ECO Schools will be held this year at the beautiful Caboto Club. We’re in the Windsor Room downstairs and the room is ready to go. For three hours of the student and teacher time, literally weeks have gone into the preparation for today. Yesterday, Don and I started setup about 1:00pm and I left at 6:30pm. Facility Services and Media Services were still doing their setup and Don was going through last minute details with his ECO team. No idea when he went home.
The place looks great.
This morning, we have reps from Riverside, Sandwich West, Sandwich, Century, Lakeshore Discovery, Eastwood, Western, Mout Carmetl-Blytheswood, LaSalle, Talbot Trail, PASS, Forest Glade, Hetherington, Concord, and Taylor in attendance. In addition to the schools, there will be participants from the TD Bank, Point Pelee, Essex Region Conservation Authority, and the Ojibway Nature Centre.
There are round tables for the audience, displays, a stage with a couple of screens and four SMART Board stations positioned strategically around the room. There are smaller breakout rooms ready but less setup was required for them. Looks like it’s a go – all we need are the participants.
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April 23, 2008 at 7:43 am
First challenge handled. The coffee makers flipped the circuit breaker.
April 23, 2008 at 7:55 am
Just went looking to find the breakout rooms and found the Bocciodromo and the Library. Wow, what facilities.
April 23, 2008 at 8:12 am
Doug,
Take care of those Smart Boards for us! Have a great day!
April 23, 2008 at 8:18 am
Riverside wins the award for the first to show up.
April 23, 2008 at 8:26 am
Hi Doug,
All week we’ll be turning off the lights period 5 in honour of Earth Week!! I hear there is a fantastic puppet show featuring Mr. Ribbet planned at the ECO schools presentation. Watch for it:-)
Have a great day!
April 23, 2008 at 8:27 am
We will take care of them, Johanna. It would be impolite to not recognize the generosity of Talbot Trail in donating three boards for the event. Talbot Trail has been the answer to a lot of SMART Board questions this year.
April 23, 2008 at 8:28 am
Mr. RRRbit has just given us the 5 minute warning before we get started.
April 23, 2008 at 8:30 am
Oh no! I forgot to turn off the screensaver on one of the computers. Fixed.
April 23, 2008 at 8:32 am
And we’re off. Bob Garrett is welcoming the group and going through all of the materials on the tables so that everyone knows. Thanks to the TD Friends of the Environment.
April 23, 2008 at 8:33 am
Some tables are one tree short. They brought an extra student so there are more trees in the back!
April 23, 2008 at 8:35 am
Cards are at the table to help with the organization of the breakout sessions. “Student Theme Gardens”, “Student Woodlands and Wetlands”, “Student Learning Centres”, “Theme Gardens”, “Learning Centres”.
April 23, 2008 at 8:36 am
Trustee Burgess is welcoming the group and outlining the benefits to the board but in the bigger scheme of things this has long term effects. Maintain what we have established; don’t forget the good things that have happened in the previous two years.
April 23, 2008 at 8:38 am
By next summer, all school yards will be pesticide free. Encouragement to stick to the program and look forward to seeing greening in all schools.
April 23, 2008 at 8:39 am
Way to go Benson. BTW, I saw Mr. RRRbit’s dress rehearsal yesterday!
April 23, 2008 at 8:40 am
Bob Garrett back at the podium. Talking about atmosphere and the cumulative effects of actions. They can be both positive and negative. What will you do?
April 23, 2008 at 8:41 am
Will eating one salmon make a difference? Yes. Someone will eat the last salmon.
April 23, 2008 at 8:43 am
One person won’t make much of a difference turning out one light bulb. If everyone is on board, it makes an impact.
We need everyone making a daily impact and accumulate the results. Coal reactor versus nuclear reactor. Everything has an impact.
April 23, 2008 at 8:44 am
We need to keep wise decisions and remind everyone weekly.
April 23, 2008 at 8:49 am
Al Cook on the stage. What we’ve done as a school board.
Third year of implementation – We’ve adopted it as a full fledged program at GECDSB. Holistic approach as a board.
2006 – focus on energy – Phase 1
2007 – waste guide – Phase 2
2008 – greening phase – Phase 3
2009 – certification – Phase 4
Focus on the best practices that we’re doing as a board.
April 23, 2008 at 8:50 am
It’s all about partnerships. Eco teams are critical to the success of the program.
April 23, 2008 at 8:53 am
Giuliana Hinchliffe – talking about energy and components for energy saving in the schools.
Building upgrades – high efficiency boilers and lighting
How we operate buildings – turn off systems when nobody is in the school
Occupant behaviour – low flow water facets, air conditioners – choices that the occupants make inside the schools.
April 23, 2008 at 8:54 am
Graph of energy users in the schools. Lights – wow.
April 23, 2008 at 8:56 am
Utility costs between 2005 and 2006
- gas (no change)
- electric (+4.23%)
- water (+1.53%)
$1.43 in 2005
$1.34 in 2006
Cost savings despite utility prices going up.
April 23, 2008 at 9:02 am
Used to be true that water was cheaper here than elsewhere. Sewer surcharge and water charge level really increase the price.
600 refrigerators cost more to run than 2,296 computers
Huge savings if you turn off computers and air conditioners when they are not in use.
April 23, 2008 at 9:03 am
We have 16 refrigerators in one of our elementary schools
April 23, 2008 at 9:05 am
The challenge – are we using the things that are plugged in intelligently? Can we turn this things off more frequently?
Hopefully, we will be able to provide Eco teams and principals information about electricity in real time so that decisions can be made.
April 23, 2008 at 9:08 am
Jonathon Hanson – Waste Audit Report – showing some pictures of waste. We should bring in recyclable containers and avoid containers that can’t be recycled.
We should send home lunches that aren’t eated by students as opposed to throwing them in the garbage.
Old computers to Computers for Kids.
April 23, 2008 at 9:10 am
What goes in the blue box? What goes in the red box? What can go into composting? If you don’t have a compost program, start one!
April 23, 2008 at 9:11 am
Jonathon will visit schools to do student presentations.
April 23, 2008 at 9:13 am
I hear birds.
April 23, 2008 at 9:20 am
Don Fay – Video about why we need human engagement in the world that we’re given.
Video filmed at http://www.westcave.org
April 23, 2008 at 9:21 am
“Nature Deficit Disorder”
“I like to play indoors because that’s where all the electrical outlets are”
April 23, 2008 at 9:23 am
There is an eighth intelligence – Nature Intelligence
April 23, 2008 at 9:26 am
Why a greening project?
EDUCATION
Shade – UV protection
Energy Conservation
—Cooling, Heating, Maintenance
April 23, 2008 at 9:28 am
Greening project has to be embedded in the school culture.
We need a game plan for a project that is integral to the part of the school.
How to do it? Good planning.
April 23, 2008 at 9:30 am
Elements of Good Planning
School Culture
Education
Community
Mapping (Site Analysis)
Naturalization versus Beautification
April 23, 2008 at 9:31 am
Curriculum is in the packages
—Guide
—School aerial images
April 23, 2008 at 9:32 am
Who would you bring into the process from your community?
April 23, 2008 at 9:33 am
Every school needs to do a site analysis. It’s a long term project that has a legacy that can be turned over to future generations.
April 23, 2008 at 9:34 am
Breaking up into teams to work at the SMART Boards and analyze school environments.
April 23, 2008 at 9:34 am
Lots of chair movement!
April 23, 2008 at 9:46 am
Hi,
Sounds like lots of great learning. Not sure what happened to our Ecoschool designation – no teacher rep this year??
Our biggest problem is too much recyclables for the containers – then we have to put them in the garbage bin. Any solutions suggested?? H&S and firemarshalls limit where we can store things in hallways. That too is a problem. Especially at old schools with lots of stairs.
Cool live blogging, Doug! Are you going to twitter too?!
Have a great day,
Alison
April 23, 2008 at 9:52 am
Hi Doug,
Very interesting blog. Anything on the agenda concerning air conditioning?
April 23, 2008 at 10:07 am
Didn’t get a chance to edit for a while. I got up and someone stole my chair!
April 23, 2008 at 10:08 am
The groups all had a chance to experience the planning activity with the SMART Boards. There are help files attached for reference when they try it back at their schools.
April 23, 2008 at 10:08 am
Off to the breakout sessions.
April 23, 2008 at 10:14 am
Breakout sessions – Learning Centres to talk about what activities can be done in the school with the materials given. Went to the Pelee session. Amazing how the grasslands have gone away over the years. And, they had a snake. Butler snake. Endangered.
April 23, 2008 at 10:19 am
This looks like it.
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/reptile/butlersgartersnake.htm
April 23, 2008 at 10:19 am
Timing isn’t the greatest. Looks like we’re 30 minutes behind.
April 23, 2008 at 10:26 am
Interesting butterfly stories
April 23, 2008 at 10:27 am
Finally found the wetlands session. There were all kinds of activities dealing with mathematics, science, social studies, etc. Awesome background sounds.
Talked about Carolinian plants.
http://www.rbg.ca/rare/epo_car.htm
April 23, 2008 at 10:32 am
Good advice – make sure that your native plants are native to this area. Don’t buy prairie seeds that aren’t native to us.
April 23, 2008 at 10:33 am
Interesting blog Doug. What is happening with recycling in non-residential facilities? As a board, we often hold workshops and meetings off-site, and few of these facilities have recycling programs in place.
April 23, 2008 at 10:33 am
It was stressed so strongly that planning and mapping is crucial for success. You need to know exactly where your traffic areas are located so that you make intelligent decisions. Good advice.
April 23, 2008 at 10:35 am
Each table is getting another green bag of resources during the break.
April 23, 2008 at 10:36 am
Mr. RRRbit is practicing his song and script for after the breakout sessions.
April 23, 2008 at 10:51 am
Student getting warmed up to demonstrate his SMART Board skills for the television cameras.
April 23, 2008 at 10:52 am
Don Fay – only one ever piece of broken equipment on Fighting Island – broken bug jar.
April 23, 2008 at 10:57 am
Everyone is returning from the break.
April 23, 2008 at 11:00 am
Everyone is going through their goodie bag.
April 23, 2008 at 11:01 am
Bob Garrett is calling us back to order and is drawing attention to the “Wall of Fame”. Everyone is invited to send their own pictures for next year.
April 23, 2008 at 11:03 am
Bob Garrett is calling us back to order and is drawing attention to the “Wall of Fame”. Everyone is invited to send their own pictures for next year.
Vince Perta is talking about the certification process – gold, silver, bronze.
April 23, 2008 at 11:04 am
In addition, GECDSB has a “Leaping Forward” program to recognize Eco school programs plus GECDSB expectations.
April 23, 2008 at 11:04 am
Components
Five Step Process
Energy Conservation
Waste Immunization
School Ground Greening
Curriculum
April 23, 2008 at 11:06 am
Action Plan – where have we been and where are we going?
Documentation
- two sets of EcoReviews – 50 schools receive cheques to acknowledge that they’ve completed the process
- minutes of Eco Team Meetings
April 23, 2008 at 11:07 am
As schools participate, the savings will be used for incentives.
April 23, 2008 at 11:09 am
Looking for six Pilot Schools to look at the Eco Schools plan.
April 23, 2008 at 11:11 am
Looking for six Pilot Schools to look at the Eco Schools plan.
We have 50 schools that could be certified today. Let’s aim for 78 for next year.
April 23, 2008 at 11:13 am
I’ll ask Don about Lisa’s question when I get a chance.
April 23, 2008 at 11:16 am
Can’t wait to visit Mr. RRRibit tomorrow afternoon. Sounds like our ECO frog has gone hi tech.
April 23, 2008 at 11:16 am
We’ve branded Eco schools with the face of Mr. RRRbit.
April 23, 2008 at 11:17 am
Interview with Mr. RRRbit. Fast food in the swamp is entirely different. If you’re not fast, you’re food.
April 23, 2008 at 11:20 am
In the green bag…
—forgot the garbage bags
—envirocubes
—bookmarks that you can plant
—lanyards
—caribeners (sp?)
—water bottles
—gel bracelets
April 23, 2008 at 11:22 am
Superintendent Snider – how do you follow Mr. RRRbit?
April 23, 2008 at 11:24 am
Always look for a recycle box. Even with coffee cups. He’s driving home the concept that it has to be part of your culture. He’s right.
April 23, 2008 at 11:26 am
Incentives for: Begley, Eastwood, Forest Glade, LaSalle, Mount Carmel-Blytheswood, Sandwich Secondary and Western.
April 23, 2008 at 11:26 am
Thanks from the Senior Administration.
April 23, 2008 at 11:26 am
Every elementary school gets their own Mr. RRRbit puppet.
April 23, 2008 at 11:27 am
Invitation to lunch. The morning is over.
April 23, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Hey Doug,
Thanks for the recap on the morning. I had a great time and it got me all fired up to get our EcoSchools club going again at our school.
Charlotte
April 24, 2008 at 11:06 am
This blog is a great way to find out what went on and what it was all about, for those who didn’t go. The related web links make it even more useful.
Thanks, Doug, for allowing us a virtual visit.
April 25, 2008 at 7:02 am
Thanks everyone who dropped in and left a note. I just reviewed the blog and noticed a couple of typos. Not too many given what I was doing. In addition to typing this text, I was running around assisting here and there, especially with the SMART Boards.
I’ll fix the typos this weekend.
May 5, 2008 at 8:19 pm
[...] the ECO schools event, I lived blogged the first morning session. You can read about it here and a couple of days later, I posted pictures here. It was cool to see some people jump into the [...]
January 14, 2009 at 7:08 pm
[...] recap the events from last year, I live blogged here. A discussion of the planning happened here. And, pictures of the event were posted [...]