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May 1, 2012
by Leslie McGuire
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Green School Showcase: Windsor Secondary!

GreenScreen‘s Hat is OFF  to Windsor Secondary Students, who headed out to clean up the surrounding community. Here are just a sampling of the photos from Windsor’s 3rd annual Community Clean-Up.

Says organizer Megan McEwen, “This year was another huge success as we managed to remove 38 garbage bags full of trash from the environment as well as recycle almost 15 bags of bottles and cans! Proceeds from the bottles and cans will go to Windsor’s Special Education Department.”

Thanks to all who particpated, especially the members of this year’s Green Team and to Megan McEwen, Windsor’s Green Team Sponsor Teacher. 

 

April 28, 2012
by Leslie McGuire
0 comments

Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup! Sept 2012

Start the 2012-13 year off right, with a shoreline cleanup

Join the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, Spring Educational Program

Q: Why are we cleaning up shorelines?

A: Plastic and other kinds of garbage are effecting the wildlife because the animals are eating it and it leaves less room for real food like plants. 

The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup presented by Loblaw Companies Limited is offering an exclusive spring shoreline cleanup for students in B.C.  When paired with our FREE Shoreline Cleanup Curriculum Guide, the spring shoreline cleanup is the perfect opportunity for students to take part in a direct action conservation program while learning about the negative effects of shoreline litter.

The Curriculum Guide lesson plans have been developed to meet the educational requirements for British Columbia grades K-7 in science, mathematics and social studies.  From an interactive game show to trash audits and storytelling, your class will learn more about the effects of shorelie litter and what can be done to help keep our shorelines clean.

To download our free curriculum guide and sign up for a spring shoreline cleanup, visit ShorelineCleanup.ca/schools or call 1-877-427-2422.


February 5, 2012
by Leslie McGuire
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Keith Lynn Alternate Secondary – A Green School Showcase

You can tell right away that Keith Lynn Alternate Secondary School Leadership Team sponsors Janice Rodger and Brad Slater engage others in their committed to social justice in its broadest sense, including environmental sustainability. A large group  gathered on the day I visited and enthusiastically filled me in on their initiatives this year. Previously, the group has participated in invasive species plant pulls with the Lower Mainland Green Team, collected a mountain of coats and winter weather wear delivered to residents of the Downtown Eastside, and were reportedly one of the few groups to successfully dance the dance at BC place in honour of  We Day. After filling me in on those initiatives they dove into developing plans for the remainder of the year, which include recycling campaigns to reduce the amount of  styrofoam packaging going from the school to the landfill, composting and gardening. They plan to recycle the cleaned out styrofoam packaging at WCS Recycling, a local green business that offers “Red Bag” recycling “Beyond the Blue Box” for home residents as well. Janice Rodger has worked hard over the years to set the school up with  equipment needed including compost facilities, garden tools, a garden, and visitors to the school should take note of the beautiful tree specimens, grasses bulbs and other annuals the group has planted along the front of the school near the entryway. Our Green Hats are off to KLASS students and staff!

January 23, 2012
by Leslie McGuire
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The Clean Bin Project

NVSD schools Boundary and Argyle might recognize a name below, as would the Highlands community. Highlands staffmember and one of Highlands’ Green Team Sponsors Edie Rustermeyer is mom to none other than…

Jen Rustemeyer, Producer

Jen is the woman behind the clean bin project blog; she’s the one who said “ok” to Grant’s crazy idea to live zero waste for a year. Jen spent her fair share of time both in front of and behind the camera during the making of the clean bin project, an experience which cured her of her deathly fear of public speaking. When she’s not busy researching, recycling, and making things from scratch, she is a GIS Analyst for an environmental consulting company in Vancouver.

Jen and her partner present to audiences across North America, and their documentary is award winning. Consider booking them for your location.

LETS SEE THEM AT HOME ONE DAY! 

December 12, 2011
by Leslie McGuire
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North Vancouver Schools Gather for Destination Conservation

 

The first Destination Conservation Workshop for North Vancouver Schools hosted by Ridgeway Vice Principal Diane Ehling was an enormous success. Even Mayor Darrell Mussatto came to applaud their efforts and toss out a few prizes!

DC coordinators invited numerous outside agencies to assist at the event, which focused on Waste Reduction. School groups had an opportunity to learn about landfills,

 

 

how to conduct a waste audit, and play an educational game. Thanks to Argyle students for running the game!

They also had an opportunity to develop and share their ideas for a Waste Reduction Campaign to take on at  their home schools and look forward to getting back together in January, then showcasing their campaigns and results at North Vancouver School District’s Green Fair which takes place April 17, 2012, during Earth Week, just before Earth Day.

Hats off to the sponsoring staff and students at Argyle  and Carson Graham  and elementary schools  Carisbrooke, Ridgeway, Canyon Heights, Upper Lynn and Brooksbank.

 

November 30, 2011
by Leslie McGuire
0 comments

C3: System Change not climate change

 

Windermere Secondary students are planning their 3rd annual Climate Change Conference.  Previous conferences have been very successful attracting up to 300 students from across the lower mainland on both occasions.

The conference will feature some exciting and engaging action time with lots of opportunity for student leadership and engagement beyond the event.

The conferences have featured speakers such as Andrew Weaver, a Nobel Peace prize winner for his work on the IPCC, James Hoggan, chair of the David Suzuki Foundation, and Andrew Nikiforuk, Tar Sands expert and Rachel Carson book award winner for his recent book on the Alberta Tar Sands.  This year we have confirmed Seth Klein of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives as our keynote speaker and we will also feature a Skype call with the Canadian Youth Delegation attending the climate talks in Durban South Africa.  Seth will be discussing Youth Leadership:  the impacts of climate change are already being felt all over the world, and will continue to worsen without strong leadership. Seth will address how youth  can be a part of the solution and take leadership to create sustainable and just communities.  Looking at Climate change through both an environmental and social justice lens, youth can begin raise their collective voices about the world they wish to live in.

Cost: $10 per attendee will be collected at the door (teachers are not expected to collect funds in advance, in line
with the current job action).  For our convenience, please have a reliable student collect money prior to arriving on site to check in if you are arriving in a group. This will increase speed when your attendees are signing in on site.

To learn more and register for this conference please visit our website.  Registration will open oct 26
[ http://c3vancity.wordpress.com/ ]http://c3vancity.wordpress.com/

For teachers who have a pro d day there will be pro d materials relating to teaching sustainability in the classroom available on the day.  If you are unable to attend but wish to send students or have students interested in attending please contact Vagner Castilho,    vcastilho@vsb.bc.ca, to make arrangements.

 

November 30, 2011
by Leslie McGuire
0 comments

Youth 4 Action Youth Leadership Symposium





Dear Youth Leader


You are invited to participate in an evening of celebration, story sharing, networking, and action planning! Join us for the next Youth Leadership Symposium…


Happy Holidays, Healthy Planet! A Zero Waste Youth Sustainability Symposium


When? 5:00 – 8:30pm Thursday, December 15, 2011


Where? Vancouver Public Library, Alice MacKay room, 350 West Georgia St, Vancouver (Accessible from the Granville Street SkyTrain station)


Join high school youth leaders from across Metro Vancouver who are actively involved and passionate about creating sustainable school communities. Exchange strategies, ideas and success stories to achieve your goals and to nurture a zero waste culture during the holidays and after.


PARTICIPANTS WILL:


• celebrate 2011 successes

• appreciate youth leadership supporters and champions

• explore tools, strategies, community supporters and ideas for action

• strengthen “4R” initiatives

• create collaborative action plans for the new year and beyond


http://www.metrovancouver.org/region/Youth4Action/Pages/YouthSustainabilitySymposium.aspx


http://www.metrovancouver.org/region/Youth4Action/Pages/YouthSustainabilitySymposium.aspx ]  Apply Here


Act soon! Application Deadline is December 11, 2011


It’s been a great year filled with many meaningful initiatives and we would like to take this opportunity to thank those whom have offered support and inspiration for youth leadership activities in 2011 and beyond. Please take a moment to extend an e-card


http://www.metrovancouver.org/Christmas/Pages/card.aspx


and an invitation to those who have supported you in your endeavours.

If you need any further information about the Youth Sustainability Symposium please email  youth4action@metrovancouver.org ]youth4action@metrovancouver.org


We hope to see you there!

		
				
		
	

			



									
					



	

				
November 22, 2011

		by Leslie McGuire

		0 comments

	

    
	

			
Brooksbank: A Green School Showcase

	

        
	

			
 









Brooksbank Elementary School boasts a plethora of Green initiatives, but most exciting is the recent initiation of the students in Mr. Clarke and Mrs. Reichert’s classes to the rank of  “Guardians of the Bees.” 


Partnered up with local expert and dedicated volunteer guardians Ric Erikson and Sharon Lisette, the two classes spent a beautiful morning learning about bees, creating native plant seed pod bombs to plant in surrounding areas. Throughout the year  monthly workshop sessions will include learning about the lifecycles of bees, their role in our ecosystems and mitigate the effects of dwindling populations.  The students look forward to creating bee homes for, to name a couple of these non-aggressive species, mason and leafcutter bees, caring for them over winter and releasing them  . They will also learn to identify and count bees to add to the collective knowledge of North Shore Bee populations, and how they can be helped.




The bees the students raise will have a positive impact on surrounding areas, and help pollinate the Loutet Park Urban Agriculture Project gardens, fondly called Loutet Farm by locals. Ric and Sharon have permission to raise honey bees in hives, as well.


Brooksbank was especially pleased to welcome Mayor Darrell Mussatto to his former elementary school, and School Board Trustee Linda Buchanan to witness the inaugural event and join in the tour. Brooksbank school Principal Arlene Martin also joined in the event. Green Hats Off to Brooksbank!