Education for Sustainable Development

The Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) student committee is an enthusiastic group of grade 3 to 6 students who are eager to learn about the three pillars of sustainability (human health and well-being, economics, and environmental) and take a leadership role at Robertson School. The goal of Education for Sustainable Development is to promote the development of the knowledge, skills, understanding, values, and actions required to create a sustainable world, which ensures environmental protection and conservation, promotes social equity and encourages economic sustainability.

Here are some of the great things that we are doing this school year:

• Outdoor Learning Day - encourage students to take their learning outdoors, learn from the land, and establish an appreciate for the natural world
• Litterless Lunch - students and staff are encouraged to bring a lunch without the use of single-use plastic
• Trash Challenge - students and staff were challenged to limit their garbage for one day to fit into a small classroom ‘trash can’ such as a coffee mug, or shoe box
• Classroom Party Single-Use Plastic Waste Reduction - students are encouraged to bring classroom treats that use no or limited single-use plastic
• Marker Recycling - a central drop off location has been designated for staff and students to place markers that no longer work. Markers will be sent to a recycling depot.
• Milk Carton Recycling - a small group of students collect and clean empty milk cartons after lunch program each day
• Koats for Kids - in December, gently used outerwear was collected for Koats for Kids
• Kindness Initiative - students are in the process of initiating a Kindness fundraiser for the month of February. Funds raised will be used for future ESD initiatives or to donate to community projects, as decided by the students
• Take Pride presentation and fashion show - students participated in a presentation by Tom Ethans, Executive director of Take Pride Winnipeg. Small groups of students are creating clothing out of recyclable items and will present them at the Take Pride Fashion show in March
• Indigenous Perspective presentation - Michelle Gougeon from the Winnipeg School Division, shared an indigenous perspective of Mother Earth and the 7 generations principle
• World Water Week - school wide spirit week in March to acknowledge human water pollution and consumption through actions such as: drinking, food consumption, textiles, and over consumptions of goods to help us rethink how we manage water
• Little Free Library - promote equitable access to literature
• Earth Day - April 22, school wide education and activities which prompts students and staff coming together in partnership to celebrate and honour planet earth
• World Environment Day - June 5th, an emphasis is placed on worldwide awareness and action to protect the environment

Stay tuned for future student ESD initiatives.