Rainbow District School Board is kicking off another school year of environmental challenges with EcoStart. Staff and students are creating or renewing their school's EcoCode.
An EcoCode is a school's environmental mission statement that demonstrates its commitment to sustainability. In the 2024-2025 school year, Rainbow District School Board had the distinction of being one of only three school boards in Canada to have all of its schools EcoSchools certified.
"Creating a memorable EcoCode is a great way to share environmental goals and engage the whole school community in environmental awareness and action," says Rainbow District School Board Director of Education Bruce Bourget. "Throughout the process, staff and students reflect on their personal and collective behaviours, and recommit to adopting practices that foster environmental stewardship."
He adds: "Schools are encouraged to proudly display their EcoCodes in a prominent area as a daily reminder of what they value as a school community."
Schools are also encouraged to promote environmentally friendly practices with sort, save and sustain - by sorting waste to ensure proper handling and management, diverting textiles from landfills, and sustaining the lifecycle of unwanted clothing and household items by donating them.
Staff and students can take further action by starting a composting program, creating a school-wide campaign to encourage proper waste sorting, and using active transportation by walking, biking or rolling to school when possible, with safety always first and foremost.
The board's Environmental Committee issues monthly challenges to staff and students throughout the school year. The challenges, which include an Indigenous component, have proven to be an effective way to broaden the scope of education and environmental action.
To provide the groundwork for developing or renewing an EcoCode, and to deepen their understanding of Indigenous perspectives, schools received resources to share with students. This included readings from the Anishinaabek Nation and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, as well as videos about the Seven Grandfather Teachings, the Clam System, and the meaning behind the Ojibwe language Anishinaabemowin.
"The Seven Grandfather Teachings inspire us to live a good life in relation to our families, communities and Mother Earth," says Director Bourget. "Fundamental to living a good life is protecting and preserving our planet for generations to come."
What will next month's challenge be?
