Powering Off for the Planet

Durham's Catholic Students Take the Challenge for Change

OSHAWA, ON, March 23 /CNW/ - For the third year in a row, students of the Durham Catholic District School Board are taking the Earth Hour challenge by turning the power off on Friday, March 26, from 1 to 2 p.m.

The challenge is a small step in the big plan to reduce our impact on the environment but many of the Board's schools have other climate-change activities planned. All Saints Catholic Secondary School students will be testing common appliances using a kilowatt metre and discussing the environmental affects of plastic water bottles. St. Marguerite d'Youville Catholic School's grades 1 to 3 students will participate in a 'camp-out' telling stories by flashlight and grades 7 to 8, writing by flashlight, will express their wishes for the Earth.

The Durham Catholic District School Board students are active in the conservation movement to bring about change for the world in which they live. In fact, 85 per cent of the Board's schools will be applying for certification in the Ontario EcoSchools Program, which improves school building operations to reduce environmental impacts. Participating in Earth Hour 2010 is another way the students feel they can help to make a difference.

With the full support of the Board, in the last three years, new programs have been introduced that better engage school students regarding environmental issues. New options have been added which allow students to share their ideas to contribute to this globally significant issue.

QUOTES

"The future of our planet relies on our young people. They are engaged and motivated in the 'Green' movement and we not only need to support them but embrace and foster their ideas."

- Paul Pulla, Director of Education

"The students involved in Earth Hour and other environmentally conscious programs are showing how, if we all try a little, we can make a big change in the earth we share."

- Tim Robins, Assistant Superintendent - Facilities Services, Environmental and EcoSchools Committee

    
    QUICK FACTS

    -   Earth Hour is in it's third year and has become a global challenge
        for climate change awareness.

    -   The Durham Catholic District School Board to date has 39 schools
        applying for certification as EcoSchools in 2010.

    LEARN MORE

    See the Board's EcoSchools Program
    

http://www.dcdsb.ca/Web/Durhamrc.nsf/(AllByCurDocID)/0811141116088835

For further information: Darlene Rich, Communications Officer, [phone] ext. 2318 or Paul Pulla, Director of Education, ext. 2317