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Board recognizes Paris High as first
Eco-certified school
By Casandra Bellefeuille – Paris Star
December 2, 2010
Representatives from the Grand Erie District School Board
were at PDHS on Friday to present the high school with a
special plaque for obtaining certification as an Eco-School, the
first accomplishment of its kind within the school board.
Pictured from left to right are Mike Tancredi, manager of facility
services for GEDSB; Matt Miller, a PDHS graduate and an
originating member of the school s Eco-Club; Melissa
Snodgrass, a Grade 10 student and Eco-Club member; Tara
Topping, Eco-Club teacher advisor; John Forbeck, Director of
Education for the GEDSB; Katie Hasimoto, environmental
coordinator for the GEDSB; and Shayne Mann, PDHS principal.
Photo by Casandra Bellefeuille
Representatives of the Grand Erie District School Board were
in Paris last week to applaud the eco-friendly efforts of the
students at PDHS.
Paris high was presented with a congratulatory plaque for
successfully completing the mandatory requirements of the
Ontario EcoSchools education program. Paris is the first
school in the school board to become certified under the
environmental education program. As a result of their efforts,
four other Grand Erie schools are currently working towards
an EcoSchools status, said John Forbeck, director of
education for the school board.
Ontario EcoSchools is an environmental education program
for Grades 1-12 that helps students to develop ecological
literacy while engaged in practices to become
environmentally responsible citizens. Throughout the
certification process, Paris implemented a 100% recycling
policy, which helped reduce their amount of garbage by 40%.
The school revamped its courtyard to include more
indigenous plants, while computer and appliance usage was
cut drastically. The school also held an electronic waste event
to recycle used electronics. The school's Eco Club spent an
afternoon last spring canoeing down the Grand River and
picking up discarded garbage.
Paris is now recognized as a 'bronze certified' school, but
Eco-Club Teacher/Advisor Tara Topping hopes the students
will take the necessary steps to improve their certification to
silver in the years to come. The school's next focus is on
energy conservation and water consumption.
Members of the board's facility services and environmental
team were on hand last Friday to present the entire student
body with the special award, accepted by Grade 10 student
(and Eco Club member) Melissa Snodgrass
Booster Club Meeting News
Hi everyone, it's only been a couple of months since we last got
together and still the interest, comments
and memories continue. I will be sending
out the CD'S very soon (they are being
burned as I write)
AND I'd like for you to read the following
email I have received from Shayne Mann
regarding a booster club that sounds really
interesting.
Hope you are all well and enjoying
yourselves,
Dave (Woody) Scott
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A great deal of excitement and energy was in the air in September
when hundreds of PDHS alumni came back to the school and to
Paris to reconnect with their former classmates. Many of these
alumni expressed a desire to continue to contribute to the vitality
of PDHS. To tap into this Panther pride we are gauging interest in
starting up a Booster Club in support of PDHS. The club is open
to anyone interested in supporting PDHS - alumni, current
students’ parents, community members and any other interested
people. If you are interested in attending an initial meeting to start
up a Booster Club come out to PDHS; Tuesday, November 23rd
7 p.m. in the school library
At the meeting we will be discussing how such a club can support
PDHS, and what activities the club might be involved in. If there
is interest expressed that evening, we will be striking a steering
committee to get the ball rolling.
Many thanks,
Shayne Mann
Principal, Paris District High School
231 Grand River St. N
Paris, ON N3L 2N6
519-442-4477 x 275001 Fax 519-442-1997
shayne.mann@granderie.ca
Some brief comments from the Booster Club Meeting:
Despite a small turnout to the initial meeting on November
23 rd , there was sufficient interest expressed by those in
attendance to carry the project forward.
There was also positive feedback from alumni, current
students, parents and private citizens who were unable to
attend the initial meeting that lead to Principal Mann drafting
three documents for review by those in attendance and those
who have contacted him through emails or personal phone calls.
Those documents- A Booster club constitution; a Membership
form; and a Wish list submission template - will be discussed
along with other business at the next meeting scheduled for
January 11 th .
Those interested in the PDHS Booster Club should contact
Shayne Mann at the school or through his email as noted
above.
Here’s wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year