Greening up the Near North District School Board

Near North District School Board
News Release

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In response to today’s vital need to be environmentally conscious, the Near North District School Board has formed an Environmental Committee. The committee is investigating environmental programs that could be implemented into the schools and in turn develop awareness of ecological and environmental issues amongst students, staff and school communities.

The Near North District School Board is currently seeking ministry funding for environmental education initiatives. In June 2007 the Minister of Education committed to move forward on the 32 recommendations outlined in the report of the Working Group on Environmental Education, Shaping Our Schools, Shaping Our Future. The report may be found on the Ministry website at: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/curriculumcouncil/shapingSchools.pdf.

The recommendations support the government’s commitment to improving environmental education in Ontario schools, and help ensure that our students are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and perspectives they need to become engaged and environmentally responsible citizens. Some of the recommendations are centred around supporting innovative school and board based environmental education programs and projects. For example:

• supporting school boards in developing board-wide environmental education programs and monitoring their development and implementation.

• identifying and supporting opportunities to engage students in environmental action projects related to elementary and secondary curriculum.

• providing professional learning for teachers with a focus on environmental content/knowledge, teaching in the outdoor environment, and using environmental themes.

• using the natural and human-built environments as sites of discovery and active learning, involving projects that invite problem solving, as well as first-hand experiences that put students in touch with nature.

The Near North District School Board has submitted a board wide funding proposal, in addition to 8 individual school proposals. The submissions represent over $ 44,000 in funding. Through these projects students and teachers will further expand their knowledge, skills, perspectives, and practices needed to be environmentally responsible citizens. The individual schools and school board will be notified on March 21st as to whether funding is granted for the various applications.

The Board’s proposed environmental plan, Pathways for Learning, focuses on a combination of environmental education, student ownership, community involvement and youth health/fitness that can best utilize our natural environment of Northern Ontario. The plan includes: partnerships with Discovery Routes Trails Association, Parry Sound Park to Park Trails Association and the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority; the formation of a Student Environment Senate,(SES), with representation of students from all 43 public schools; and the creation of Student Greening Councils in each school which would carry out green projects as recommended by SES.

Many rewards are expected from this plan. Students will be engaged through participatory and hands-on activities, while successfully meeting the Ministries of Education curriculum and Health Promotion expectations. Lessons would actively engage students and enhance their ability to learn concepts required in disciplines such as science, math, social studies, and the arts while exploring local trails. The creation of ‘on trail’ lessons will focus on increasing the physical activity of elementary and secondary students and encourage both teachers and students to develop a sense of environmental stewardship and ownership. In short, the Pathways for Learning program will work with these community partners with a goal to establish a strong community philosophy that promotes an active, environmentally sound lifestyle.
A number of the public schools submitted innovative proposals on ways to green their school yards by: planting trees to provide shade and improve the temperature conditions in their schools; growing various flowers and shrubs to not only beautify their environment but to attract birds, butterflies and insects to both study and enjoy. King George School plans to create an outdoor classroom space. Some schools are planning to improve or expand on their existing recycling programs and to install compost systems which students will be directly involved in operation of composting food waste and reintroducing it into the environment. MacTier School hopes to expand their butterfly garden, build birdfeeders and add trees, which will attract more wild life to their grounds and bring some of the curriculum to life for the students.

Northern Secondary School has developed a proposal, based on recommendation of the David Suzuki Foundation, to encourage eating meatless meals at least one day a week. The entire school would be invited to a free outdoor, meatless BBQ. The event would be student driven with promotional videos produced by the Communication-Technology classes, educational seminars presented by the Interdisciplinary Studies class and would also feature outdoor Eco Friendly games and live music.

Both Chippewa and F.J. McElligott Secondary Schools hope to receive some funding for participating in ecological and environmental workshops at the Canadian Ecology Centre. F.J. McElligott would use some of the funds to register students in the annual Mattawa-North Bay Regional Envirothon Competition, whereby the participants will be involved in hands-on, problem-solving activities increasing their awareness of their impact on the environment.

The Near North District School Board is proud of our schools’ resourceful ideas to move forward and improve our global environment. The board anticipates many positive outcomes from these initiatives.

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