SD64 Gulf Islands

Southern Gulf Islands Schools

environment

My Clothes, My World

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In January Fashion Takes Action / Vancouver presented My Clothes My World programming to 300+ students through the generous support of community partners, I-SEA, and the Salt Spring Foundation.

The Secret Life of Clothes workshop focuses on the humanitarian issues linked to the clothes that we wear, and the Foot Print of Fashion reveals the environmental impacts. The aim is to empower young people with the information to develop critical thinking skills to become change agents and future leaders.

My Clothes, My World
https://sd64bc.wpcdev.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/clothes-200128-724.jpg
MY Clothes, My World

Text supplied by presenter Vivienne Challandes
Photos: John Cameron

Fashion Takes Action (FTA)
Climate change can be a huge, confusing and sometimes overwhelming topic, particularly for young people. When students learn about these global issues through an engaging and relevant topic like fashion, it equips our youth with knowledge and empowers them with the tools to become future leaders.

FTA is a non-profit organization established in 2007 to advance sustainability in the fashion industry through education, awareness and collaboration. We achieve this through various initiatives such as the WEAR Conference and our youth education program (“My Clothes My World”), through meet-ups, speaking engagements and global awareness campaigns. Collaboratively, we are helping move the needle on sustainability.

To date FTA has worked with 14,000+ students ages 8 – 17 yrs in schools to deliver My Clothes My World through established, curriculum-aligned programming that includes hand-on activities, videos, group work, and critical thinking with discussion throughout.

Students Host Elizabeth May, MP

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In mid-November, Saanich-Gulf Islands Member of Parliament Elizabeth May paid a visit to four Gulf Islands schools: Salt Spring Elementary (SSE), Gulf Islands Secondary (GISS), Phoenix Elementary’s Yurt classroom, and Salt Spring Islands Middle School (SIMS).

After a short presentation at SSE to grade 4 and 5 students, MP May responded to student questions. Tomorrow’s citizens asked questions ranging from how many days a year she spends in Parliament to what she was doing to slow climate change.

Student at SSE asking question (Doug Livingston)

“Why do you do this stuff?” posed one SSE student.

“Because I believe you can do anything,” replied Elizabeth May. She went on to say that there is important work for us to do to keep our planet healthy.

Elizabeth May at yurt classroom (Sue Starkey)
An interview with Elizabeth May was conducted at the yurt classroom; their December newsletter will provide a report of that. Ms. May was presented with the first edition of the class’s New Yurt Times newspaper; she told students that she would deliver it to the Prime Minister.

At GISS, Ms. May visited Mr. Crouse’s Social Studies 9 class, and Ms. Arnold’s Social Studies 11 class. Ms. May took the opportunity to emphasize the serious work we must do nationally and globally to alter the course of climate change and the impact that it will have on all of us. She also presented to the grade 8 classes at SIMS.

Update: November 23rd
PM reads the Yurt Times
The Prime Minister is reviewing a letter from the students in Phoenix Elementary’s Yurt Class expressing their views about the Trans Mountain Pipeline. Students communicating about real issues engages them about matters that are important to them. It also gives them practice in democratic participation and decision-making and that will serve all of us well into the future.

Story: Doug Livingston

Photos:
Doug Livingston (student at SSE asking question)
Sue Starkey (Elizabeth May at yurt classroom)
unknown (PM Trudeau with the New Yurt Times)

Being Green in School District 64

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I recently attended a health and safety demonstration about new cleaning protocols that are further enhancing our green approach to having healthy surroundings in our schools. The program, successfully implemented at Salt Spring Island Middle School last November, will be expanded district-wide this fall. Building Service Workers will play an important role in this project.

The new protocols use mineral salts, tap water and electrolysis. This reduces the surface tension of water and gives the sensation of “making water wetter.” The cleaning process is a simple application of this solution to a surface. A hospital-grade fogger will also be used when necessary.

The technology promotes healthy bacteria in the environment and reduces those bacteria identified as harmful. The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) rates the toxicity of the product as having zero physical hazard, zero health hazard, and zero environmental hazard. This approach is based on a new understanding of bacteria and “quorum sensing” communication. To learn more about the science behind the new protocols, view a TED Talk here.

The demonstration made me think about the many ways that we practice being green in Gulf Island schools. In partnership with communities, solar panels are installed on schools on Pender and Salt Spring Islands. The solar installation at Gulf Islands Secondary, the largest school-based installation in BC, supports an annual scholarship for students pursuing studies related to sustainable technologies. The district has recently expanded it’s commitment to place and nature-based learning for all students where literacy and other skills are developed through experiences in nature. The Carbon Neutral Action Report addresses carbon emissions by improving mechanical and heating efficiencies, and reducing energy use. The district also supports recycling of paper and cardboard at each of our sites.

Being green is an important goal reflected in the strategic plan of the district. These sustainable practices exercise responsibility towards the natural environment, promote employee wellness, and reflect a good sense of economy.

Doug Livingston
Director of Instruction – Learning Services

Solar Scholarship PV Array Exceeds Expectations

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It’s been nearly a year since completion of the solar panel installation on the gym roof of the Gulf Islands Secondary School. After a summer of glorious sunshine, it’s time to check on how the system has performed compared with expectations.

While the rated output of the solar array is 21 kilowatts (kW) we had expected small losses at various stages – the panels themselves, the wiring and inverters – to reduce the maximum power into the grid to about 17 kW on very sunny days. So how has it performed?

GISS Scholarship Array

Beyond expectations! During May, June and July we regularly saw the output above 18 kW with some days over 19kW – a system efficiency of over 90% compared to the industry norm of 80%.

This is attributable to the care taken in the design and installation of the system. Of course that’s not the whole story – you can read the full report at saltspringcommunityenergy.com

By early October we had already surpassed our predicted annual output with a further 2800 units expected for the rest of the year. This great result means that the amount of money available for the winner of next year’s solar scholarship will be more than expected!

The system has also performed well operationally. It shut down automatically as expected for safety reasons during several BC Hydro power failures. When the power came back on, so did our system.

There’s still some work to do.

One area that still needs work is the monitoring system to show the school how much electricity is being produced from the sun. This work is well in hand. As well, we are still looking for a suitable electric vehicle charging station at the school. Lastly, planned educational materials to accompany the renewable energy aspect of the installation are now in preparation.

A big thanks again to all those who contributed to this successful project. With your time, talent and financial contributions, it was truly a community effort!

(above used with permission of Salt Spring Community Energy)

Three New Multi-Age Programs in September 2015

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School District 64 will be proceeding with three new multi-age programs in September 2015. A Grade 4-8 program will be will offered on Pender and primary programming will be added at Fulford and Fernwood Elementary Schools on Salt Spring Island.

We would like to thank the many parents who have been involved in the consultative process in the development of these programs.

Pender Islands School
Thursday, April 30 at 6:30 pm
Location: School Library
Contact: Cameron Fraser, Principal, at 250-629-3711 or by email <cfraser@sd64bc.wpcdev.ca>
Sarah Bateman (MY SEEC) & Steve Dunsmuir (SEEC) will be in attendance to provide an overview of existing successful ecological education programs in the district.
RSVP requested so that sufficient refreshments can be provided.

Fulford Elementary School
Monday, May 4 at 6:00 pm
Location: School Library
Childcare will be provided.
Contact: Marie Mullen, Principal, at 250-653-9223 or by email <mmullen@sd64bc.wpcdev.ca>
RSVP requested so that ample childcare and snacks/refreshments can be provided.

Fernwood Elementary School
Tuesday, May 5 at 5:00 pm
Location: School Library
Childcare will be provided.
Contact: Kelda Logan, Principal, at 250-537-9332 or by email <klogan@sd64bc.wpcdev.ca>
RSVP requested as a light meal will be served prior to the information session (courtesy of parents who initiated the conversation with the district that resulted in this program being created at Fernwood).

Additional details about these parent information sessions
will be distributed by school principals.

WATERDROPS/Water Stewards

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We are pleased to share WATERDROPS/Water Stewards!

This integrative nature-based curriculum was developed by three teachers and an environmental educator in the Gulf Islands. The program was originally developed for Grade 4/5 students and is easy to adapt to fit other ages. WATERDROPS/Water Stewards was first implemented at Salt Spring Elementary School over a two year period and was a Winner of the 2011 BC Green Games.