SFDCI just one of two gold-certified Ontario EcoSchools
Posted Jun 24, 2010 By EMC News
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EMC News - Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute is one of just three Upper Canada District School Board schools to receive Ontario EcoSchools certifications for creating and participating in a variety of innovative, environmentally-aware projects throughout the school year.
Kathy Botham, Smiths Falls EMC
It was a rock 'n' roll Sunday morning service at Trinity United Church on Sunday. The church choir was joined by the bands ESP and The Good Lads. Here, ESP lead singer Claire Porter (right) belts out a tune along with the Trinity church choir.
SFDCI and Char-Lan District High School both received gold certifications, while South Branch Elementary School received silver. This is the second certification for SFDCI and Char-Lan and the first for South Branch.
SFDCI geography teacher and Environmental Club lead Shelley Hagan said the bronze, silver and gold certifications are designated through a point system. Schools have one year to create an environmental club that will work on a number of school-wide "greening" initiatives and collect points for each project.
The point system is divided up into six categories: Team and Leadership, Energy, Waste, School Ground Greening, Curriculum, and Environmental Stewardship and School Community.
"You have to have over 80 points to receive a gold certification but you also have to meet a certain percentage in each category," Hagan said. "Last year we had enough points for gold but we didn't have the school ground greening project. We added that project this year."
Hagan said the school ground greening project was assisted by a $1,000 Metro Green Apple School Grant. Construction technology teacher Ken Hull and art teacher Pam Craig led the construction technology students in designing and building a trellis that is now in the school yard.
"We're getting perennials and different types of plants to get different insects and improve biodiversity," she said. "Next year we want to build some outdoor benches as well as birdhouses for the local birds."
Hagan said the Environmental Club also organized a waste reduction week where members monitored waste and recycling materials, an energy audit which included turning off the lights every last Friday of the month, and a worm fundraiser which allowed the school to purchase worms for composting purposes.
"During Earth Week we held a school-wide Environmental Jeopardy as well as SFDCI's Recycled Top Model," said Hagan. "Students created costumes out of recycled materials and put on a fashion show. We have a very strong Environmental Club this year."
Hagan also noted the help from Craig and teacher Kristi Pedersen throughout the year.
"The three of us worked on everything together," she said. "I've always run the Environmental Club but when they came on board a few years ago we divided up the tasks and helped each other out."
Former South Branch vice-principal Eric Hardie, who now serves as principal at Oxford-on-Rideau Public School, said that at the beginning of the school year South Branch's grade 7 students were given the challenge of attaining an EcoSchool certification by reducing the ecological footprint at the school and in the community. The students spent the year organizing a number of green initiatives which included mailing in their Del Monte juice containers and Mr. Christie food wrappers to a company called TerraCycle which uses the materials to create bags, pencil cases and more.
The students also wrote a five-part newspaper series for the EMC newspaper, telling the community about what they had done at the school throughout the year, and offering eco-friendly tips to readers.
"This is special because the students accomplished the goal that was laid out for them at the beginning of the year," Hardie said. "The project was student-driven and it required most students to do something every day to sustain the project. They demonstrated commitment, responsibility and hard work. They all own a part of this certification."
Hagan hopes that her students can take the green ideas they learned throughout the year and use them outside of school.
"I always tell my grade 9 students that I'm not trying to get each and everyone one of you to save the world," she said. "I'm just suggesting that you do little things here and there to help the environment. Collectively, this will make a difference.
"Thinking about the environment doesn't end at 2:15 p.m.," she added. "I hope my students take these ideas home with them and use them in their lives."
Submitted by the Upper Canada District School Board.
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