We are getting a lot of inquiries about what may happen with EcoSchools this year. Many teachers have expressed their strong feelings of being torn about what to do.   

Think of your school staff as an ecosystem. The whole is affected by the behaviour of its individual parts. How can you keep that system healthy? Deciding to participate in the program in some cases might be harmful to staff relations, and--among other things--affect the long-term success of EcoSchools at your school as well as being very uncomfortable right now. This is not an easy decision for anyone. Only you can know what is best for your school. We will support you in whatever choice you make.  

We know that your commitment to the values of the program will remain strong. Your own well-being as well as the longer-term prospects for embedding EcoSchools are more important. What can be implemented without question is the curriculum component (program Section 4). The Ontario Curriculum offers many opportunities to build students' ecological literacy through student investigations, problem-solving, and expression through the arts, as well as direct teaching. This issue lists a wealth of curriculum resources, including some programs that come right to the school!

EcoSchools Section 4: Questions 4.5, 4.6, 4.7; Section 5: Question 5.6 

Poster created by Jackman students

Last spring teacher Paul Cressman and his grade 3-4 class decided that there had to be a way to get those clear hard plastic clamshells (think berries!) recycled. Students' letters to City councillors urged action, while others created posters and collected and built an enormous clamshell castle for the Spring Fair. To everyone's delight, the response was very positive. Students were told that their plea has helped to speed up the City's plan to re-fit the recycling machinery so that the clamshells can be recycled. What a neat way for these students at Jackman's active EcoSchool to make their mark! Read the Toronto Star story for more details. 

To the dismay of the Bethune EcoTeam, in June the school's budget secretary Karen Tenn was reassigned to Stephen Leacock CI. "We will not realize how much she has done for us behind the scenes until she is gone," one teacher said. During Karen's time at Bethune the school increased its purchase of 100% recycled paper to 50% of the school's total paper order--no easy task at a school of 1225 students in cash-strapped times!   

Karen modestly says it's all part of her work. For example, she sees tracking paper use as a way to keep people informed and keep costs down. "It doesn't take a special effort--here at Bethune I'm surrounded by environmental action all the time. It feels good to be a part of it all. And I'm a passionate recycler at home--why wouldn't I do it at school too?" Best wishes at your new school Karen--keep up your great work.   

Saluting the dedication of Karen Tenn seemed a good moment to pay tribute not only to Karen, but to all our dedicated EcoTeam admin staff members. People in this role can make a huge difference in reducing a school's use of resources!  

Many thanks to teachers Janet Sedgwick, Diana Will, Josi Thompson, and Vega Lee who submitted their one-page reviews of books that they won in our June book draw. Edited versions appear on the EcoSchools AW site.  

We're planning to add the other reviews as they come in!

There aren't enough of us to visit schools! To share as much as possible we've developed new resources with a lot of our schools' ideas for EcoSchools action. They're chock full of pictures, which make them especially accessible for your student EcoTeam members. All are available on our website. (We wish we had the money to print them for you!)

Best Practices
The richness of this 74-page resource will provide food for thought and ideas for action for years to come! Photos are accompanied by brief descriptions of the purpose and impact of each activity, plus tested implementation ideas. This must-see resource needs to be widely distributed! Take a look right now--we predict you'll love it! Be patient, this resource may download slowly. 

Portfolio Requirements

This short guide describes the 17 requirements that our auditors will need to see. Examples come from schools at different certification levels and grades and represent a complete Portfolio Binder. A short rationale accompanies the photos for each example making it an excellent  resource for staff and students alike. Available online.

Getting ready for Your Certification Audit:  The Look-fors

Photos illustrate the audit "look-fors" and ways that schools have communicated about their work. Includes a list of tools from the Certification Toolkit that can help with specific tasks.

 EcoSchools Section 4: Questions 4.2, 4.3   

Some of TRCA's free Watershed on Wheels (WOW)  programs are still available. With most of its programs, WOW comes right to your school! For WOW programs at a glance: see the Education through Exploration guide, pages 18-19.

Programs usually run from 9:00-11:30 a.m., or 12:30-3:00 p.m. Most programs require at least two classes at a time. Whole day bookings are preferred. 

Booking: A few spots left in December, January, February. First-come; first-served. Best to book by phone.  

Contact Keren Bromberg 416-661-6600 x 5623.  

EcoSchools Section 4: Questions 4.2, 4.3
 
The Big Toronto Area River Study (formerly Changing Currents):

In this very popular half-day EcoSpark field trip (grades 8-12), students will wade into their local watershed (hip waders supplied) and learn about watershed science. EcoSpark staff will provide the expertise, the equipment, and lots of in-class resources. Teacher training is required first. Check out the teacher area for more information and registration details. Students can visit the student area to get a head start on what the program has to offer and learn about possible projects
.

Questions about the River Study program? Contact Holly Brose.

 
Wattwize: Your EcoTeam (elementary or secondary) will be paired with an EcoSpark conservation coach to help you assess electricity use and decrease consumption in your school, create a student-led conservation campaign, implement the plan, and recive help in measuring success. The teacher area will give you more information about Wattwize and how to register. The student area gives students a chance to learn about where electricity comes from and its environmental impacts. 

Questions about Wattwize? Contact Laurie Kassabian.  

Students like challenges! Here's one to help schools decrease the amount of lunchtime garbage they produce and educate about waste reduction.  

All elementary classes and schools (JK-8) are eligible to win prizes. Choose whether to register one classroom or the ENTIRE school.  

Register by October 12, 2011 at www.wastefreelunch.com to participate.  

For more information and excellent resources (including short how-to videos), visit the website.

Planet in Focus Environmental Film Festival 

EcoSchools Section 4: Questions 4.3, 4.5, 4.6

2012 School Festival Program 

TUES OCT 9 
10:00 am - The Water Brothers: Bottlegate and The Big Thaw. Suitable for elementary, middle, and secondary grades.

1:00 pm - The Green Mind [English subtitles] (local food, building from recycled materials, organic gardening French immersion. Suitable for middle and secondary grades.

WED OCT 10 
10:00 pm - Le Noel de Walter et Tandoori  (animation) [English subtitles] French immersion. Suitable for elementary grades.
1:00 PM - YERT: Your Environmental Road Trip. Suitable for middle and secondary grades. 

THURS OCT 11
10:00 am - World's Saviours 3.0 with The Pipedreams Project. Suitable for secondary grades.
1:00 pm - Chasing Ice. Suitable for elementary, middle and secondary grades. 

Cost: $5 per student; teachers/chaperones free 

Register your class for a screening here.

For more information, email schoolprogram@planetinfocus.org 

EcoSchools Section 4: Questions 4.4-4.7  

On October 22nd Humberside CI's Environmental Action Team (HEAT) is hosting a screening of the new film Peace Out with its director Charles Wilkinson in attendance. The film investigates three mega-energy projects along the Peace River and asks "What price are we willing to pay for our consumption?" The film looks for an answer that involves all sides of the projects. A 60-minute version of the film will be followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion where students can learn more first-hand from the director himself and further explore the issues with panelists, including representatives of industry and government. Awarded the Special Jury Prize, Canadian Feature at the 2012 Hot Docs festival.

Potential audience: students taking Environmental & Resource Management CGR 4M1, Canadian & World Issues CGW 4U1 and EcoTeam members with a special interest in this area. Suitable for senior students.

Location: Humberside CI
Time: Monday, October 22, 8:50 am - 11:15 am
For more information and to register: Email Tina McPhee or by phone at 416-393-8122 x 20075.

EcoSchools Section 4    

In June EcoSchools purchased a bulk subscription of Green Teacher for all EcoSchools e-newsletter subscribers which also includes access to its new fall webinar series.
As an additional benefit, you will have unrestricted access to all of GT's many archived webinars.

We have been asked to protect the small revenue stream that comes from subscribers, which is why we do not publish user name and password to non-TDSB accounts.

Contact Diana Suzuki if you have a TDSB account so that we can share this resource with you. 

EcoSchools Section 4: Questions 4.4, 4.5, 4.7

Developed by teachers, this innovative, web-based module will include lessons and activities designed to address the Grade 10 unit. The module will provide opportunities for students to connect with climate change researchers and leaders through ask-an-expert and videoconference features. And it's free!  

An initial set of 8 lessons will be available September 28, 2012 on COOL 2.0, a collaborative online community for teaching and learning about climate change.   

Greenlearning is looking for teachers to implement the new module. For more information, please contact Gordon Harrison. 

A new school year brings a new "kick-off" season!

And no, it's not football. The annual half-day p-d "kick-off" sessions for all 426 certified EcoSchools are now underway. This year all elementary events are located in schools, running from September through October. Early reaction is very favourable indeed--not only are the groups somewhat smaller, but people are also closer to their own schools. Secondary schools' student-focussed sessions take place in November. (Watch for e-mail notices.) Every year is different, and this one features our new student-friendly easy-to-read resources (mentioned above) as well as planning time for teams. There's something for novice and veteran alike. The team looks forward to the sessions to come! 

Eleanor Dudar, Jenn Vetter, and Diana Suzuki