Pine Grove Public School Food, Toy and Winter Clothing Drive

From Monday Nov 19th to Wednesday Dec 19th Pine Grove Public School will be conducting our annual Food, Toy and Winter Clothing Drive to help support the Vaughan Food Bank and The Kidney Foundation.

We will be collecting gently used winter clothing in all sizes. Winter is here and there are people in our community who need our help. Also, we can divert waste from the landfill by donating our items rather than throwing them out!

Here’s a great idea! Why not bring in food, toys or gently used winter coats to school when you come for parent teacher interviews!

On behalf of the Me to We Committee and the Eco Club we would like to thank Pine Grove families for being global citizens by helping others in our community!

Staples Box that Rocks Contest

Beginning this month, Pine Grove Public School will participate in a marker, pen, and mechanical pencil collection. Every class will have the chance to design a bin to collect their writing instruments in. Whichever bin has the most creative design will be submitted to Staples. If our school wins we could win a grand prize of two outdoor garden beds and a picnic table made from 100% recycled plastic, as well as a $1,000 donation. Whether or not we win, the chosen class will receive a prize. Submissions are due on November 30th, 2018.
For more information, check out terracycles' website.- C & S

The 31 Day Zero Waste Challenge

Welcome to another eco friendly year at Pine Grove! Our eco club will be meeting regularly on Day 2's during lunch recess to plan another exciting year.

To kick off the school year, we challenge families to take The 31 Day Zero Waste Challenge.

Week 1:
Monday: Zero Waste Tip of the Day: Say No to Straws
57 million plastic straws are used in Canada each day. Here’s the challenge: Next time you’re at a restaurant, order your drink without a straw. You could say. “I would like a soda without a straw. Thank you.”

Tuesday: Zero Waste Tip of the Day: Reusable Water Bottle
In Canada, 65 million water bottles are landfilled each year and only 50% of that 65 million is actually recycled. Here is the challenge: Before you leave your house, make sure you have a reusable bottle with you. Don’t forget!

Wednesday: Zero Waste Tip of the Day: Zero Waste Snack
Most snacks come with a lot of packaging. Think about how all of those tiny packages add up. Here’s the challenge: Instead of buying a prepackaged snack try to make one yourself.  For example, You can make homemade trail mix, stove popped popcorn, apple slices and peanut butter, etc.

Thursday: Zero Waste Tip of the Day: Save Water
The average American home uses 400 gallons of water a day. Here’s the Challenge: Pick two new ideas to implement at home.

• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth
• Take shorter showers or only fill the bathtub halfway
• Help wash produce in a large bowl instead of understand running water
• Fill up the sink to wash the dishes instead of under running water

Friday: Zero Waste Tip of the Day: Get outside
Nature is a beautiful thing. It is easy to get caught up inside watching TV, playing video games, or doing too much homework. Getting outside is a great reminder for why you’re trying to save the world! Here’s the challenge: Get outside! Spend 15-30 minutes each day outside and observe the beautiful natural wonders of nature.

For more information, check out goingzerowaste.com

Earth Week 2018

This Earth Week, Pine Grove students are looking to make a positive impact on our environment. Here are a few ideas that you can do at home and school.

April 16 - Meatless Monday
Pack yourself a meatless lunch this Monday to help save our planet! Need some plant-based protein ideas? Check out Oh She Glows for lots of school safe recipes that even meat lovers will gobble up.

April 17 - Trashless Tuesday
Try your best to limit the amount of packaged foods in your lunch today. Not only is it healthier for you, but it can also save you money! Also, you can feel good about reducing the amount of garbage that ends up in our landfills.

April 18 - Walk to School Wednesday
Walking to school is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and get some healthy exercise. Live too far away to walk? Try carpooling or taking the bus. Whichever way you come to school, remember to be safe!

April 19 - Thirsty Thursday
This Thursday, we invite all Pine Grove students to take a great gulp from reusable water bottles filled with refreshing tap water. Did you know that the energy we waste using bottled water would be enough to power 190,000 homes? For more water bottle facts (and myths), check out BanTheBottle.net

April 20 - Lights-Free Friday
Take action this Friday by turning out the lights whenever possible! Also, keep an eye out for Phantom Power (or Vampire Power). Phantom Power is energy used from appliances and electronic devices even though we have turned them off. To reduce energy waste, remember to unplug your devices when not in use. For example, unplug laptop, tablet, or phone chargers when they're not in use.

Let us know what you and your family did this Earth Week and Earth Day (Sunday, April 22) to help make a difference. We'll leave you with a few quotes to reflect on.

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

 - Dr. Seuss, from The Lorax

“What you do to the earth, you do to yourself.”

- Julia Butterfly Hill, environmental activist

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”

- Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist

“The starting point for a better world is the belief that it is possible.”

- Norman Cousins, journalist

Thank you for your ongoing support, Pine Grove!

Sincerely,

The Eco Club

Earth Hour

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Earth Hour is an international event usually held on the last Saturday of March between 8:30-9:30pm.
During this hour, people around the world turn off their lights in support of addressing climate change.

At Pine Grove Public School, we will be participating in Earth Hour on Friday, March 23, 2018 by powering down and turning off or unplugging all non-essential lights, computers, and other electrical devices. Through learning and action, we can make a difference for our planet.

In addition to our school Earth Hour event, we encourage students to take this message home and as a family, participate in Earth Hour on Saturday, March 24, 2018 between 8:30-9:30pm. Some activities you could do include: stargazing, board games by candlelight, watching an eco-themed film, or make a family pledge to commit to protecting the environment. By reducing and conserving our energy use we are helping to reduce the amount of air pollution in Ontario caused by the burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity. In fact, the air quality in Ontario has improved in recent years because of these types of actions.

We look forward to hearing about all the creative ways your family participates in Earth Hour! Photos are welcome!

Thanks for your support in this worldwide movement to raise awareness about climate change and protect our planet!

Sincerely,
The EcoTeam

World Water Day Fundraiser

World Water Day is a global event celebrated each year on March 22nd. On this day, people around the world take action to conserve water, educate others, and celebrate this vital resource! This year Pine Grove Public School will be participating in a Water Awareness and Action Campaign. During the week of March 19-23, we will encourage students and their families to take action in conserving water, protecting our waterways, and celebrating this amazing resource. 

Simple actions at home, such as using a reusable water bottle or turning off the tap while washing dishes, can have a big impact on the environment and help to support the cause! 

Throughout the campaign, students will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities in their classrooms. As well, The Me to We Committee and the Eco Club will be selling Drink in the Box and reusable water bottles from Monday, March 19th to Friday, March 23rd. 

Options Available: 

• Pine Grove Eco water bottles
• Drink in the Box 

Junior/Intermediate (upstairs classes) - a table will be set up outside of the intermediate pod.

Primary (downstairs classes) - Eco Club students will be coming around each class to sell.

All proceeds will be donated to Wateraid Canada. 

Thank you for your support, we look forward to hearing about the unique ways your family participated in raising awareness and taking action!

National Sweater Day

Dear Parent / Guardian,

Our school will be taking part in National Sweater Day on Thursday, February 1, 2018! National Sweater Day is an annual event organized by World Wildlife Fund Canada. On National Sweater Day, WWF asks Canadians to turn down thermostats by two degrees Celsius at home, at school and at work to highlight the role that energy conservation plays in preventing climate change.

Our school building will be a little chillier on February 1, so we are asking that all students wear or bring a sweater to school.

In addition to turning down the heat and turning up our sweaters, classes will be participating in a number of activities designed to help students understand how everyday actions affect our planet’s future.

We are looking forward to a cozy day in the classroom! To learn more about National Sweater Day, please visit sweaterday.ca.


Sincerely,

Pine Grove’s Eco Club

Pine Grove's Second Annual G.O.O.S Bin Design Challenge!

At Pine Grove, we are very eco-friendly and try our best to reuse, reduce and recycle. That's why most classes have G.O.O.S bins (good on one side paper).

Last year the Eco Club held a contest to see which class could come up with the most creative and appealing G.O.O.S bin and the class that won would get a hot chocolate party. The winning class made an oven around the bin (shown below).

This year we will be holding our second annual design challenge.
Entries are due on Friday, January 26th, 2018. The eco club will be coming
around to photograph the designs.

Good luck, Pine Grove!

- D. M.