April 21st, 2016

Glenview Park Secondary School (GPSS) is attempting to become the first school in the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) to achieve the Ontario EcoSchools Platinum Certification!

For almost a decade, the staff and students at GPSS have been incorporating green practices into their school days. From Grade 9 Geography students taking on the school recycling program to Grade 12 Environment students raising awareness, being an eco-conscious school has become second nature.

Over the years, the GPSS Eco-Club along with Green Industries classes have facilitated programs and activities such as:

  • 1000 Acts of Green Earth Week Challenge
  • Walk to School Wednesdays
  • E-Waste Drives
  • Earth Hour (Glenview Park Learns in the Dark)
  • Community Gardens
  • On-Site Vegetable and Native Species gardening
  • Tree Planting
  • Neighbourhood Litter Chase
  • Water Bottle Drives
  • Energy Reduction Campaigns
  • Green Bin Program
  • Waste Sorting Stations
  • Vermi-composting

In addition to those school-wide initiatives, many GPSS teachers, who teach various subject areas, incorporate lessons in, about, or for the environment. From art projects highlighting the human impact on the environment to science classes conducting local stream studies, studying the local environment is an integral part of the GPSS academic experience.

In addition to being Gold certified five times by Ontario EcoSchools from 2011-2015, GPSS has also received the WRDSB Tim Walker Memorial Award in 2011 and the EcoSchools Recognition award in 2015. Money awarded by the WRDSB were used to add a water hydration station to the second floor of the school. And now, for the first time in WRDSB history, the Platinum certification for Ontario EcoSchools is now available and GPSS is on a mission to win it! Though this next level of certification means more work and more participation, their staff and students are up to the challenge.

Last year, the GPSS Eco-Club merged with its Me to We group in an effort to combine forces and tackle both social and environmental issues together. The name of the new group is called Glenview CARES (Community Acting Responsibly Environmentally and Socially) and this year they’ve started a Water Awareness Campaign focusing on fundraising for wells in drought-stricken countries, by encouraging the use of school hydration stations and reusable water bottles.

As Earth Week continues, GPSS staff and students have challenged their cross-town rival, Galt Collegiate Institute (GCI) to their annual 1000 Acts of Green Challenge. Perhaps winner’s bragging rights will inspire more students to commit to green actions during Earth Week and beyond!

GPSS is furiously working to complete all requirements by April 29. They are very hopeful that all their green efforts will result in the ultimate goal of the Platinum certification.

Good luck, to everyone at GPSS! We thank you for helping make our school community a better place to live and work.

 

1000 Acts of Green Challenge is the friendly competition going on between GPSS and GCI.

1000 Acts of Green Challenge is the friendly competition going on between GPSS and GCI.

 

A great classroom reminder to turn off lights if you're last to leave.

A great classroom reminder to turn off lights if you are last to leave.

 

The bulletin board of the Water Wednesday campaign Glenview CARES has been running.

The bulletin board of the Water Wednesday campaign Glenview CARES has been running.