Grand Erie Schools Lauded for EcoSchools Efforts

Each year, schools across Grand Erie demonstrate admirable commitment and dedication towards environmental stewardship as they work to gain certification as an EcoSchool, and help make the planet a whole lot better in the process. The recognition through EcoSchools honours these achievements in environmental learning and action as students implement a variety of environmental initiatives within their schools. These efforts include waste-free lunches, implementing recycling programs, energy-conservation initiatives, butterfly gardens, and much more.

“Through ongoing efforts this past year, these schools have promoted environmental leadership and helped reduce their carbon footprints,” says Katie Hashimoto, Grand Erie’s Supervisor of Energy and Environmental Conservation. “We’re proud of students for taking action and fostering these efforts within their school communities.”

This year, all Grand Erie schools registered with the EcoSchools program will receive a special edition 2019-20 EcoSchools Canada seal. The 40 Grand Erie schools being recognized as certified EcoSchools for the 2019-20 school year are:

Elementary:

• Agnes Hodge Public School
• Banbury Heights School
• Bloomsburg Public School
• Boston Public School
• Brier Park Public School
• Caledonia Centennial Public School
• Cedarland Public School
• Centennial-Grand Woodlands School
• Central Public School
• Delhi Public School
• École Confédération
• Elgin Avenue Public School
• Grandview Public School
• Hagersville Elementary School
• King George School
• Lakewood Elementary School
• Langton School
• Lynndale Heights Public School
• Mapleview Elementary School
• Mt. Pleasant School
• North Ward School
• Oakland-Scotland Public School
• Onondaga-Brant Public School
• Paris Central Public School
• Prince Charles Public School
• Rainham Central School
• River Heights School
• Seneca Central Public School
• St. George-German Pubic School
• Teeterville Public School
• Walsh Public School
• Walter Gretzky Elementary
• West Lynn Public School

Secondary:

• Cayuga Secondary School
• Dunnville Secondary School
• Hagersville Secondary School
• McKinnon Park Secondary School
• Paris District High School
• Pauline Johnson Collegiate & Vocational School
• Waterford District High School

Grand Opening of the Snoezelen Room

Elgin Avenue Public School welcomed staff, students and community to the Grand Opening of the Snoezelen Room on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

On hand for this special occasion was Chair of the Board Carol Ann Sloat, Trustee Rita Collver and Superintendent Liana Thompson as well as several members of the community that contributed to the fundraising, and Elgin staff members.

Allie Richardson (teacher of students with autism), Lori Minarik (EA working with students with autism) and Samantha Nicholson (Principal) worked together for over three and a half years to fundraise for this $30,000 project. The Elgin community, parents, local charities and the Grand Erie District School Board all came together to make this project a huge success.

A Snoezelen Room is a multi-sensory environment that provides a controlled, safe, relaxing space for individuals with a variety of sensory needs. The room is set up to give individuals a positive space where they can meet their specific needs in a calming atmosphere. This atmosphere helps in reducing fear, anxieties, repetitive behaviour, self-abusive behaviour and aggressive behaviour so that students are better able to learn. Students at Elgin in both self-contained classes and in the regular classes will be able to access the room to help meet their sensory needs.

According to Seth, a student who accesses the room daily, “It is the best room ever!!!”