Durham Catholic schools receive Ontario EcoSchools certification

The Durham Catholic District School Board’s (DCDSB) Facilities Services and EcoSchools Advisory Committee recently announced that for the second year in a row, 100% of its schools were successful in achieving Ontario EcoSchool certification for the 2016-2017 school year.

Ontario EcoSchools is an environmental education and certification program for Kindergarten through  Grade 12 that helps school communities develop both ecological literacy and environmental practices to become environmentally responsible citizens and reduce the ecological footprint of schools. In the Board’s 10^th consecutive year of participation in the program, staff and Trustees are pleased that all schools are being stewards of the earth and caring for God’s creation.

“We are thrilled to see our EcoSchool teams set an example with the many environmental projects and initiatives that have taken place over the last 10 years,” said John Rinella, Chair of the Board. “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I congratulate our Durham Catholic schools on achieving this honourable recognition, bringing hope for our children’s future as they embrace our Catholic values of Service, Stewardship and Responsibility,” he said.

Bob Camozzi, Superintendent of Facilities Services, acknowledged the partnership between the DCDSB Environment Committee and Ontario EcoSchools. “Our students and staff embrace the Ontario EcoSchools program because it connects to their experiential learning outside the classroom, for example, making connections between CO2 emissions and preserving God’s creation,” said Superintendent Camozzi.

DCDSB EcoSchool teams will be recognized in the fall at an annual celebration, honouring all 45 schools as they receive Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum awards from the Ontario EcoSchools program.

2016-2017 Durham Catholic Ontario EcoSchools

Platinum

St. John the Evangelist CS

St. Thomas Aquinas CS

Gold

Archbishop Denis O’Connor CHS              

Father Joseph Venini CS                           
Good Shepherd CS

Sir Albert Love CS                                         
St. André Bessette CS                                  

St. Bernadette CS         

St. Bernard CS                                              
St. Bridget CS                                                
St. Catherine of Siena CS                             

St. Christopher CS                                        
St. Elizabeth Seton CS 

St. Francis de Sales CS                                
St. Hedwig CS                                               
St. James CS

St. John Bosco CS                    

St. John Paul II CS                                           
St. Joseph CS, Uxbridge                                 
St. Jude CS                                                      
St. Kateri Tekakwitha CS   

St. Leo CS                                                       

St. Luke the Evangelist CS 

St. Marguerite D’Youville CS                           
St. Mark the Evangelist CS  

St. Mary CSS

St. Matthew the Evangelist CS                        
St. Monica CS                                                  
St. Paul CS 

St. Teresa of Calcutta CS     

St. Theresa CS                                                                           
St. Wilfrid CS            

Silver

All Saints CSS                                            
Father Fénelon CS

Monsignor Philip Coffey CS

Monsignor John Pereyma CSS       

St. Isaac Jogues CS                                       
* St. Josephine Bakhita CS                              

St. Patrick CS                       

Bronze                            

* Father Leo J. Austin CSS                          
Holy Family CS   

Monsignor Paul Dwyer CHS 

Notre Dame CSS   

St. John XXIII CS       

St. Joseph CS, Oshawa