During Earth DAY

Thanks to Thomas and Adam for recycling.

Peace. (P.S. It's someone else posting. Anyways, it's Nic.)

Eco Updates

Forgive me Clairlea. It's been seven months since my last post. It's been a very busy year, but we've been busy making Clairlea a more ecologically friendly place to be. Stay tuned for more photos of our green side.

In the meanwhile, let's enjoy a moment as we celebrate our Gold level eco status from last year. Will we be Gold again next year?

E. Hawkins

Hoisting the magical gold sticker.

Oh yeah

Proud students who help out with the Green Team take a moment to celebrate eco gold.

Green Team Back in Action

Familiar and new faces were seen taking care of recycling business in the hallways of Clairlea today. Thank you so much! This year, the Green Team will be involved in creative projects as well. We have to keep the Gold dream alive.

An extra thanks to Kayleigh for her boundless enthusiasm. She told me that she was picking up trash in her neighbourhood and plans to pick up trash in the Clairlea yard tomorrow. I hope to provide back up support. Awesome initiative, Kayliegh!

Thanks also to our "lights out" checkers this week: Justin P. and Thomas T. They really enjoy the power of busting teachers. Who knew?

- E. Hawkins

I wanted to upload BTO's "Takin' Care of Business" for the hard rock eco kids, but there wasn't a decent YouTube version, so Bobs and Lolo it is. This is how I wake up each day. LOL

Stop the Press!

We just found out that based on our recent audit, EcoSchools has granted Clairlea Gold-level eco status!!!!! We are terribly excited about this news. Thanks to everyone who has worked hard to make this happen, especially the boys and girls on the Green Team and in the Gardening Club. We couldn't have done it without you. Now go do your happy dance!

E. Hawkins

Clairlea Green 2009-10

A huge thanks goes out to Nicolas Louie in Room 204 for this slide show retrospective. Nic is one talented guy. One day, he'll be making feature films, mark my word.

E. Hawkins

EcoSchool Audit

Kids from Room 204 putting the finishing touches on their "green home" earlier this year. There are many amazing examples of ecological literacy in action around Clairlea.

Hello,

Today, a representative from TDSB's EcoSchool department came by to evaluate how much Clairlea has done this year in terms of energy conservation, waste reduction, and ecological literacy. In attendance was Ms. Persaud, our chief custodian Harold Porter, Mr. Knierim, and myself. We answered a series of questions and later Mr. Knierim and I gave a tour of Clairlea both inside and outside of the school.

We had a very positive report, especially about the high number of children involved in the Green Team, as well as the grant we have received for new trees to be planted on the west side of the school next fall.

We will find out about our EcoSchool status within the next two weeks and we'll keep you posted. Thank everyone - especially the children of Clairlea - who have worked so hard to help us in our effort to make the school a greener place. Way to go!

E. Hawkins

Gardening Club Plants in the Habitat

Thanks to all the Gardening Club kids who came out in the wet muck yesterday. We actually managed to plant our lupin, lamb's ears, and perennial grass seedlings that the kids started indoors a couple of weeks ago, along with some hand-me-down plants from my garden. The Habitat is slowly taking shape.

Great work boys and girls!

- Ms. Hawkins

Three cheers for worms! I love that the kids are such big fans of worms and not squeamish.

Planting seedlings.

Trying to level the land.

Pulling out dead roots.

More worm love.

Baby lupins.

Sedums and other tough perennials now in the Habitat.

*Don't forget, we're still happy to take donations of sun-loving perennials (native if possible), and dark mulch. Just drop it off under the stairs in front of the office. Thanks. The Garden Club meets for the last time this school year, next Wednesday after school.