UPPER CANADA DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Cambridge PS Students Take Action Towards a Greener School

 Students at Cambridge Public School (CPS) are spearheading sustainability initiatives aimed at fostering a greener, more environmentally conscious future for their school community and beyond. 

At the forefront of their mission, students are working to establish composting systems to put in classrooms and then start their own gardens at the school. The long-term goal is to build an outdoor learning classroom. 

To get the project started, the Grade 3 class wrote a persuasive letter to the company FoodCycler informing them of their goal. The company responded by graciously donating a FoodCycler ®, a food recycling alternative that creates a disinfected, odorless and nutrient-rich soil amendment that can be used as a fertilizer.   

"The composters are great for help with the green initiatives," explains Julie-Anne St. Louis, Grade 6 teacher at CPS. "The idea is that we can produce compost to help with our raised garden beds and plant a pollinator/three sisters garden." 

Recognizing the importance of sustainability in both ecological and economic terms, CPS students have taken a proactive approach to generate funds for their initiative.  

Currently, the school is growing plants to sell, with proceeds directed towards the acquisition of a composting system. The school has also garnered support from RONA La Coop Agricole d'Embrun Ltd., and Learning for a Sustainable Future, who have generously donated to further advance the school's sustainability efforts. 

The dedication of CPS students to environmental advocacy was showcased during the school's recent Earth Day Sustainability Fair, which was organized and led entirely by the Grade 6 class. The fair served as a platform for students and staff to learn more about various eco-oriented topics, such as water filtration to biodiversity conservation. A highlight of the event was a book exchange, which gave students the opportunity to recycle and share previously read books, fostering a culture of sustainability and resourcefulness, while promoting reading.  

"The idea to host a fair originated after a few junior students attended a youth forum on Climate Change Action at the Museum of Science and Technology back in November," says St. Louis. "Since then, students from all grades at CPS have contributed in some aspect." 

Driven by a desire to effect tangible change, the students are also actively engaging with policymakers and school administrators to advocate for sustainability measures. 

• Grade 6 student Marlin Todd wrote a compelling letter to Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Canada, urging decisive action to combat pollution and address climate change.
• Other students have collaborated in drafting proposals to their school's principal, advocating for sustainability-focused initiatives at the school such as using less electricity and planting trees and pollinator gardens. 
• The Grade 2 classes just finished with Song Collab Studio in creating two stories on food sustainability and garden reduction, and the Grade 6 students are currently working with them in researching community organizations to work with in a crowd funding campaign. 

As CPS continues to champion sustainability, the students remain committed to fostering a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come. Through their dedication and proactive efforts, they serve as inspiring catalysts for positive change within their community and beyond. 

Grade 6 Cambridge Public School students Erinn Kehler (left) and Lilian Lalonde running the book exchange at the Sustainability Fair on April 22.