NEWS RELEASE NIAGARA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OBTAIN 100 PER CENT ECOSCHOOLS CERTIFICATION FOR SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR Niagara Catholic Director of Education John Crocco is pleased to announce that Niagara Catholic has obtained 100 per cent certification of all of our schools by the Ontario EcoSchools program for the seventh consecutive year. The Ontario EcoSchools program incorporates environmental education as well as environmentally responsible action in a school or classroom setting, creating a culture of conservation that students bring into their home lives. In 2010, Niagara Catholic became the first school board in the province to have every elementary and secondary school in its system to be certified as an Ontario EcoSchool. Since then, we have maintained that perfect record of full certification. This year represents our seventh straight year of EcoSchools certification, a record that is unparalled in Ontario. We are also proud to announce that we have built on our success of last year, expanding our number of schools recognized with Awards from one to eight in 2015-2016. In addition to the eight schools to receive Status, 41 Niagara Catholic schools achieved EcoSchool status, seven schools achieved Status and one school achieved Bronze status. This accomplishment has been made possible through the exceptional learning provided to students and the environmentally responsible practices incorporated into our schools. Board Chair Father Paul MacNeil congratulated the students and staff for their commitment to environmental stewardship. It is immediately evident when you walk into our schools that students and staff are committed to preserving the world God created for us, said Father MacNeil. The energy the students share when they talk about stewardship and conservation projects could power our Board, and it spreads to everyone around them. Congratulations to all of our students and staff who worked so hard this year, and thank you to the parents and guardians who have supported them along the way. 2
Director Crocco said this year s results are evidence of the success of Niagara Catholic s Green Niagara program, and also proof that students and staff are taking Pope Francis s call to action on climate change seriously. A year ago, the Holy Father released his encyclical on climate change, Laudato Si, reminding us to do our best to protect our common home, said Mr. Crocco. We consider environmental stewardship as an extension of the culture of life present throughout Niagara Catholic, and I m extremely proud that not only are we once again fully certified, we have shown such an impressive increase in the number of schools in 2016. Congratulations and thank you to all of the students and staff who worked so hard to achieve this outstanding, and provincially leading, result. Niagara Catholic s 2015-2016 Ontario EcoSchools standings are attached. Photo Opportunity: Autoline Toyota in Niagara Falls will be on hand at Loretto Catholic Elementary School on Monday, June 27, at 11:00 a.m. to celebrate a $1,400 donation from Toyota Evergreening Learning Grounds to the school for schoolyard greening projects. Niagara Catholic provides excellence in Catholic education to approximately 23,000 students in Early Learning through Graduation across the Niagara Peninsula. -30- Contact: John Crocco, Director of Education Issued by: Jennifer Pellegrini, Communications Officer Date: June 24, 2016
BACKGROUND NIAGARA CATHOLIC 2016 ECOSCHOOLS RESULTS School Name Level 2016 Alexander Kuska Catholic Elementary School Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School Holy Name Catholic Elementary School St. Andrew Catholic Elementary School St. Ann Catholic Elementary School (F) St. George Catholic Elementary School St. Mary Catholic Elementary School (W) Assumption Catholic Elementary School Cardinal Newman Catholic Elementary School Denis Morris Catholic High School Father Hennepin Catholic Elementary School Lakeshore Catholic High School Loretto Catholic Elementary School Mary Ward Catholic Elementary School Monsignor Clancy Catholic Elementary School Notre Dame College School Notre Dame Catholic Elementary School
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Elementary School (SC) Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Elementary School Our Lady of Victory Catholic Elementary School Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School Saint Francis Catholic Secondary School Saint Michael Catholic High School Saint Paul Catholic High School St. Alexander Catholic Elementary School St. Alfred Catholic Elementary School St. Ann SC St. Anthony Catholic Elementary School St. Augustine Catholic Elementary School St. Charles Catholic Elementary School St. Christopher Catholic Elementary School St. Denis Catholic Elementary School St. Edward Catholic Elementary School St. Gabriel Lalemant Catholic Elementary School St. James Catholic Elementary School St. John Bosco Catholic Elementary School St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School (S) St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School (Gr)
St. Mark Catholic Elementary School St. Martin Catholic Elementary School St. Mary Catholic Elementary School (NF) St. Michael Catholic Elementary School St. Philomena Catholic Elementary School St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School (NF) St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School (PC) St. Theresa Catholic Elementary School St. Therese Catholic Elementary School (PC) St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Elementary School Canadian Martyrs Catholic Elementary School Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Elementary School (Gr) St. John Catholic Elementary School (B) St. Kevin Catholic Elementary School St. Nicholas Catholic Elementary School St. Peter Catholic Elementary School St. Elizabeth Catholic Elementary School Bronze