Next Eco Warrior Meeting....

Wed. Dec 2 in the Library - see you there!

How Does Your Garden Grow Mr. McLean.....

Mr. McLean and several classes from Kindergarten to Grade 8 having been very busy Greening our School! 

Our L.K.S. gardeners' weeded the flower beds in front of the Kindergarten classes. They planted bulbs and new shrubs. They also weeded and planted the small garden by the entrance to the school. We wish to thank the students, parent volunteers and the people who donated the bulbs, plants and shrubs. It looks beautiful! Thank you to everyone involved!

                      

Wed. Nov 4th - WALKING WED & ECO WARRIORS' @ lunch!

Just a reminder that this week is our meeting on Wed. Nov 4th @ lunch! look forward to seeing you all there.

We are challenging all classes to get out and walk to school this Wed. Nov. 4th - Remember the first Wed. of every month is our set date to walk together to school.  We know that lots and lots of you walk everyday  - so encourage a friend or a neighbour to walk with you! 

Get walking L.K.S. 

Go GREEN For HALLOWEEN!

10 Tips for a GREEN Halloween

1. Decorations. Instead of buying materials for decorations, gather supplies, arts and crafts throughout the year. Examples include:
*Turn stockings with runs into spider-webbing
*Turn cardboard boxes into tombstones
*Reuse your decorations from the previous year

2. Costumes. Make your own!

Keep old clothes that can be used as good pieces or parts of costumes, like worn t-shirts, black pants/shorts, etc.
If necessary, shop at thrift shops, consignment stores and yard sales, instead of buying retail.

3. Parties. When having a party, cut down on waste by avoiding disposable cups, plates and cutlery. Use regular dishes or buy biodegradable ones, and use a marker (or apply cute labels) to identify cups so party-goers can keep track of theirs.

4. Treats. Buy locally produced foods, candies and treats. Look for goodies with minimal packaging and/or those made packaged in recycled materials.

5. Trick-or-Treat Bags. Use (and decorate) household items to collect candy in. A bucket, pillowcase, or old even an old bag can be decorated inexpensively at home - and reused year after year.

6. Pumpkins. Buy pumpkins from local farms or farmers' markets. Better yet, grow your own -- kids love to watch them grow!

7. Jack-o-lanterns. Don't throw away all the goodies from inside your pumpkin. Toast the seeds for tasty treats. Make pumpkin pie or muffins with the fruit - or compost it.

8. Transportation. Trick or Treat by walking around your neighborhood instead of driving to another destination. Get to know your neighbors, reduce your carbon emissions and help keep the streets safe for other walkers.

9. Compost and Recycle. From party food to treats to pumpkins, consider composting all organic matter and recycling other items.

10. Reuse! Reuse as much as you can from year to year. Instead of throwing away an old box or bag, use it to gather all your decorations and keep for next year. Plus, you can surprise your family and friends by quickly pulling out your box and throwing an impromptu Halloween party any time of year!

Have a spooky time L.K.S. 
Eco Warriors'

Boomerang Lunch Program!

L.K.S. is off to a great start with the Boomerang Lunch Program!  Students' are stepping up and using  reusable containers more then ever! We have seen some amazing litterless lunch set ups! We encourage everyone to take pride in the lunchroom and to please not leave garbage under or on top of your table.  Please do your part to leave the lunchroom the way you found it! It makes everyone's life easier when we work as a team!  This months character trait is: responsibility!  Starting on Monday we will no longer have the garbage can or recycling bins in the lunchroom! 

Keep up the great work L.K.S.

Eco Warriors'

L.K.S. launches "Once A Week Garbage Pick Up"

Eco Warriors' have challenged all classrooms to "Save Our Resources" - with only "Once A Week Garbage Pick Up" all classes must be more aware of what is going into the garbage!  Set up your very own 
"Eco Audit" team and track your classes garbage consumption! You will be very surprised by just how little you should have in your garbage at the end of the day!  Go Green L.K.S.

L.K.S. launches Boomerang Lunch Program!

Dear Parents/Guardians,                                                                     

         To further our hard work from last year we will continue with even greater efforts in this year’s Eco School Program. This year, to continue to reduce waste, students will be asked to participate in our “Boomerang Lunch Program.” “Boomerang” lunches are those that consist of absolutely 100% no garbage! Every piece of the student’s lunch that is not consumed is returned home. This includes any leftover food, containers, recyclables, even garbage. Garbage bins in the lunchroom will be turned upside down and will have a reminder note on them to take garbage home for the first few weeks of the program. This will serve as a visual reminder to the students that there will be no garbage disposal during lunch at school. After this, the garbage bins will be completely removed from the lunchroom as the students adapt to the new program.

The purpose of the “Boomerang Lunch Program” is to increase awareness in our students as to the amount of waste generated in one day’s lunch. Furthermore the program will encourage and enforce the use of reusable containers and eradicate disposable ones, thus helping to do our part in reducing the amount of garbage produced in our school. We will begin “Boomerang” lunches on Tuesday, October 13, 2009!

Just a reminder that a “Boomerang” lunch includes the following items:

☺Reusable lunch bag or box

☺Reusable containers for packing food (no foil, plastic wrap/plastic bags)

☺Reusable drink containers (thermos or reusable bottle)

☺Non-disposable cutlery and cloth napkin

Thank you and we appreciate your support!

Kelly Caddel - Principal 
Stephen McLean - VP 
Ms. M. Perry
Ms. T. Shklar   
Miss. S. Buksner
Ms. R. Van Schoor

Gearing Up for Walking Wednesdays @ L.K.S.

Eco Warriors are promoting - "Walking Wednesday"
The first Wednesday of each month is our designated "Walking Day" - so ditch the car and get walking.  Designated Walking days are the same days that we hold our Eco Meetings!

We are committed to -
*improving your fitness
*decreasing traffic congestion
*saving gas and reducing emissions
*building social relationships by walking with a friend

ECO WARRIORS KICK OFF..... Wed. Sept. 30th

We look forward to seeing everyone on Wed. Sept. 30th @ lunch in the library!
Please bring your litterless lunch!
We will be discussing a variety of initiatives for the 2009-2010 school year!

See you there,
Eco Team

Welcome Back!

Welcome Back Eco Warriors!

We hope you had a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you soon!

Stay tuned and listen to the announcements as we get set to launch our 2009-2010 Eco Schools Program!

We look forward to seeing you!

Ms. Perry :)

EARTH RANGERS VISIT L.K.S.

In partnership with our Parent Eco Committee we are please to bring the "Earth Rangers" School Program to our school.  Earth Rangers believes that children have both the power and desire to change the world and the right to inherit a healthy planet. They are an innovative charitable organization with a mission to inspire kids with a lasting passion to build a better future – a green future in which today’s children are transformed from being the chief inheritors of environmental destruction into a powerful and determined part of the solution. To get there, they are combining kids’ passion for animals and the environment with their love of entertainment, to engage and motivate millions of children.

Visit the Earth Rangers Link to find out more!

Lots of Walkers, Bikers & scooters

We had one of the best turn outs for our last Walking Wednesday @ L.K.S.  We hope that everyone will continue to leave the car at home for the remainder of the month! Do you think you can do it? Challenge yourself and your friends - be a leader in the community! 

Reminder: Last Eco Warriors' Meeting is WED. JUNE 17th in Ms. Perry's Room! See you @ lunch!

Ms. Perry

JUNE 3rd - WALKING WEDNESDAY!

We hope to see as many people walking, biking, or scootering to school this WED JUNE 3rd!  This is our last Walking Wednesday for this school year and we challenge all of you to leave the car at home and help save the environment!  Ms. Moser's class leads the way as the top walking class this year - we don't expect anything less from them again this week!  So - dust off your helmet, pump up your tires and get active L.K.S.

Last Eco Meeting - DATE CHANGE to WED JUNE 17th

The Eco Warriors' Final Meeting this school year will be on Wed June 17th @ lunch in Ms. Perry's classroom!  Please bring your litterless lunch!  

Thank you for your commitment and doing your part this year to help our school achieve it's goals!  

Ms. Perry 

L.K.S. votes to adopt Red Panda!

During EARTH WEEK students' voted on an endangered animal to adopt!  The Red Panda won your hearts over and thus was adopted. Below is a brief description of the Red Panda! This program is part of the Toronto Zoo. 

Description: The feet have hairy soles and the claws are semi-retractable. The red panda's front legs are angled inward, which causes it to waddle when it walks. Like the giant panda, they have an extra pseudo-thumb on each forepaw. Head & Body Length: 51.0-63.5 cm Length of Tail: 28.0-48.5 cm Height: 3.0-4.5 kg 

Habitat: Temperate mountain forests and bamboo thickets at elevations of 1,800-4,000m.

Food: The diet consists mostly of bamboo sprouts, grasses, roots, fruits and acorns. It occasionally takes insects, eggs, young birds and small rodents.

Threats: Deforestation destroys the red panda’s nesting sites and the bamboo that provides their food. Sometimes the red panda is shot for game and it is often found in the traps set for musk deer. The expanding human population in southeast Asia, the increasing need for land and lumber, the competition with local livestock for food, and pollution all contribute to the dangers for the red panda from human sources. 

Status: Endangered

Pump Up Your Tires and Get Biking!!

The City of Toronto kicks off Bike Month May 25th - June 25th! 

How many days in a row can you bike to school?

Challenge a friend or even your neighbour to ride to school! 

Earth Rangers set to visit L.K.S. on Friday June 12th

Earth Rangers believes that children have both the power and desire to change the world and the right to inherit a healthy planet. They are an innovative charitable organization with a mission to inspire kids with a lasting passion to build a better future – a green future in which today’s children are transformed from being the chief inheritors of environmental destruction into a powerful and determined part of the solution.

To get there, they are combining kids’ passion for animals and the environment with their love of entertainment, to engage and motivate millions of children.

Visit www.earthrangers.org to find out more!

You can click on Earth Rangers in our Link section too!

L.K.S. End Of Year Locker Cleanout

End of Year Locker Cleanout

We are almost at the end of the year and you know what that means...your locker likely needs a good clean out!!! Remember to use the bins in the hallways during the set locker clean out dates -- they are clearly marked for RECYCLING, REUSE, AND GARBAGE.  We will create a bin for REUSE for materials such as pencils, pens, binders, rulers, etc.  As you know these things can be reused again next year! If you don't want them or need them - someone else might like to use these items!

L.K.S. Grade 5 Students head to Energy Festival @ Exhibition Place on May 14th

The Kids' World of Energy Festival offers a fun learning experience for grade five students with an important message about the need to conserve, understand, and respect energy in our homes and communities. With over 50 educational activities, speakers and performers contributing to this celebration, students will gain a new perspective on energy in their lives. The four major theme areas of the festival are:

• The Nuts and Bolts of Energy - Forms and Functions
• Energy Conservation and You – At Home and in our City
• Renewable Energy – Sun, Wind, Water, and Biomass Power
• Energy Cycles and Climate Change – How Humans Use Energy

The Kids’ World of Energy Festival brings together over 4000 students from across the GTA to explore the relationship of energy to our lives and life on the planet.  Taking place on the grounds of the Exhibition Place from May 12th to May 15th kids have the unique opportunity to discover the science and manifestations of energy in an urban environment.

Classes Attending the Festival - Mrs. Gibson, Mrs. Young, Mrs. Adair 

Another Great Earth Week @ L.K.S.

Wow! What a great Earth Week!
We had so many students' walking, biking or scootering to school - way to go! We hope everyone enjoyed all of the Earth Activities last week. A special thanks to our Waste Audit teams from Gr. 6,7,8 - who inspired us all with their waste audit challenge. We had a total of 16 classes participate. We want everyone to remember that Earth Day is everyday.....we should all be doing our small part to help nuture our planet each and everyday! Walk the talk L.K.S.

Remember our next Walking Wednesday is May 6th - just next week! Challenge yourself and your friends to get out and walk, bike or scooter to school more then just once a week, especially with this great weather we are having.

Eco Warriors'