Boomerang Lunch Update

 Since it's warmed up, our boomerang lunch has moved outside. Today it was rainy, so students ate indoors. We took the opportunity to go into the gym afterwards and see how much garbage was left behind. We weren't able to put much in this Bay bag. That's a good thing!

 One enthusiastic member of the Green Team put it on the scale and...

 It weighed about 500 grams. Not bad at all. 

Eco Team in Action

 Here are many members of this year's Eco Team. They are awesome on so many levels.

 Above and below: Inspecting trash and recycling. Results are posted in the school.

 Another initiative that we will continue next year is the painting of cork bulletin boards throughout the school. Say goodbye to unnecessary paper waste. 

 Some of the hardy perennials in our Clairlea Student Garden. 

 Our beautiful new sign hand-painted by students with the assistance of our Art teacher Mme. Demeter.

How Does Our Garden Grow?

Mme. Paré has set out some mini raised beds. Her class planted several perennial plants within them. Other classes have climbed on board in our lush new green space including Mme. Trott's Grade 2s and Mme. Dungo's grade 3s who were involved in a healthy inquiry activity. Ms. Kumagawa has also been very busy gardening and has created a garden plan/map. 

Please consider donating a gift plant from a garden centre or your garden as requested in our handout from this week. 

We're Going To Rock Down To The Reused Avenue

Miss Hay's terrific Grade 3 class created a gigantic model of urban and rural communities out of repurposed paper and junk for Social Studies. Wee-hee!

From Junk to Jewels

This awesome Grade 3 student is getting the Primary eco team jazzed about crafting with junk. She has contributed at least four homemade craft projects just for the fun of it. Rock on!

Earth Day

Here are some of our wonderful kids cleaning up the yard on Earth Hour Day. Our Boomerang Lunch initiative is slowly making a difference. Help us go even further by sending all of your child's foods in reusable containers. 

Boomerang Lunch Launch

Clairlea kicked off it's boomerang lunch initiative this month. We are thrilled to see so many children packing waste-free lunches. With a few reminders, students have done a great job of taking their food scraps and packaging home with them. Of course, the best lunch is one that creates zero garbage. 

 Happy faces, healthy lunches!

 Most of the tables were left spotless on the first day. 

 We did find a peeled clementine and a cap on the floor. 

 This morning, a fantastic grade 3 student brought in a craft she made during March Break out of old buttons. 

 Apparently, on the second day, things weren't great. We weren't able to take photos that day. But above, you'll see the clean tables on the third day. 

 Above, you'll see the scraps that were left behind on the third day. With a little sleuthing, the baggie of apple slices were returned to their rightful owner.

Above, you'll see the letter that went home today to promote Earth Hour and Earth Hour Day at Clairlea this Friday. We are encouraging families to power off this Saturday evening and turn thermostats down by 2 degrees. More to come...

Waste-free Lunches Rock

So Far This Year

Thanks to the hard work of committed students and staff, we are pleased to report that Clairlea is once again a Gold-level certified EcoSchool. Do you want to know something even more exciting? We are this close to being a Platinum-level EcoSchool. We don't need to have windmills and a green roof to do it either. We just need everyone to pitch in with more little acts of green that add up to a big difference. Please return for updates on all we are doing to make a difference in the environment. 

Below are some pictures from September and October at our wonderful school. 

 Above: October is Wastefree Lunch month. Students are encouraged more than ever before to bring in a litterless lunch. We are running a contest this month. Students who bring a litterless lunch or snack will have their names entered in a contest for an eco-prize. All other students who participated with have their name on our Eco Wall of Fame!

 Each month, two different classes pair up to empty blue bins. Here are two swell grade 2 students from Room 108. 

 Our fall Lights-Off Monitoring campaign is off to a cracking start. Caretaker Cheryl tracks classrooms who have remembered to close blinds, turn off lights and shut windows. Our terrific co-op student Jaime created this chart and has been giving more happy faces than X marks. Way to go!

 We are hoping that each class will sign up to contribute something this year to advance an environmental cause. We'll keep you posted on participants. 

 Above: the list of classrooms involved in our recycling program. Thank you all who are pitching in.

 Above: Students have been talking about the issue of plastic bags in Toronto. We are now adding eco-related news to our eco wall. 

 Our Wastefree lunch bulletin board outside the office. Our goal is to reduce plastic water bottles to zero by the end of the year and to raise awareness about the need to think before you toss recyclable materials in to the garbage can. 

 Below are some of the students who have been bringing in wastefree lunches. Bravo!