The Green Dreams of Manordale PS

After years of going without shade on hot June days, and daydreams of how to build an outdoor classroom for students, Manordale Public Schools’ wishes will come true this year.

In May 2018, Ontario EcoSchools and Koru Distribution teamed up to run the School Greening Giveaway contest for certified EcoSchools. Entrants were tasked with sharing how they would use the $10,000 prize to green their school grounds or community in order to be entered into a prize draw.

On June 20, 2018, the winner was announced live on Twitter: it was Manordale Public School in Ottawa-Carleton DSB!

This fall, with school back in session, members of the Ontario EcoSchools team traveled to Ottawa to visit Manordale Public School, speak with staff and students, and learn about their greening plans.

Mrs. Black, one of the lead teachers for Manordale’s ECO Club, shared the schools’ hopes for the how the school could use the funds:

“Our school yard receives full sun throughout the whole day,” she explains, “We have no trees on our school yard at all. Many of our students enjoy sitting and talking in the school yard during the recess. Many of our teachers also enjoy taking their lessons outside, and shade trees would provide a sun safe way to do this . . . We would like to see a small grove or group of trees, possibly some sugar maples, which someday may be tapped for syrup.”

There have been some unexpected and creative additions to this greening plan. In September, the Nepean area where Manordale PS is located, was one of the areas hit incredibly hard by the tornadoes that struck the Ottawa region. There was a lot of damage and many people in the school community were affected.

“To give a terrible situation a silver lining,” says Mrs. Black, ”We have been able to collect approximately 30 tree stumps from our school community from the trees that fell during the September tornado. We are planning to repurpose these stumps when we create an outdoor learning environment this coming spring.”

The tradition of environmental learning and awareness runs deep at Manordale; the school has been certifying with the Ontario EcoSchools program for the past six years. Ms. Zeilstra, co-teacher of the ECO Club notes that: “Manordale chooses to certify as an Ontario EcoSchool because we see the value in educating the youth to help protect our earth. Our students become more passionate each year about the initiatives we put forward.  Some students join each year and have been in the club for three or more years.”

Students themselves aren’t shy about expressing their enthusiasm for the ECO Club: “Everything people do affects the world. Using a reusable container saves garbage from being thrown out,” says Evelyn, grade six.

“I was aware of recycling and the environment but I didn’t know where to start. Then I found the ECO Club and now there is a team to help me,” adds Lily, grade six.

When asked about the most important thing learned as part of the ECO Club, Hannah, grade five, summed up her thoughts succinctly: “To care about the environment. I have learned to recycle to reduce the amount of garbage I make.”

From daily recycling to greening school grounds, Manordale staff and students are committed to transforming their school culture. Ontario EcoSchools and Koru Distribution are proud to support this determined and passionate school.