HSC celebrates Earth Week

On Wednesday, April 22, 2009 the entire College will be celebrating Earth Day with a number of activities. In the Senior School, the Environment Club will be sponsoring two events: Wednesday will be a Dress Down Day. Students may pay to wear casual clothes rather than their uniform. The cost will be based on the method students use to get to school. Students who arrive under their own power, by school bus, or by public transit will be charged $3.00 for the right to wear “civvies”. Those who arrive by car pool with at least two others whose destination is HSC will be charged $4.00. Those who arrive in private cars (two or fewer students or staff) will pay $5.00. We are hoping to reduce the number of cars driving onto the campus or parking in the student and staff lots by a significant fraction on Wednesday. Please think about your means of transport on that day and make the best decision for the environment.

As part of an ongoing project to naturalize the campus with Carolinian species, the Environment Club will be planting a number of native trees on slopes near the upper fields. For the second year in a row, they have received a POET grant (Protecting Our Environment Together) to fund the purchase and labelling of trees. If the weather and nursery staff cooperate, the students hope to plant this year’s trees on Wednesday. If not, they will attempt to get them in before the end of “Earth Week”. Last year several trees were planted, including a memorial tree to honour Dr. Moffatt’s late father, funded by his colleagues. This opportunity is open to families, alumni and student groups who might want to plant a memorial to a loved one. For approximately $250, a healthy young native tree will be planted together with a brass plaque. For a donation of $500 a larger tree with a plaque mounted on a piece of local dolomite bedrock can be installed. If you are interested in donating or getting more information on this project, please contact Dr. Moffatt at moffatt@hsc.on.ca for details.

The Junior School is organizing a fundraiser to donate money to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, which is attempting to acquire an important tract of land in eastern Ontario that is prime habitat for Grey Wolves. The funds from the various events throughout the College will support this cause. The Nature Conservancy is dedicated to purchasing and protecting ecologically significant properties that might otherwise be sold for development. Protecting the habitat of top predators typically protects the niches of smaller species as well.

In the Montessori School the students are focusing on Earth issues all week. In class discussions the children are making the connections between our global resources and how they can make responsible decisions each day to protect and preserve these resources. A focus on the use of paper, water and electricity are explored.

In addition, the students will dress in green and blue on Wednesday and are collecting coins to add to the Junior School initiative for the Nature Conservatory. The students in the elementary grades are bringing in coins and are then asked to add a letter to an Earth Day poem that will be posted in the Upper Piazza.

In support of the Junior School initiative - Howling for Habitats, Middle School House Captains are showing a PowerPoint based on the story Wolf Island by Celia Godkin. This story emphasizes the importance of maintaining the balance in nature.  Wolves play a critical role in balancing Canada’s ecosystems. 

After the story and discussions, the House Captains will be putting change collection jars into each of the classrooms.  The Middle School will be collecting loose change for the next week to support Nature Conservancy and their quest to purchase land needed for wolves’ habitat. 

In addition, Middle School students will have an alternate dress day on Wednesday.  Middle School students are being encouraged to wear earth colours, natural fabrics and if at all possible clothing “made in Canada”.   

Get involved, think globally, act locally.