January Newsletter Contents
1) Initial EcoReview Deadline Fast Approaching - January 31st
2) It's Cool to Walk & Roll to School
3) Landscape Design Project Creates Cross Curricular Greening for Grade 11&12 Students
4) Solar Unit Designed and Built by High School Students
5) UN Children's Painting Competition on the Environment: Life in the Forest
6) Ontario EcoSchools has a New Office and New Staff
7) Le coin FrancÉcophone - Message de la part notre Coordonnateur de
Programme Francais
8) Green Funding & Awards Opportunities

Screen capture of incomplete Initial EcoReview tracker

Screen capture of COMPLETE Initial EcoReview tracker

EcoTeams need to conduct the two EcoReviews – one assessing Energy Conservation practices and one for assessing Waste Minimization practices in their school – and input these results into Q 2.1-2.9 and Q 3.1-3.10. Entering the data well before Jan 31st ensures there will be no last minute problems!

NEW! Initial EcoReview tracker
This new function of the online application is found in the top left hand corner of the application screen. When schools have inputted results for all 19 out of 19 questions they will see a checkmark indicating that they have successfully inputted and saved their data. Once the Initial EcoReviews are completed, schools have until April 30th, the final deadline, to complete the rest of the application. Ontario EcoSchools is excited to see all the environmental achievements that have been undertaken this year by students!

It's Cool to Walk & Roll to School
Over 500 students and staff from the central mountain school of St. Marguerite d’Youville in Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board participated in International Walk to School Day in October 2010.

Students wore yellow and walked or biked to school. The school took up the challenge with the City of Hamilton’s Smart Commute Active Transportation Team in finding eco-friendly alternatives getting to school and the school won the Smart Commute Challenge.

Classes also participated in Daily Physical Activity (DPA), using walking to promote a healthier life style. The EcoTeam and HAT Healthy Action Team) arranged for a photo session where everyone helped build a human tree and held up green leaves to show their commitment to active transportation.

This is a great example of an activity combining environmental learning and action with whole school engagement. This initiative could be claimed for points toward certification in the Environmental Stewardship section of the EcoSchools program. (Please be sure your initiative meets all the criteria for full points.)

Ontario EcoSchools has a New Office and New Staff
Ontario EcoSchools is starting the new year with a new office and new staff. We are still part of the Centre for Social Innovation (a community workspace) but have moved to the Centre's new building at Bloor and Bathurst.

New additions to our team are Kaitlin Doherty, our new Program Manager, and Nate Lessnick, our new French Program Coordinator.

Catherine Mahler has moved on to the Ministry of Education and Elanor Waslander has taken her place as Program Director. Raisa Jari continues in her position as Communications Manager. This is our EcoTeam for the EcoSchools office, supporting schools and school boards across the province!

Si vous désirez être admissible au programme de certification pour 2010-2011, n’oubliez pas de soumettre les résultats de vos Éco-examens initiaux avant le 31 janvier sur le site : www.certapp.ontarioecoschools.org.

N’hésitez pas à me contacter au 416-642-5774 poste 4 ou par courriel à nlessnick (à) ontarioecoschools.org si vous requérez une aide en Français. Il me ferait un grand plaisir de vous assister, et j’anticipe avec grand enthousiasme vos questions, vos suggestions et nos discussions. 

Green Funding & Awards Opportunities

• Earth Day Canada Community Environment Fund

More funding opportunities are maintained on our website here.