Exciting things are happening at Park Dale!

May 28, 2011

Tracking Tuesdays, Earth Hour, Composting, Communicating Successes and more...

This year Sarah Wise, EarthCARE teacher lead, opened the club up to anyone in the school, and had an overwhelming response from Grade 2s! These Grade 2s are very dedicated, and have made themselves headbands that they wear all around the school in support! Each Tuesday they have Tracking Tuesdays where groups of the grade 2s (with one junior student leader) go around to the various classrooms to check the garbage, recycling, lights and computers. They have a tracking sheet that they carry around with them, and give various classrooms stickers on the chart when they achieve 4 checkmarks. The next day, older EarthCARE students who do the announcements celebrate the classrooms that received 4 checkmarks. A complete tally has been ongoing throughout the school year.

The staff and students also celebrated Earth Hour at ParkDale during the last block of the day, on Friday, March 25th. They sent a challenge to classes to extend their EarthHour for the entire last block - and many classes joined in!

They are also starting a composting program at the school, to try and reduce the garbage output. Last year they did a trial with vermicomposting, but this year, they have decided to purchase two large composting systems that will be placed in the school-yard. Composting bins will be placed in partipating classrooms, and then once or twice a week the compost will be collected by EarthCARE members. The goal is that next year they will be able to use some soil to create a veggie garden in the front of the school!

Also, Litterless lunch day was celebrated at Park Dale, and they are aiming to have several more in the upcoming months. Students regularly put articles in the newsletter about the efforts that Earth Care is doing, and share our successes! The students are also actively updating a new and exciting Earth Care bulletin board, which communicates exciting things that are happening at our school and also shares interesting information/facts.

Take a bow Park Dale staff and students for all your hard work this year!