'CROCKER CHALLENGE'
FIRST YEAR A HUGE SUCCESS!
Holy Spirit High School completed its wetland habitat restoration initiative
in early 2007. It took five years to complete the 'The Frog Pond Ecological
Restoration Project', at a cost of $130,000.00. The onsite wildlife habitat
provides fantastic opportunities for learning experiences by students, and
serves the general public too, including tourists, through the provision of
additional recreational space. There is wheel-chair access. The major focus
of interpretation efforts at the site is environmental education, conservation,
recycling, leisure activity, and nature/habitat preservation.
At the official
ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony on October 23, 2007, Crocker challenged
each person in his school community to help make Holy Spirit High the leading
school model of 'environmental stewardship' in the province. Called 'The Crocker
Challenge', there were three specific goals:
1. Reducing weekly garbage going to the landfill by 50% by June 30, 2008 (a
reduction from 80 bags weekly to not more than 40 bags weekly).
2. Increasing
in-school recycling deposits to The Green Depot by 50% by June 30, 2008, as
compared to the previous year.
3. Making the school, its grounds, and Manuels River Linear Park, 'litter-free',
through education and various campaigns.
Garbage is still going to the landfill at Robin Hood Bay, so there were two
concurrent goals:
1. Ensuring that garbage is 'eco-friendly' and easily biodegradable. That
had implications for packaging used in the cafeteria, and for serving practices
in the school (i.e. reusable dishware, cutlery, etc.).
2. Using 'cleaning products' in the school and cafeteria that are 'eco-friendly'
choices.
Two school-wide contests occurred prior to Christmas to raise the awareness
level among students of the challenge, and to highlight the important part
that 'individuals' play in determining the success of the waste reduction
efforts.
The school's Interact Junior Rotary Club was leading student activities and awareness campaigns within the school and community. A field trip to the landfill at Robin Hood Bay in St. John's, for the executive and the school's Podcasting crew, occurred in November, and a letter was been sent to Trustees asking that only 'eco-friendly' cleaning products be used in schools and cafeterias. Chartwells, the cafeteria vendor, stopped ordering Styrofoam, and stopped using plastic packaging whenever possible. Only paper cups and plates, made from recycled product, are now being purchased. Individuals, service organizations and businesses were solicited to partner with the school and cover the $20,000 cost associated with the purchase of reusable melamine dishware, glasses, silver cutlery, and an industrial dishwasher.
The success of the initiative will bring tremendous benefit to the school,
its communities, and the province. The entire effort is aimed at increasing
the environmental awareness level in each student, employee and parent associated
with Holy Spirit High School.
Minister of Environment and Conservation, the Honorable Charlene Johnson,
presented the students, staff and school with a provincial environmental award
and $1000 in recognition of their stewardship efforts in June 2008.
Click here for a Report
Card summarizing the first year's activities and progress made towards
meeting the various goals.
Read more and see pictures from the Gazebo and Grounds Dedication.
