Erin Public School is among the gifted few.
It is one of 10 schools across Canada to receive $25,000 for new computers as a result of local recycling efforts.
Staples Canada, in collaboration with Earth Day Canada, recently announced the winning schools in the 2014 Recycle for Education Computer Lab Contest.
The contest asked publicly-funded elementary and secondary schools across Canada to submit an entry detailing their environmental initiatives for a chance to win one of 10 $25,000 grants toward a new computer lab or technologies. Close to 700 schools entered.
Erin Public School Principal Peter LeBlanc was ecstatic about the win. He explained Grade 6 teacher Kathy Dykstra submitted the application for the contest, highlighting many of the recycling and “green” initiatives at Erin Public School.
“We are an Eco-school three years running, capturing Eco-Gold status in 2012 and 2013,” said LeBlanc. “We have reduced our waste by 75 per cent in the last four years.”
He said the school’s waste is tracked on a weekly basis and the mass produced is tabulated by age group and charted in the front lobby.
“We have also reduced paper use and copying costs by 40% since 2012. We have replaced all of our water fountains with refillable water bottle stations. We encourage ‘Waste-Free Wednesdays,’ an initiative overseen by Mrs. Dykstra.”
He noted other Erin PS teachers, including teacher-librarian Mrs. Rowe and the kindergarten team of Mrs. Barth, Mrs. Lush and Mrs. Ly add compost to the garden and mulch to the front yard and also hatch and spawn salmon.
LeBlanc also said,
“Perhaps our biggest initiative is our newest one. Our Grade 6 Water Rockers oversee the ‘Blue W’ program in the Town of Erin … (and) encourage businesses to support customers and community members by allowing people to come into their business and fill up their refillable water bottles.”
He said 100% of Main Street businesses in Erin support the Blue W program.
On May 8 Staples held a surprise meeting with the Water Rockers, where they unveiled the plaque declaring Erin Public School had won the $25,000 contest.
“Our next step is to provide our students, staff and school council with input around our tech plan for the winnings. After all, we worked together to win,” said LeBlanc.
In a press release, Steve Matyas, president of Staples Canada said, “This is our fourth year running the Recycle for Education Computer Lab Contest and we are more inspired than ever by the schools’ passion for environmental education.”
Deborah Doncaster, president of Earth Day Canada, said, “The opportunity to see what some of the schools are doing in Canada was great, there is so much more going on than we could have ever imagined or hoped for.”
Staples Canada and Bullfrog Power will also power the computer labs and new technology with 100% clean, pollution-free energy for one year.
HP Canada also gave each school one free HP Pavilion Touch Notebook, and an HP LaserJet Pro 400 Printer.
TakingITGlobal (TIG), will also provide professional development for an educator at each school, with a session on environmental collaboration.
