Environmental initiatives are in full bloom at Reynolds secondary in Saanich, where one teacher is using a pilot recycling program to sprout off new initiatives to reduce the schoolB次元官网网址檚 environmental footprint.
Heather Coey, a leadership and science teacher, is at the helm of many such undertakings at the school. The first began seven years ago with one of the Greater Victoria School DistrictB次元官网网址檚 first recycling programs.
Through the program, the school has replaced most garbage cans in the hallways with 13 recycle stations, which include the recycle tower, green compost bins and bottle return bins.
B次元官网网址淪tudents now tell me that when they go someplace and canB次元官网网址檛 recycle, theyB次元官网网址檙e looking for places to (do so),B次元官网网址� Coey said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had parents tell me they have to recycle (elsewhere) because theyB次元官网网址檙e so used to doing it at school.B次元官网网址�
On the fourth Saturday of every month, Reynolds hosts a program where the community can drop off items for recycling that canB次元官网网址檛 fit in their blue boxes.
Using funds from the recycling program, Coey has expanded the schoolB次元官网网址檚 environmental initiatives.
The green spaces projects has sprouted up recently and encourages students to grow their own fruits and vegetables in plots located at the front of the school and in the inner courtyard.
B次元官网网址淢oney that they earn from the recycling depot feeds back into other environmental projects in the school,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淔or example, itB次元官网网址檚 gone to help purchase fencing and benches at the front of the school. WeB次元官网网址檝e planted crab apple trees, evergreen trees, chocolate lilies, flowering red currents in order to get a more natural area reclaimed.B次元官网网址�
With the popularity of the first garden, the district jackhammered out a piece of asphalt in the inner courtyard to allow students to create a second green space. There they grow kale, parsley, chives and purple sprouting broccoli.
The ability to grow their own food inspired another major program: the salad bar.
For 20 weeks of the year, students who are part of the Green Group pick vegetables from the garden and serve them to their classmates and staff for lunch.
Grade 12 student Isabelle Leslie, a member of the Green Group, hopes to inspire other students to grow their own food.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 nice that the people who get the salad bar or walk by realize that weB次元官网网址檝e grown some of the food here,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚t might inspire them to do it themselves.B次元官网网址�
Hannah Berry, also a Grade 12 student, said CoeyB次元官网网址檚 passion for the environment is infectious.
B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 really passionate about environmental stuff; not just in the school; I know she tries to live that way too, which is a really good influence,B次元官网网址� Berry said. B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 a good model, she tries to walk the walk.B次元官网网址�
Coey hopes to inspire a lifestyle change both in her students and the greater community through these projects. B次元官网网址�(ItB次元官网网址檚) just a paradigm shift in the way you live your life to consider living sustainably, and that the planet is finite and that the choices and actions you do are going to make a difference,B次元官网网址� she said. The goal is B次元官网网址渇or students to experience that difference actually happening, so that they can be very hopeful that the future can be bright.B次元官网网址�
CoeyB次元官网网址檚 energy around environmental initiatives has clearly rubbed off on her students.
Kendra.wong@vicnews.com
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