GUELPH – This year, all 76 elementary and secondary schools in the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) achieved certification with the Ontario EcoSchools program, joining a growing movement of 1,900 schools across the province.
EcoSchools is an award-winning environmental education and certification program for kindergarten to Grade 12 that nurtures environmental leaders, reduces the ecological impact of schools, and builds environmentally responsible school communities.
For the 2018-19 school year, three schools achieved bronze level, 24 silver level, 43 gold level, and six platinum level.
This achievement was a joint effort among staff, students and community members who undertook initiatives to nurture student leadership and foster environmental learning and action in schools and their communities.
Certification includes achieving points by undertaking a number of diverse environmental activities. The six categories include:
– Creating Eco leadership teams;
– Minimizing waste by properly recycling and conserving paper;
– Conserving energy;
– Greening school grounds and extending classroom learning outdoors;
– Teaching lessons to increase Eco literacy; and
– Undertaking Eco event days to demonstrate stewardship and raise awareness.
The Upper Grand supports schools by promoting system-wide environmental days such as Walk to School, Take Me Outside Day, Sweater Day, Earth Hour, and Earth Week.
For more information on how the UGDSB fosters EcoSchools success, see the EcoSchools Annual Report on the website featuring the board’s Environmental Sustainability Lead, Karen Acton, sharing the Top 10 Tips to Support Schools.
“The Upper Grand DSB is very proud of the efforts of staff and students,” officials say. “Every school stands out for their dedication to environmental achievements.”
Students especially should be commended for their passion in undertaking many diverse Eco Action projects including: hosting Eco Fairs, reducing single use plastics, planting pollinator gardens, advocating for city bike lanes, recycling textiles, weaving milk bags into reusable mats, creating documentaries on wastewater concerns, hosting e-waste recycling events, organizing a town hall on climate change, and much more.
