This year, schools across the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) are certifiably green.
A record 100 per cent of schools in the board were certified with the Ontario EcoSchools program, joining a growing movement of 1,900 schools across the province.
Ontario EcoSchools works with 58 school boards to nurture student leadership and foster environmental learning and action in schools. Certification is based on a provincial standard of excellence and reaches 1,000,000 students across Ontario.
“UGDSB is proud to be part of this growing network and supports ongoing environmental practices in schools,” officials state.
This year, all of the board’s 76 schools were certified, allowing UGDSB to reach its goal of 100% one year earlier than planned.
“One of the strengths of the program is that it fosters student leadership, empowering our youth to take action and encourage others towards positive change,” said Karen Acton, environmental sustainability lead for the UGDSB.
“Each year as the movement grows in our board, we are inspired by the dedication and passion shown by staff, students and parents at all our schools, in their commitment to caring for and protecting our future.”
UGDSB officials say there are many schools that stand out for exceptional achievements, including Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute (GCVI), which, after achieving gold EcoSchools certification for five years, has achieved platinum status.
Officials say the schools’ many achievements include a 10-year plan to transform the high school campus into an arboretum with more than 120 different species of trees, many with labelled descriptions, as well as an outdoor classroom showcasing sustainable construction and landscaping techniques.
Another of GCVI’s successes was helping the board tackle a significant energy conservation problem.
Another example of an exceptional UGDSB EcoSchool, officials say, is Hylands Heights Elementary School. The Hyland Heights EcoTeam members, in partnership with the MeToWe group, worked hard to raise school awareness through school-wide events such as the Great Big Crunch, textile and battery recycling campaigns.
Their Golden Trash and Recycling Bin Awards helped students reduce waste in a compelling, fun way. Even the community was involved in their EcoSchools success, with families offering to help with summer garden maintenance, in exchange for fresh produce.
For the 2017-18 school year, eight schools in UGDSB achieved bronze level, 19 silver, 45 gold and four platinum. In 2014, UGDSB created a five-year Environmental Sustainability Action Plan and a key goal was to have all 76 schools in the board certify as an EcoSchool within the five-year timeframe.
Visit www.ontarioecoschools.org/media/ for more information and for a full list of certified schools across the province.
