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What is the Environmental Legacy Fund Reserve?
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The Board's Environmental Legacy Fund was approved as part of the TDSB's Go Green: Climate Change Action Plan. Two sources of money will go into the fund.
First, through reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, the TDSB has sold $1.75 million worth of carbon credits on the voluntary carbon market. This income, earned over 5 years, will be directed into the Legacy Fund.
Second, the large solar PV systems being installed on 9 TDSB schools will be connected to the electricity grid. The electricity generated will be sold to the Ontario Power Authority for a premium. The income from these projects, expected to be about $3.6 million over 20 years, will flow into the Legacy Fund as well.
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The Earl Grey EcoTeam
leaves words of encouragement for
new team members!
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With the help of a long-time parent EcoTeam member, the 2011 graduates have put together this short video clip that provides some advice and inspiration for new members to help keep their EcoSchools program going strong.
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The Rouge Valley Conservation Centre is located next to the Toronto Zoo and provides educational programs for grades K-12. |
Bonus for photography classes: A 45 minute lesson from the Henry's school of Imaging and Nature Photo Walk.
For NEW Rouge Valley education programs: call 416-282-8265 or email
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Short how-to-videos for waste-free lunches.
Check out the waste-free lunch tools available by clicking here, scroll down the page to section 2.2.
of the EcoSchools Certification Toolkit.
We also have a limited number of 11x17 Nous Recyclons posters available (FRENCH ONLY). Contact diana.suzuki@tdsb.on.ca to order all posters and resources.
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On-site Design Consultations-invaluable and essential!
Did you know?
Schools need to have a Design Consultation with Board staff before beginning project implementation.
Avoid mistakes and improve your chances of long-term success: take advantage of our experts who have intimate knowledge of the special requirements of school grounds.
Questions? |
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Great team-building
tools in our Toolkit!
| Section 1 of the Certification Toolkit has a bunch of ideas for making your team stronger, and throws in some ideas for having fun as well!!
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Greetings!
The EcoSchools central team is in full action presenting the annual fall kick-off events to inform and inspire--and be informed and inspired by!--our dedicated EcoTeams. Some elementary teachers have had the special experience of seeing their former students now in leadership roles at their high schools, a welcome reminder of how a teacher's influence continues to spread! Questions from the "parking lots" at each kick-off are forwarded to our communications team and will be posted in Academic Workspace as soon as we find the answers! Some are there already--check it out! For sheer fun, try WWF's "Find your inner animal" --you may be surprised at what you are! Finally, many news items that follow have an October registration date, so if you are looking for stimulating opportunities to enrich your curriculum NOW, this isn't an issue to put aside for later reading!
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The Go Green Climate Change Action Plan
in action!
Our Board purchases four green vehicles
A sustained effort to "green the fleet" at the TDSB has begun with the August 17th approval for purchasing 13 more fuel-efficient vehicles including four that are very "green"--three hybrid vans for security staff and a small plug-in electric van for painting trades. While the greater fuel efficiency means lower gas costs and fewer greenhouse gases, they initially cost more. This purchase was made possible even in a time of budget constraints because of the Environmental Legacy Fund Reserve (see sidebar). The extra initial cost for 12 of the vehicles will be covered by this fund, and then repaid through operational savings over time.
The more expensive electric plug-in van is being purchased to give staff a first-hand chance to assess its performance and benefits. It represents an important technological breakthrough and reaffirms our future-oriented policy commitment to move continually toward greater environmental responsibility.
Here's an encouraging example for our students and staff of how the noble yet practical ideas embedded in policy are turned into action! |
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Demonstration EcoSchools
EcoSchools Section 1, Questions 1.1
Are you looking for ideas on how to bring the green initiatives at your school to a new level? Start the year off with a full day visit to a Demonstration EcoSchool and learn about best practices in organizing and running an EcoSchools program. Each visit includes a focussed observation guided by our EcoSchools Specialist and host EcoTeam, and a chance to ask questions and share ideas, as well as structured action planning for applying the learning to your own school context. Full-day teacher release is provided for 2 teachers.
To register: from a TDSB networked computer click here to log in to Key-to-Learn.
Questions? contact Erin Wood at erin.wood@tdsb.on.ca or 416-697-1949.
For details on available dates, visit our Demonstration EcoSchools announcement on AW. |
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New Grade 6 Electricity resource energizes students to think about the future!
EcoSchools Section 4, Questions 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 & 4.6
Our Solar Future: Rich Performance Tasks Grade 6 Electricity offers teachers a set of activities to get students thinking about the critical energy choices that lie ahead. It asks, "Will we move toward a solar age by harvesting light, or continue the path...which favours the combustion of fossil fuels?" Three different roles are outlined that give students the chance to practice re-shaping our energy future. Developed by EcoSpark and TDSB staff, including teacher contributions and Steve Bibla as a lead writer, this resource will soon be available at ecoschools.ca. To order a print copy, email diana.suzuki@tdsb.on.ca.
This resource will be supported by a Science and Technology kit starting in January when the kit will be available through MediaNet. Use the quick search function, and limit format to Science and Technology Kit (ST).
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Planet in Focus at the ROM Oct 11-13
EcoSchools Section 4, Questions 4.3, 4.5 & 4.6
Take your class to the movies...and stay for a visit to the ROM!
Oct 11 am Truck Farm (grow your own food--elem)
Oct 11 pm Fairy Kings: If Trees Could Talk (sec)
Oct 12 am Solartaxi: Around the World with the Sun (sr elem/ms/sec)
Oct 12 pm The Polar Explorer (sr elem/ms/sec)
Oct 13 am The Clean Bin Project SOLD OUT!
Oct 13 pm The Ailing Queen--francais (bee crisis in Quebec) (sec)
Cost: $7 per student; teachers free
Full day at the ROM: Additional $8
To register click here
More details are available here.
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TD Friends of the Environment Foundation/
Earth Day Canada art contest (Grades 1-8)  EcoSchools Section 4, Questions 4.1 & 4.2
Students are invited to submit an original piece of art to share their love of nature on 8.5"x11" paper in at least two colours (crayon, coloured pencils, paint or any combination). Images only-no words or phrases. Deadline for submissions: October 14th, 2011
For more information about prizes and contest rules visit, TDFEF.
To download the registration form click here.
A panel of judges will select 10 semi-finalists and the public will choose the grand prize winner through an online vote.
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Capture local wilderness experience through visual art
EcoSchools Section 4, Questions 4.2, 4.3 & 4.5
"Fall for the Rouge" Oct 3-21, 2011
Rouge Valley Conservation Centre
Take a 45 minute guided Nature Walk:
Bring your class to the Rouge Valley to experience the awe of fall colours.
Then, express the experience through visual art: Students are given time to create a "Fall for the Rouge" entry--film, photography, sketching, painting, pastels.
One winner will be chosen from each school. Grand prize winner (selected from finalists as voted on by the public) will receive a DSLR camera from Henry's. All entries will be on display throughout October at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre.
Cost: $8 per student; teachers free. All grade levels welcome.
(A limited number of cameras available for use on site.)
To book a visit: Call 416-282-8265 or email education@rvcc.ca
Year-round programs: Click here for descriptions of the wide range of education programs for all grades in this nearby wilderness.
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Waste Reduction Week October 17-21:
Take the Waste-free Lunch Challenge
 EcoSchools Section 2.2, Questions 2.2.1; Section 4, Question 4.5 One of the best ways to reduce your schools' immediate impact is to bring waste-free lunches. The Waste-free Lunch Challenge invites elementary school's across Ontario to go waste-free for a whole week during Waste Reduction Week. By October 7th: Register your class or your whole school Before October 17th: Measure lunch waste produced on a normal day. October 17th-21st: Measure lunch waste produced each day during the week. By October 28th: Submit your entry form with your results and a brief summary of your experience. For details: (including prize information!) Click here. Additional teacher resources can be found here. |
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Climate Spark Social Venture Challenge
EcoSchools Section 4, Questions 4.2, 4.3 & 4.5
The Climate Spark Challenge: $500,000 in funding for ventures that can help cool our climate and our city.
Two ways to participate:
(1) Enter your venture in the online challenge for a chance to win expert coaching and funding.
(2) Become a Climate Spark reviewer to help choose the best climate solutions, and earn chances to win great prizes.
For more details and to enter, click here.
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Walk to school with Chris McKhool!!!
EcoSchools Section 4, Questions 4.3, 4.5 & 4.6; Section 5, Question 5.2
Toronto's exuberant eco-troubadour Chris McKhool is giving schools free use of his Walk and Roll mp3 and lyrics. One of the great hits of Chris's in-school concerts, this tune might be a great way to add pizzazz to your walk-to-school campaign and make the connection to energy conservation!! Chris is an award-winning singer-songwriter whose shows have drawn rave reviews from school audiences. For over a decade, Chris has taken his audience beyond the 3 R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) to a new level of understanding our global connection to forests, air, water and animals. Everyone leaves with the feeling that they can really make a difference!
For the link to WALK AND ROLL mp3, lyrics, and for booking Chris's school concerts, visit http://www.fiddlefire.com.
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Kids' World of Energy program: Renewable energy workshops and excursions
EcoSchools Section 4, Questions 4.3 & 4.5; Section 5, Question 5.6
TREC Education's Kids' World of Energy program offers inquiry-based workshops and excursions based on the grades 5, 6, 7, and 9 Science and Technology curriculum. Students investigate electricity generation and the effects of energy consumption. Excursions bring students up close to solar and wind generation projects in the city--a unique way to experience the power of renewable energy.
Cost: $165 per class
For more information: www.treceducation.ca or 416-977-5093.
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What is Nature Worth?
EcoSchools Section 4, Questions 4.3, 4.4 & 4.5
Here's an irresistible WWF 3 minute video describing nature's "services" and challenging us to think about their economic worth.
Helping students understand how to make the economic argument for preserving nature to hard-headed business people might help to create better informed and more powerful environmental citizens!
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From the editors' desk...
New beginnings
Last year's Earl Grey EcoTeam members made a video to celebrate their achievements and encourage the next generation of EcoSchools leaders at their school and beyond. Their central message is about developing a strong new team that will continue to build on the legacy of past work. (Click on the sidebar link above and see if showing the video at your own team meeting might spark a discussion!) Our own central team has seen several changes this year: Pam Miller is our new EcoSchools Instructional Leader, and three new TDSB/Evergreen staff have been appointed to essential work --Lisa Fisk, Ecoliteracy Facilitator, Gail Bornstein, School Ground Design Consultant and Diana Suzuki, Digital Learning and Communications. We are excited at the prospect of these combined talents building on the legacy of past teams, and look forward to a great year supporting you in the field!
Best wishes,
Eleanor Dudar and Jenn Vetter
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