Sept. 26: Professional learning on education for sustainable development

Teachers in Rainbow Schools from Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin will board yellow school buses and head back to class on Friday, September 26th to learn more about education for sustainable development. To limit their impact on the environment, they will bring along their own drinking mugs and cloth napkins.

“In a spirit of sustainability, our educators will leave their cars behind and bus pool to our professional learning locations – Valley View Public School, the first green school in Northern Ontario, and Confederation Secondary School, which has been retrofitted with green technology,” said Jean Hanson, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board. "The actions we take today will have a tremendous impact on the world our students inherit tomorrow. Small changes can make a big difference.”

Education for sustainable development has evolved over the past few years when professional learning in Rainbow Schools has focused on three key areas – character education, literacy skills, and success for all students. “Education for sustainable development is about creating a world where everyone has the opportunity to benefit from education and learn the values, behaviours and lifestyles required to achieve sustainability and build a just, humane, democratic and respectful society,” said Director Hanson. “Educators will learn about sustainability from three perspectives – environmental protection, economic growth and social development. More importantly, they will gain a better understanding of the important role education plays in supporting these pillars of sustainability.”

During the Professional Activity Day, students and staff from Sudbury Secondary School, Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, Espanola High School, A.B. Ellis Public School, R.L. Beattie Public School, Carl A. Nesbitt Public School and Markstay Public School will showcase what they are doing to “go green”. Community partners will also present workshops, giving educators an opportunity to gain new ideas on how they can make their schools more sustainable and support students in their efforts to build a better world.

 “As leaders in learning, we are mentors and role models,” said Director Hanson. “Through education and advocacy, we can affect behavioural changes that will enhance quality of life for generations to come.”

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Media Contact:
Sharon Speir, Superintendent of Schools,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7264.