HPEDSB schools celebrate 'Earth Hour'!

April 6, 2009

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have had the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off their lights as a vote for Earth, or leaving them on as a vote for global warming.

This years' Earth Hour has been taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you were from, but instead, what planet you 're from.

And we did our part in Hastings and Prince Edward School District.

Pinecrest Memorial Elementary had members of the leadership team visit classes to explain the importance of Earth Hour and that their school would give twice as much. All the building lights (minus emergency lighting) were turned off from 7:30 am– 8:30 am and 9:30 am-10:30 am.

The students at North Hastings High School in Bancroft created an ad campaign for Earth Hour. They put up posters throughout the school to draw attention to the date and created 'countdown to Earth Hour' announcements to remind students to participate. The school also registered as an Earth Hour school to boost participation.

Bayside Public School turned off all of its lights (in all three buildings) from noon to one o'clock. Computer monitors and televisions (often used over the lunch hour) were turned off as well. Students in all three divisions took home an (optional) homework assignment which involved illustrating "How I Spent My Earth Hour" in order to help them remember to celebrate Earth Hour on Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30. Completed homework posters were collected on Monday with one prize per each division awarded.

Prince Charles Public School in Belleville asked all the Earthcare reps to read a statement about the Earth Hour to each of their classes. When classmates were asked to promise to talk to their parents, more than 93 pledges were received immediately. Teachers were asked to practise for a few minutes in the classes on Friday to live without electricity. Students also read announcements for 2 days to remind the students about Earth Hour.

Tyendinaga Public School participated by having all non-emergency lights out from 2:30 - 3:30 Friday. Some classes chose to do an "Earth Walk" during part of that hour, walking around the perimeter of the schoolyard, thinking about other ways to reduce energy consumption. The Gr. 5 class used an excellent book Winston of Churchill (a polar bear protest against global warming in Churchill, Manitoba) to promote discussion about climate change, global warming, and energy conservation (the power of ONE!). This book then circulated to other classes in the school, and the library technician displayed other books about environmental issues. Students in an Intermediate class suggested that after reading the book the lights be turned out immediately and half of the lights be kept off for the rest of the day. Yellow LOCO (Lights Off; Computer Off) signs were displayed near the light switches in every room in the school.

North Trenton Public School turned off both their lights and computers on Friday from 9:00 am to 10:00. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community-a call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. I believe we did out part in HPEDSB.