Rainbow Schools host Water-Bottle Free Day on March 24th

Norm Blaseg, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board, fills a water container at one of the water refilling stations in Rainbow Schools.

Rainbow District School Board invites students and staff to bring a reusable water container to school for “Water-Bottle Free Day” on Thursday, March 24, 2016.
 

“As we look ahead to Earth Day, it is important to educate students about the benefits of reusable containers and how they help to reduce our ecological footprint,” says Director of Education Norm Blaseg. “Water-Bottle Free Day is also a creative approach to encouraging the use of water filling stations in Rainbow schools.”

Rainbow District School Board began the installation of water filling stations in elementary and secondary schools in 2009. To date, the stations have saved the equivalent of some 1.1 million water bottles from our local landfill sites.

“Small improvements in our daily behaviours can have a positive and lasting impact on the environment,” says Director Blaseg. “We are proud of our efforts and will continue to make sustainability a priority for now and for the future.”

The Environmental Committee has been issuing challenges to staff and students in Rainbow Schools since the start of the school year.

In September, members of the school staff were invited to bike, take transit, car pool or walk to work on World Car Free Day.

Rainbow Schools held an Eat Local Day in November. Secondary school cafeterias, which are operated by Chartwells, featured a special menu made of locally sourced ingredients.

In January, schools were invited to “Reduce the Refuse” and pack a litterless lunch.

Schools hosted Sweater Day in February and turned down the heat to save energy.

What will next month’s challenge be?

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.