Letters to the Editor

Re: EcoSchools October 2009

December 10, 2009

York Region District School  Board is firmly committed to working with the Ontario EcoSchools program. Many of our schools  are actively engaged in energy conservation, waste minimization, school grounds ‘greening’  and enhancing environmental literacy. This commitment to responsible eco action is growing as schools see the added value of environmental education as it relates to program and character  building  for students.

The board’s Plan for Continuous Improvement indicates that a school’s implementation  of environmental education is one  effective way of engaging students in social, emotional, and academic learning. Over the past three years, we have seen a  substantial growth in the number of schools achieving EcoSchools certification. Schools which participate actively in the EcoSchools program have found that it has enhanced their focus on literacy across the  curriculum, their commitment to restorative practices, their environmental stewardship, and their ability to create an  inclusive and collaborative school environment.  We have experienced firsthand how EcoSchools  empowers students, staff  and community stakeholders to have a voice and to make a difference.

Clelia Della Rovere and Gary Young, co-chairs,
EcoSchools program implementation team; MirellaSanwalka, curriculum  consultant