Ontario EcoSchools celebrates eco-achievements in the North
At the end of last year, Ontario EcoSchools visited four new school boards to join the EcoSchools community: Near North DSB, Rainbow DSB, Algoma DSB and Keewatin Patricia DSB. Welcome to all!

On our trip to the Golden Learning Centre (GLC) in the KPDSB, we celebrated the most Northern school to certify as an EcoSchool. GLC is located 7 hrs Northwest of Thunder Bay which is about a 30 hour drive from south-central Ontario.

Students from GLC were busy all year conducting EcoReviews, composting and recycling waste as well as requesting their school board to implement a board-wide ban on single use water bottles.

Amazing work Golden Learning Centre! This year’s theme “Let’s go outside” will be launched with an outdoor activity day for the whole school.

Le coin FrancÉcophone:
ÉcoÉcoles met la main à la pâte
Nous sommes fiers d’annoncer le lancement du tout nouveau site ÉcoÉcoles de l’Ontario! Rendez-vous au www.ontarioecoschools.org/fr pour avoir accès aux nombreuses ressources pédagogiques, aux guides du programme, aux exemples de pratiques réussies et pour obtenir les renseignements nécessaires pour devenir une ÉcoÉcole certifiée en 2012.

N’hésitez pas à nous faire parvenir vos rétroactions quant aux améliorations que l’on pourrait y apporter!

Nous offrirons un atelier d’introduction à ÉcoÉcoles pour les membres du personnel enseignant de la région de l’est ontarien au bureau du CEPEO. Il s’agira d’une excellente occasion pour le réseautage et le partage d’idées pratiques. Si l’animation d’un atelier dans votre région pourrait vous intéresser, ou pour plus de renseignements, veuillez contacter nlessnick (at) ontarioecoschools.org.

An appealing event – Big Crunch
Fall brings with it many different joys, such as the first days of school and the fall harvest. What better way to kick off the school year than to participate in a “Big Crunch” event?

Schools from all over Ontario have connected with local apple orchards for this great environmental initiative.

Schools in Caledon and the GTA have taken part by giving a local, fresh, crispy delicious apple to all students in each school at a specified time (with cues from announcements). They then take a big bite of their apple together. This creates a “Great Big Crunch”.

Participating is quite simple: Organize within your school or region to coordinate the date and time of the “crunch”. Connect with a local apple orchard and have fresh local apples delivered to your school. Then share in a tasty treat that is good for the environment and you too!

Fall eco-events and grant opportunities
Here are some great opportunities to watch out for to support your EcoSchools program this fall!

• 2011 Year of the Forest: Get outside and visit your local forests to celebrate the UNESCO designated year of the forest.
• October 17-23 - Waste Reduction week – launch your waste minimization program in the 3rd week of October as a part of this important event.
• October 3-11 – Walk to school week
• November 1,2 – Webcast for David Suzuki’s Force of Nature movie.
• Evergreen: funding for school ground greening projects.
• TD Friends of the Environmen: funding for your school’s environmental initiatives.
• Staples recycle for education: enter contest by Dec. 16th for your school’s chance to win $25,000 computer lab
• Imagineaction: funding for environmental sustainability projects.
• Green CommUnity funding: apply by Oct. 13th for grants up to $5000.