Dunlop’s Green Team
Student vo
volunteers from grades 4, 5 and 6 are organized into teams to ensure Dunlop P.S. is a clean and energy-efficient school! Every lunch hour teams inspect classrooms to check for lights off that do not need to be on, computers off that are not in use, dripping water faucets, and that the proper materials are being placed in both the recycling bins and the garbage. The teams run a battery collection program, as well as a composting program. In addition to their hard work around the school, throughout the year different team members attend various environmental workshops organized by Earth Care Canada as well as the 100th Monkey EcoSummit! Every spring energy audits are performed around Ottawa by similar teams and groups which have contributed to a $1.5 million savings in energy costs throughout the board – which results in every school that participates receiving a monetary incentive (gains-sharing) to put towards “greening” our school!
MISSION:
Ontario EcoSchools is an environmental education and certification program for grades K-12 that helps school communities develop both ecological literacy and environmental practices to become environmentally responsible citizens and reduce the ecological footprint of schools.
The key areas of achievement are: Teamwork & Leadership, Energy Conservation, Waste Minimization, School Ground Greening, Curriculum and Environmental Stewardship.
Over 1800 schools in Ontario were certified in 2011-2012 as EcoSchools through an annual certification process which assesses and recognizes accomplishments awarding points in each of the six key areas. Dunlop was one of them, earning a bronze award in its first year of participation. This year we hope to accumulate points for the silver award. Help us to “grow green!"