There will also be onsite activities with community partners such as learning how to make one's own recycled paper and non-toxic paints, and teacher professional development.
EcoSchools success stories from the PDSB and DPCDSB will be displayed to celebrate the achievements of our EcoTeams. Visitors to the gallery will be invited to participate in a scavenger hunt for a chance to win an amazing prize. Certified schools can pick up their plaques and seals at the Information Booth.
Students, families and teachers will also be enjoying live entertainment including children's singer Chris McKhool, a Wye Marsh Birds of Prey presentation, Aboriginal Drumming with the Peel Aboriginal Network, and Punjabi Folk Music and Bhangra Fusion.
Waterloo
Waterloo Region's celebration will be at the Waterloo Region Museum. There will be a large variety of outdoor activities for students with an environmental theme. "How-to" videos created by students will be shown in the museum's movie theatre. A networking session where neighbouring schools can get together and discuss this year and plan for next will round off the morning.
In the afternoon, there will be more opportunities for students to participate in the learning activities and there will be a short awards ceremony.
Teachers and students will be encouraged to bring litterless lunches to the event. Each student and teacher that brings a 100% waste-free lunch (organic waste is allowed, recyclable waste is not) will get a ticket to win a fabulous Go Green lunch box. Approximately 40 lunch boxes will be given away.
Student teams will return to their schools as ambassadors after the event, to help their entire school celebrate their EcoSchools successes as part of the end-of-year activities.
Halton
The Halton Student EcoCelebration takes place in October at the Regional Office of Halton's auditorium.
School EcoTeams, including students and staff, will have the opportunity to learn about and showcase their environmental activities, projects, and EcoSchools portfolios through a structured networking session. Students will be asked to consider ‘Guiding questions’ to help them plan for the upcoming year. Some examples of the topics they will cover include: What are we most proud of? What were the challenges? What are our next steps?
There will also be exhibits by community partners to raise awareness about regional resources and programs. Representatives from organizations such as Halton Region, Conservation Halton, HEN, Municipal Environment Departments (Burlington, Oakville/Halton Hills) and Halton Learning Foundation will highlight the support they offer Halton region EcoSchools.
Students will be celebrated and recognized for their achievements in the EcoSchool program in the previous school year and presented with their EcoSchools plaques by Halton Boards of Education officials. These activities and more will contribute to an inspiring day to kick off another year of EcoSchools engagement!
