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www.insidehalton.com |OAKVILLE BEAVER |Thursday, November 16, 2017 |38 Public school grounds are becoming living classrooms by Tim Whitnell Metroland West Media Halton District School Board schools are turning their grounds into living classrooms. Over the past two years about 80 elementary schools and a dozen high schools have completed numerous outdoor greening projects as a way to improve student learning and achievement. At a recent board meeting, trustees received a report detailing the many projects taking place at Halton' s public schools. "Requests for schoolyard greening projects are increasing as schools move toward beautifying their grounds to create engaging, inclusive learning environments," states a Halton public board press release. The board says that research shows that learning outdoors is an effective form of teaching, as students can move around and interact with the environment. "Benefits include improved academic performance, enhanced critical thinking skills, the cultivation of curiosity, creativity and imagination, and the development of personal skills such as confidence and leadership." Schools plan and implement projects that encourage the use of native species. Outdoor learning spaces at Clarksdale (Burlington), Falgarwood (Oakville), Escarpment View (Milton) and Park (Georgetown) elementary schools incorporate seating areas and support learning in a variety of subjects such as literacy, music and mathematics, while supporting student well-being. Chris Hadfield (Milton), Orchard Park (Burlington) and Joshua Creek (Oakville) schools have pollinator and sensory gardens that allow students to make connections between their local environment and global environmental issues such as the loss of habitats for monarch butterflies. Partnerships are being developed with secondary schools to build small elements, such as cedar workbenches, to enhance kindergarten spaces. "These projects provide important learning for secondary students while supporting elementary schools," says the press release. Initiatives during the past year include: · Outdoor spaces and seating areas with natural and manufactured shade to support learning · Active play areas for older primary students · Increasing tree planting for shade and diversity · Food gardens "Food gardens are a popular choice at schools to encourage healthy eating, build an understanding of food production and waste, and incorporate healthy lifestyle activities," says the board. Milton District High School and Maplehurst (Burlington) and Joseph Gibbons (Georgetown) elementary schools have food gardens on their grounds, ranging from small planters in kindergarten spaces to joint community projects. "The role of the board in school ground greening projects is to promote safety and sustainability while ensuring other important and appropriate functional uses of the grounds are respected. We continue to support changes to school grounds that will enhance instructional learning of all our students," said Stuart Miller, Halton District School Board director of education. Greening projects are funded through school generated funds, special fundraisers and grant awards from various foundations. The board also has an agreement with the non profit organization Evergreen for the services of a landscape architect, who provides consultation and design services for schools and serves as a resource to the board' s facilities services staff. Halton police launch annual Toys forTots cam paign to benefit children a t holidays A Christmas toy drive spearheaded by Halton Regional Police begins its annual collection. The Toys for Tots campaign aims to provide gifts to less fortunate families living in the region. This year, Halton police has partnered with Canadian Tire, the Salvation Army, Mandarin Restaurant and Halton Honda to collect and provide toys to families in need. The official kickoff event for the 17th annual Toys for Tots Campaign was Wednesday, Nov. 15, at the Guelph Line Burlington Canadian Tire. Halton police' s honorary officers, wrestling legends and humanitarians Tiger Jeet Singh and Tiger Jeet Singh Jr., joined the launch. Previous donors were invited, including the Burlington Lions Optimist Minor Hockey As sociation (BLOMHA), which raised more than $60,000 worth of toys for the 2016 campaign. The entire 2016 campaign raised $250,000 in toys, gift cards, cash and food, helping about 4,350 local families. New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at any Halton police station or any Canadian Tire in Halton. Gift cards are accepted, too. Several Halton officers will distribute the gifts to schools around the region as well as to the Burlington Hub (Our Kids Network). All schools in Halton can submit a gift wish list for up to four families. Officers will go to each school, more than 100, and drop off bags of unwrapped gifts to be delivered to those families. Gift deliveries to the schools will occur Dec. 19-22. For more information, visit wwwhaltonpolice.ca or contact Const. Steve Elms at 905-634 1831, ext. 5041, or steve.elms@haltonpolice.ca. Now borrow up to $15,000 with an Installment Loan. For d e ta ils, v is it us at: 2460 Neyagawa B lvd, 905-257-1917 198 Speers Road, 905-338-6000 BLACK FRiDAY PRiCiNG + N O O O HST We Can help. Installment loans offered in select provinces only. Loan principal amounts vary between $1,000 and $15,000 based upon income and other qualification requirements, including a credit check. Loan term is based on the amount borrowed. 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