In this issue...Certification upgradesEnergy Conservation: Changes tolook‐forsWaste Minimzation: New wastesorting postersFree bike racks, cycling edprograms, and water refillstationsAQ course ‐ Parts 1, 2, & 3TDSB Earth Hour ‐March 11thSchool Clean‐up DayCall for Submissions: StudentFilm FestivalCity of Toronto 3R'sAmbassadorsGreen Teacher Webinars

EcoSchools Newsletter | Volume 8 Issue 1 | February 2016

In this issue...EcoSchoolsCertification upgrades; New

Energy Conservation andWaste Minimization resources;

Enrich your EcoSchoolsprogram­­apply for free

cycling ed programs, bikeracks, and water refill stations;Subsidy for AQ courses Parts1, 2, and 3; TDSB Earth Hour,Student Environmental Film

Festival and more!

Stay connected‐‐follow us on twitter and shareyour great environmental initiatives with us!

@EcoSchoolsTDSB

ECOSCHOOLS NEWS

EcoSchools Certification­­Paperless portfolio, How­to videos, EcoLiteracy checklist and more!Paperless Portfolio feature: EcoSchools continues to promote waste minimization with the paperless portfolio option.Schools now have the ability to upload all their requirements to the online application inorder to reduce paper and fuel consumption (shipping of portfolios), and increase the timeallotted for discussion and walkabout during the site visit. Beginning in September 2017, allschools will be required to submit a paperless portfolio to the online application.

How‐to videos: Need help understanding the online application? Go to ecoshcools.ca click on Instructional videos in the left navigation bar where you willfind links to our new certification application videos!!

NEW: Application text and check‐box information is now carried over year‐to‐year!To help schools build on their EcoSchools program year‐to‐year, text and check‐boxinformation will now be brought forward from the previous year's application. Please ensurethat the answers are still relevant by reviewing the information and updating it as needed.

EcoLiteracy Checklist: The positive reviews are in! Based on your feedback, EcoSchools hasupdated the Ecoliteracy Teacher Form to a checklist format. Teachers that have used theform, are finding the new format an effortless way to indicate the ecoliteracy aspects theirattached student work highlights. Download it here or try the fillable form.

EcoTeam Members: Can now be added to your online application. Help us keep yourschools' contact information up‐to‐date and let us know who's on your team!

PROGRAM UPDATES

Energy Conservation: Changes to the look­forsEcoSchools Section 2.1: Questions 2.1.9 and 2.1.10

Based on feedback from our schools we have made revisions to energy monitoring to makeit easier and more meaningful for schools.

2.1.9: To what extent has the school conducted an energy walkabout, analyzed its energypractices to identify key areas of concern, and communicated the results of the walkaboutto the school? Supporting resources ‐ Energy Walkabout FAQ, Step‐by‐step instructions,Energy Walkabout worksheet ‐ automatically calculates results from the walkabout, andthe Energy Walkabout Step‐by‐Step Video.

2.1.10: To what extent has the school implementedtargeted energy conservation strategies bases on theresults for the energy walkabout? Supportingresources ‐ Campaign reflection worksheet.

Waste Minimization: New Waste Sorting PostersEcoSchools Section 2.2: Questions 2.2.5 and 2.2.6

As The City of Toronto expands its recycling and green bin programs to achieve its goal of70% waste diversion in 2016, proper waste sorting practices are more important than ever.To help schools put waste, recycling, and organics in the right place we have created colourwaste sorting posters that include the new plastic film materials that were added to the BlueBin Program last June.

Use these new posters to help sort waste in classrooms; hallways; cafeterias; commonareas; staff rooms and daycares. Posters can be ordered individually or in sets of three.

Questions? Contact Cynthia Chan.

ENRICH YOUR ECOSCHOOLS PROGRAM

Applications are ongoing for FREE cyclingeducation programs, bike racks, and water refillstations!New! Cycling Education Programs: Schools can now apply to have a skills‐based cyclingeducation program presented at their school in spring 2016, free of charge! All schools areeligible to apply and one cycling education program will be offered to each selected school.

Schools will be selected to receive a cycling education program on a first come, first servedbasis. For more details and to access the application form, visit the EcoSchools CyclingSupports webpage and select the Cycling Education Programs tab.

Bike Rack Program: Increase sustainable transportation at your school with new bike racksinstalled free of charge! All schools are eligible to apply, but will have to demonstrate needand evidence of prior efforts to promote sustainable transportation. Visit the Bike RackProgram webpage for more details and the application form. Deadline to apply: March 4th. Questions: Contact Kristen Evers

Active, Safe and Sustainable Transportation Initiative IdeasGet ideas on how to build a program at your school that supports active, safe, andsustainable transportation among students and staff. From targeted communications to bikerodeos, there are many ways in which you can promote sustainable transportation withinyour school and community.

Project Refill: Reduce waste andencourage drinking tap water byhaving a water bottle refill stationinstalled free of charge! Schoolsthat do not already have a waterrefill station can apply, but must beable to show a prior commitment toreduce plastic water bottle use intheir school, strong curriculum connections, as well as plans for future reductions oreducational campaigns. Past actions to reduce water bottle usage are heavily weighted. Visit the Project Refill webpage for more details and the application form. Deadline to apply: April 25th. Questions: Contact Jenn Vetter

Project Refill Initiative IdeasThis resource provides ideas on how you can create awareness within your schooland implement teaching/learning components that will help to educate students aboutwater bottle waste.

*Note: Schools may apply to both programs but are only eligible to be selected for oneprogram in a given application year.

AQ Courses­­Parts 1, 2, and 3EcoSchools Section 4: Questions 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, and 4.7

Want to expand your knowledge and practice of environmental education? OISE haspartnered with the TDSB to offer Additional Qualification courses in environmental

education this summer. To support EcoSchools teachers,the TDSB will subsidize $400 of the cost for a limitednumber of TDSB teachers who register and successfullycomplete the course! This interdisciplinary AQ course willtake an inquiry‐based, experiential approach forelementary and secondary teachers, using both in‐classand on‐line learning. Parts 1, 2, and 3 are being offered atthe U of T, OISE campus (10 days in class July 4th‐8th,11th‐15th, 2016; online done by July 22nd, 2016).

To register, contact Pam.Miller@tdsb.on.ca to ensure a spot on the TDSB subsidy list; formal registration at OISE will begin in April 2016.

EVENTS

TDSB Earth Hour: Friday, March 11th, 2:00­3:00 pmEcoSchools Section 1, Question 1.6; Section 4, Questions 4.3, 4.4, 4.5; Section 5, Question 5.7

To raise awareness about climate change, the Toronto District School Board is once againholding its own special Earth Hour on Friday, March 11th, from 2:00‐3:00 pm in advance ofthe annual global Earth Hour. For at least that one hour we challenge all schools and officesto be as electricity‐free as they can manage.

Why bother turning out the lights for an hour? Isn't it just symbolic? Yes...and no. Perhaps,WWF's website puts it best, "Turning off lights for one hour won't solve climate change. Butthe strong collective message generated by people around the world turning off their lightstogether helps WWF create the political space and demand for the large‐scale change thatwill".

Many of our schools have gone above and beyond the hour. Symbolic actions, like theminute of silence on Remembrance Day, can be very powerful. Instead of a minute, it's awhole hour observed by millions of people around the Earth to build awareness of our needto reduce energy use‐‐and create an appetite for doing more.

What about teaching? Earth Hour is a sure‐fire way to add a new note to teaching aboutenergy or citizenship action that has created change. Or writing that inspires questions toexpand the action of the hour! Visit the EcoSchools Earth Hour webpage for checklists andresources. And, don't forget to help Toronto go dark on Saturday, March 19th between8:30‐9:30 pm, when the rest of the world will be turning off their lights!

April 22nd ­ Clean Toronto Together School Clean­up Day­­Registration opens soon! EcoSchools Section 3: Question 3.1; Section 5: Question 5.6

Save the date! On Friday, April 22nd at 2 pm, students from acrossToronto are encouraged to help Toronto stay clean and green. Team‐upwith your fellow students and teachers and clean your school yard or aneighbourhood park. You'll be amazed at what your team canaccomplish in as little as 20 minutes! Registration opens in early March.

Questions? Contact Cynthia Chan.

Call for Submissions: Planet in Focus Student FilmFestival­­Grades K­8EcoSchools Section 1, Question 1.6, Section 4, Questions 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, Section 5: Question 5.6

Changing thinking, eco‐film stories from ourschools.

Planet in Focus invites students to make short films (maximum 4 minutes) on importantenvironmental topics that they care about to inspire others to see the world through neweyes. What are your students doing to help the planet? Selected films will be screened at the Bloor Cinema on June 9th, 2016 in celebration of UNWorld Environment Day. Schools can submit multiple films for consideration. Genres: animation, comedy, drama, live action, PSAFormat: MOV or WMVSubmission deadline: Monday, May 6th, 2016General Inquiries: Contact Jordana AaronsTechnical Questions: Contact Patrick McCartney

Resources for teachers:We've found lots of great resources to help you glimpse the possibilities of movie‐makingand enriched learning. Sample one of these:

Making Movies Makes Sense is recommended by Pam Miller‐‐simple‐to‐understand,comprehensive, good at breaking down the learning. A free "lite" version or the modestly‐priced ($5) more complete one is available (plus educational discounts).

Our Ministry of Ed endorses student filmmaking! The Ministry's monograph The StudentFilmmaker gives you a lot of what you need!

Keep it Real: This inspirational and engaging 3‐minute film about documentary filmmaking,invites young people to tell a story through film, with passion, patience and grit.

Director in the Classroom: This chapter in the book by BC's filmmaker‐teacher NikosTheodosakis is inspiring, offering insight into the important role of the teacher in workingwith students.

Webinar: Engaging Students Through Environmental FilmmakingWhen: Thursday, March 24th from 7:30 ‐ 9:00 pmPresenter: Alessandra CannitoEvent Registration: OTF website

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Secondary Students Volunteer Opportunity: City ofToronto 3R's AmbassadorEcoSchools Section 1: Question 1.6, Section 5: Question 5.6

Are you interested in helping the apartment or condominium you live in recycle more?Become a 3R's Ambassador Volunteer today! Help your building and the City of TorontoReduce, Reuse, and Recycle more of its waste.

Did you know on average only 26% of the total amount of waste generated in apartmentsand condominiums is being recycled and doesn't go to landfill? Compare this to a 68% wastediversion rate in single family homes!

As a 3R's Ambassador Volunteer, you will volunteer in your own building and work with yourbuilding manager to educate other residents about the 3Rs. All volunteers will receiveformal training and support from the City of Toronto. You will also be given tools andresources to help your building divert more waste from the landfill.

Volunteer requirements:* Resident of an apartment or condominium building in the City of Toronto* Over the age of 16

Learn more at toronto.ca/3rs or call 416‐338‐1882.

DIGGING DEEPER

Register for upcoming Green Teacher webinars

"Climbing Trees"Mon, Feb. 29th, 20167:30‐8:30 p.m. ESTPresenter: Harv Teitelbaum

"Inspiring Deeper Learning with Music"Thurs, Mar 31st, 20167:30‐8:30 p.m. ESTPresenters: Remy Rodden and Joyce Rouse

Register here for the webinars.

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