It pays to do something good for the environment and the students of the Bowen Island Community School (BICS) have just been rewarded with a cheque of $25,000. On Tuesday, May 22, Rita Harden, Staples' general manager and Delmar Kyllo, Staples' district manager, traveled to Bowen Island to bring the news that BICS was one of 20 schools in Canada to win a computer lab makeover for eco-responsible schools.
BICS' principal Jennifer Pardee said in an email, "We were very pleased to have our student council accept the $25,000 cheque on behalf of the entire school community at the special assembly. We are all proud of the collective efforts of everyone in our community for the ongoing work that has made BICS an eco-friendly school. We believe that every day is Earth Day at BICS as environmental education is at the heart of our school's identity and mission. I think that this quote from my blog post says it best: We are so fortunate to live, learn, work and play on Bowen Island. It provides us with a unique opportunity to connect learning to the environment and to help our students develop an ethic of care of the natural world. This starts by learning about our own backyard."
Pardee added that this very generous prize from Staples that will go a long way to supporting the technology plan at BICS.
Ashley Jang, Staples' public relations manager, said that Staples awarded over $500,000 in computer lab makeovers to eco-responsible schools in Canada and that the Staples Eco Computer Lab Contest is one of many environmental initiatives created and supported by Staples Canada. For the contest, elementary and secondary public school students were asked to write a 300-word essay describing what their schools are doing to make environmental improvements. The BICS Eco-Team, in its essay, asked, "How does a small school make a big environmental splash?" It went on to answer by listing the school's numerous initiatives including the student-led recycling program, compost captains and an annual shoreline cleanup.
The essay stated: "Since 2006, the recycling program's income has been reinvested in our edible community school garden, paying for composting units and solar cookers. Food from the garden is used in the lunch program. Partnering with Bowen Agricultural Alliance (www.bowenagalliance.ca/), a 2011 Grow to the Market program helps students learn about food sustainability and micro-agriculture and sell produce at a community farmer's market. Looking ahead to 2012, Grow to Market will connect with community groups such as the seniors co-op garden and have a plant exchange with a First Nations garden at a sister school. We've raised funds to build an open-air Outdoor Learning Classroom set in a meadow near the school for students to explore and study ecosystems and connect with community experts."
Jang said that the essays were judged by industry expert panelists and the winning schools were selected based on environmental attributes, school and student leadership and community influence. For more details, please visit www.staples.ca/recycleforeducation.
