All 76 elementary and secondary schools in the Upper Grand District School Board achieved certification with the Ontario EcoSchools program this year.
EcoSchools is an environmental education and certification program for grades K-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.
Certification includes achieving points by undertaking a number of diverse environmental activities. The six categories include: 1) Creating Eco leadership teams, 2) Minimizing waste by properly recycling and conserving paper, 3) Conserving energy, 4) Greening school grounds and extending classroom learning outdoors, 5) Teaching lessons to increase Eco literacy, 6) Undertaking Eco event days to demonstrate stewardship and raise awareness.
The Upper Grand DSB supports schools by promoting system-wide environmental days such as Walk to School, Take Me Outside Day, Sweater Day, Earth Hour, and Earth Week.
The board is commending students 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, and organizing a town hall on climate change.