7th Annual Litter Round-Up

Dear Parents/Guardians,

School grounds and community clean up events make a difference. These actions, although small, have significant positive impacts on the environment and demonstrate the power of working together. In fact, if only 5% of Canada’s population picked up 1kg of litter in one day, 1.4 million kg of garbage would not pollute our environment!

At Pine Grove, we will be participating in a School Grounds Clean Up campaign on Wednesday, April 17th, 2019 (Rain Date: Thursday, April 18th, 2019) to demonstrate our commitment to creating a healthy and sustainable world. Teachers will take their students outdoors to pick up litter on the school grounds for 15 minutes before morning recess. Each student will be asked to bring gloves (preferably reusable). Students will be informed of safe and proper procedures for collecting and disposing of litter.

Participating in a School Grounds Clean Up will build environmental stewardship and teach students the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling to decrease the amount of waste we produce. They will also learn that litter in the environment can impact air, water, soil, and wildlife. Thank you for your support in our School Grounds Clean Up campaign and for making a difference for our environment!

Sincerely,

Pine Grove's Eco Club

Litterless Lunches

Pine Grove encourages litterless lunches at least twice a week so we can lessen waste production. By doing this we are helping the earth, people and animals. As a school, we create so much garbage. Think about it... there are about 450 students at our school, if each one brought their sandwich in a piece of plastic wrap instead of a container... that's 450 pieces of plastic ending up in the landfill. Canada is such a big place with so many other schools that we have to watch what we put are lunches in. It's not even that hard!

What is a litterless lunch?

A litterless lunch is a lunch that contains no garbage, exactly its name. You can only use reusable containers and water bottles. Try to avoid using plastic bags or water bottles. If you have any garbage then take it home. You can even reuse some of it! For example tin foil, saran wrap and many more, you would even be saving money.

Why is a litterless lunch important?

When using containers or reusable water bottles it will help the environment and reduce climate change. Like we said before, if we do this we're helping the earth. Even people and animals that live on this beautiful planet. Speaking of beautiful planet, we don't want to ruin it by using plastic. Even if just some of us are doing this it would be helping OUR planet!

Pack a litterless lunch every Tuesday and Thursday, Pine Grove!

- N, M, & M

World Water Day 2019

World Water Day

2019

World Water Day is a day that focuses on the importance of conserving fresh water. It is celebrated on March 22 every year. 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!

The Eco Club will be selling Drink in the Box, reusable water bottles, and rafiki chains from Monday, March 18th to Friday, March 22nd.

Options Available:

• Pine Grove Eco water bottles
• Drink in the Box
• Rafiki Chains (pre-order)

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!

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