NEWS RELEASE
SIMCOE COUNTY DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
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Members of school Green Teams from across the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) celebrated their environmental accomplishments at the Education Centre in Midhurst on June 8.
A highlight of the event was the announcement of schools that achieved Ontario EcoSchools certification.
Twenty-one elementary and secondary schools achieved varying levels of certification this year, up from 18 last year.
Schools reach Ontario EcoSchools status by implementing environmental initiatives within their school, including recycling programs, waste-free lunches, energy conservation programs and school ground greening projects.
“Our Green Teams and other students and staff have committed to having a positive impact on our environment,” says Kayla Kalalian, Environmental Systems Coordinator for the SCDSB. “We all recognize that our students have the future of our planet in their hands, and together, we are doing what we can to make that future bright.”
Fourteen SCDSB schools achieved gold level certification in 2016. Five schools reached silver status, and two were recognized as bronze-level schools.
The SCDSB Ontario EcoSchools are:
Barrie Central Collegiate Institute, Birchview Dunes Elementary School, Brechin Public School, Chris Hadfield Public School, Cookstown Central Public School, Couchiching Heights Public School, Forest Hill Public School, Goodfellow Public School, Hillsdale Elementary School, Innisfil Central Public School, Johnson Street Public School, Maple Grove Public School, Nantyr Shores Secondary School, Orchard Park Public School, Simcoe Alternative Secondary School, Sir William Osler Public School, Sunnybrae Public School, Uptergrove Public School, Warminster Elementary School and W.R. Best Memorial Public School.
Two schools, Maple Grove Public School and Forest Hill Public School, have achieved Ontario EcoSchools certification for five years.
Five schools were Ontario EcoSchools certified for the first time in 2016: Brechin Public School, Couchiching Heights Public School, Johnson Street Public School, Uptergrove Public School and W. H. Day Elementary School.
Hillsdale Elementary School, Nantyr Shores Secondary School and Sir William Osler Public School participated in the Experienced EcoSchools Certification Cycle.
This program gives schools that have been Ontario EcoSchool certified for more than five years the opportunity to focus on a specific project.
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