The Sudbury Catholic District School Board in conjunction with the Dearness Society took the opportunity to thank the Destination Conservation Teams from each school by inviting them to a special celebration at Dynamic Earth recently. Several lead students along with the Destination Conservation Teachers attended the event held
in their honour for their on-going efforts and support throughout the
last school year, in the Destination Conservation Program. Participants were given a tour of Dynamic Earth which included a visit to the “Earth and McLeod Rock Galleries” a viewing of the “Nickel City Stories” and an underground guided tour of the INCO Chasm.

While at “Dynamic Earth” students and teachers were presented with
Certificates of Appreciation, gifts and tree seedlings for their
Destination Conservation classes. The gifts were graciously provided by numerous sponsors including INCO, Union Gas, Nelson, GTK Press, Oxford Press, and Earthcare Sudbury. The organizers of the event were Pauline Therrien, SCDSB Curriculum Contact, Mark Gervais, SCDSB Energy Coordinator, and Eric Foster, Managing Director of the Dearness
Society. Barb McDougall Murdock, from Eathcare Sudbury also addressed
the participants at the end of the celebration.

The first inservice of year three for Destination Conservation (DC), took place at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s Education Centre recently. DC is a three-year program designed for school boards to improve their energy use, water consumption and waste management practices. The school conservation teams comprised of school principals, contact teachers and custodians participated in discussions involving Energy Efficiency Opportunities and the integral roles they play in helping to implement these energy saving procedures. As a result of their intensive efforts over the last year schools participating in DC have received savings rebate cheques which are used to purchase environmentally related items to enhance conservation efforts. In the photo to the left, Mark Gervais, Energy Co-ordinator for the Sudbury Catholic Board highlights key points in water management to the conservation teams.

Protecting the environment remains a top priority for the students of Mrs. Pitman’s Grade 1/2 and Mrs. Miller’s Grade 5 class at PIUS XII Catholic School. The students won first prize in Wal-Mart’s 2003 Earth Day Contest for their conservation efforts in helping to clean up the schoolyard, for holding in-school performances stressing blue box use and for recycling waste products into compost soil to plant flowers, trees and grass in and around the school grounds. The students were rewarded with a special plaque and a cheque for $600 from Wal-Mart Store 3097 in Sudbury for their re-greening efforts.

Wal-Mart provides grants to local schools to support environmental projects and education in communities where stores are located. On Earth Day, associates nationwide announced the names of local schools receiving an environmental grant earmarked for a project that will benefit their community.

In 2003, Wal-Mart contributed more than $1.7 million to local schools through Environmental Grants. The company has been awarding environmental grants since 1990. “We are proud to support the initiative of young people who are working to better our environment,” said Betsy Reithemeyer, director for the Wal-Mart Foundation. “We continue to strive to be a dedicated, active partner in the environmental efforts of our local communities.”

Ray Vincent, Chair of the Sudbury Catholic District Board, (second from left) presents Mark Gervais, Energy Coordinator for the SCDSB, (second from right) with a special plaque on behalf of the Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources. The plaque was presented to the SCDSB in recognition of the Board’s participation in the Office of Energy Efficiency’s Energy Innovator’s Initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

Recognizing the need for energy conservation several years ago, the board embarked upon a program to make their buildings and schools even more energy efficient with the installation of numerous retrofit projects such as water conservation devices, energy audits and the implementation of the Destination Conservation Program. These innovative school-based programs enable students, teachers and school board staff to interact with utility companies to initiate environmental education and conservation activities.

Also on hand for the presentation were Rossella Bagatto, Superintendent of Education and Hugh Lee, Acting Associate Director Corporate Services and Treasurer of the Board for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.

Elementary and secondary schools of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board celebrated their year-end wrap up for the Destination Conservation Program at Science North recently. The program is designed for school boards to improve their energy use, water consumption and waste management practices. The lead students and teachers involved in this special conservation project completed technical audits and lifestyle campaigns throughout the school year, and were rewarded for their efforts with special certificates, an IMAX film and science demonstrations.

A co-operative team of students, teachers, principals, custodians and parents work together with Destination Conservation partners to help schools conserve resources and protect the environment. In addition, DC implements and monitors conservation activities within schools, which help, reduce waste while at the same time saves money. The boards’ partners and sponsors including Earth Care Sudbury, Union Gas Limited, and The John Dearness Environmental Society were also present at this event.

The Environmental Club at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School under the guidance of Ms. Monika Jost planted over 1,300 red and white pine seedlings to help beautify the school grounds and the Sudbury region recently. The seedlings which were planted over a three-day period were donated by the City of Greater Sudbury’s Environmental Department.

In addition, students of the school’s Environmental Club took part in Sudbury’s first annual Envirothon on May 2nd, hosted by Science North. Students had a great day of testing and St. Benedict took home first prize. The St. Benedict Bears team then travelled to Lindsay ON to compete in the provincial Envirothon Competition. Students were tested in the areas of Forestry, Aquatics, Wildlife and Soils and had to put together an oral presentation addressing the issues associated with Urban Sprawl. Students were also involved in a community service project and took part in special interest workshops. St. Benedict won the Rookie award, placing first among all first-year teams.

The St. Benedict Envirothon team is composed of students; Marcella Verrilli, Carly Nichols, Julia Sporer, Sarah Moulaison and Stacey Vendramin. The contact teacher/advisor is Ms. Monika Jost at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School. If you require additional information or would like to find out more about the Environmental Club please contact Ms. Jost at 523-9235.