decisions. At the UN Conference in Copenhagen, no one may know about TDSB's certified 311 EcoSchools, or that it has given birth to Ontario EcoSchools that
now has schools from 40 school boards across the province participating. But Zack and Julia will be there, taking the story of our successes and our ongoing work, and bringing back other ideas for change.
Policy matters, and what happens at the Climate Summit is critical. But our local actions here in schools matter just as much. We are learning how to build a more sustainable world right here on the ground, in our own schools. Watch for news coming soon about the TDSB's own far-reaching climate change plan. And let us hope that the spirit of the UN conference will lead people to want to name their dogs Copenhagen!
Best wishes,
Eleanor Dudar
TDSB EcoSchools
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