Hawthorne 2 Bilingual Alternative

The letter we received from the EcoSchools Central Team of the TDSB, awarding us a Silver medal for our ecoschool.

SENT ON BEHALF OF RICHARD CHRISTIE,
PROGRAM COORDINATOR, ECOSCHOOLS

Dear EcoSchools Team;

Congratulations on achieving EcoSchools certification! We hope that you will find many uses for the attached electronic seal in the coming year, whether in your newsletter, your school profile, or other school communications. The seal is one way to announce the work your school has done to reduce its impact and inspire students and staff through your care for the environment.
We are of course also very gratified that so many of the program’s expectations help TDSB schools to fulfill the Ministry’s new environmental education policy requirements.

Here is a brief preview of three major events in late summer and fall:

August 25-27: Teaching in the Outdoor Classroom for Grade 4 teachers at Jackman PS. This hugely popular summer institute offering helps teachers link learning outdoors to literacy and art through proven, easy-to-implement creative projects. This workshop comes with lots of lesson plans and a backpack filled with supplies, plus a one-day follow-up workshop with teacher release.

September 2 and 3: Afternoon professional development sessions at the University of Toronto’s Earth Science building. Join us to hear international energy expert Ralph Torrie speak about “lessons from climate change for EcoSchools,” followed by an environmental marketplace that will feature all the best local environmental education providers. This one-stop-shopping gathering will allow teachers to decide which resources might best help to animate environmental education in their program. We hope to see many of you!

October-early November: 20 EcoSchools “kick-off” sessions held across the city for teams from all 300+ certified EcoSchools. Presentation of seals and plaques (for first-time EcoSchools), a short keynote presentation, and an opportunity to begin planning for the year with EcoSchools staff there to help.

Becoming an EcoSchool represents a lot of hard work. Thank you for your commitment to reducing your school’s “footprint” and to teaching and learning with the environment top of mind.

Best wishes for the summer vacation. We look forward to working with you next year as the EcoSchools program continues to grow!

Sincerely,
Richard Christie, on behalf of the EcoSchools central team

Fran Raymond
Office Assistant
Toronto District School Board
Science, Environment and Ecological Studies
1 Civic Centre Court, Toronto, ON, M9C 2B3

www.ecoschools.ca