Lots of different pathways in Geography!

Blogged by Emily & Amy

            Today, November 24, our class had the pleasure of listening to two guest speakers from Georgian College. Samantha and Jim talked about a very wide variety of topics! As we’re coming to a close on our high school career, we’ve recently had to think about what we would like to do to further our education. We learned about different environmental programs offered at Georgian, different supports that are available to students, many various paths to take in the environmental side of geography and many other interesting things to do with college overall.

            Their main focus was on the Environmental Technician and the Environmental Technology programs that are offered at Georgian. We got an in depth look at what each program entails and what to expect if we choose to go down that path. A very interesting component to these programs is that every student has a mandatory co-op placement that is required for their diploma.

           

We learned a lot of useful information about the college today, which helps make our decision easier, as we’ve all learned that it is not easy to make the decision on what school to apply to. Some amazing things that Georgian has to offer students are:

•  21 hours of in class work a week
•   Mandatory experience in your field of preference
• Many student success programs (peer tutors, counselors, writing centres,        math centres, learning strategists)

Since the environment is ever changing, the curriculum is updated annually, therefore, students are receiving the most current education to ensure they have the skills that employers and industries are looking for.

One of the things that stood out during this presentation was the statement “pick something you’re interested in”. The students in this class have a big decision to make and we all need to remember, whether we’re taking a year off, going to school next year, don’t plan on going into post-secondary, or not going to go to college/university for a while, picking something you’re interested in will be the key to success. 

As Jim said today,

“If you can’t skate with Sidney Crosby, stay in school and GRADUATE!!”

Gearing up for Art Gone Green!!

We are getting prepared for our art show! Promoting the event is the first step to success…. We have created colourful posters that have been hung around the school, and attention catching announcements that are read to the school each morning!

We are looking for YOUR art! If you have any kind of art including;  photography, drawings, sketches, paintings or even poetry that shows your understanding of ecological footprint or has an environmentally friendly theme, we would love to display your art in the student lounge, starting December 12th!

Art work can be submitted to Ms McLeod, in room 308, by December 9th!

We look forward to seeing your creations!  

Public Skate For The Environment!

Meeting With Town Council

By: Josh, Sarah, Troy and Kyle

On Wednesday November 19^th Josh went to the Essa town council meeting to propose our groups idea. He asked for their permission to turn Wednesday December 10^th public skate, at the Essa public arena beside our school, into a used clothing drive. Council loved the idea, and approved it, also offering their help and support. Our next step is to start promoting the skate in our school and around the community. This will be done by flyers being put up in public places in Angus, including; grocery stores, gas stations, fast food restaurants, public schools, etc. The Alliston radio station 92.1 MyFM will also be helping us promote the event by talking about it over the radio, promoting it on their website (newtecumsethtoday.ca), social media and an interview with our group that will be mentioned on air. We are also in the works of getting an add put into the Alliston Herald newspaper, and hoping CTV will make it to our event to help spread awareness.

The main things to remember about our event are the following:

• ·      The skate will be held on Wednesday December 10^th at the Essa arena from 6:00 - 7:20pm
• ·      The admission to get in is one used clothing item, preferably winter apparel
• ·      The skate is being held to encourage the recycling of used clothing; also to create much needed donations to the Angus helping hand.
• ·      The skate will be open to the public, remember to bring your own skates!

·      It will be a fun community event, also encouraging physical activity!

Josh speaking at the town council meeting to gain support for the event.

Reduce, Reuse, Reprint 

By Jenna, Amy, Stephen, Cassidy, Brandon 


Today we are advertising for our T-Shirt sales and are planing to sell them for the rest of the week! 

REDUCE, REUSE, REPRINT!

  By Amy, Cassidy, Jenna, Brandon & Stephen

Today we put up our posters and are ready to start selling shirts next week!

“Village of Love” Visits NPSS

Blogged by: Rosalyn

On November 18th, we were more than privileged to welcome two guest speakers to Nottawasaga Pines. Leonora and Andrew Obara have travelled from their homeland of Africa, to educate Canadian students on the importance of education, as well as the poverty, diseases and struggles that their people have to face everyday of their lives. Leonora and Andrew were always in great spirit, despite the snowy and cold weather!

Andrew began the presentation by asking students if they knew where Kenya was. Many were clueless and confused…. some even commented that they thought Africa was a country! The couple explained that Kenya was located on the Eastern Coast of Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean. Over 45 million people inhabit the country, and a large percentage of the population lives in deep, serious poverty.

Leonora began to tell us about a slum, located in the city of Nairobi, called Kibera. Over 2 million people call crowded Kibera home, including Leonora, Andrew and their 15 children. Infact, Kibera is the 2nd largest slum in Africa, and one of the biggest slums in the world where disease, crime, assault, drugs, orphans, homelessness, death and hunger are just a part of everyday life.

Both Leonora and Andrew, who have been married since 1987, explained that they were trying to find ways to better their community. Taking in over 10 orphans, whose parents died of HIV aids, to add to their already large family of 5, wasn’t enough!  The couple came up with the idea of “Kijiji Cha Upendo”, or “Village of Love” Childrens Project, in 2009, and by 2010, their community charity was up and running, helping the people of Kibera have an improved quality of life.

One of the main focuses of “Village of Love” is encouraging orphans and children living in extreme poverty to attend school and maintain their health and wellness. Andrew was extremely passionate, when he told his audience that education is the key to social and economic development. The Kenyan Government passed a bill that stated Elementary School education will be “free” to all children, until they are 12.  However, elementary school costs a citizen of Kenya, over $500 CDN a year per child. These fees are needed for uniforms, desks, supplies and transportation

to and from the few run down schools

that Kibera has. Elementary school lasts for 8 years, so therefore, sending a child to school to get their 8 years of elementary education, will end up costing over $4000 CDN.  Many families live on less than $1 CDN a day. Affording school is simply impossible.  Without education, and the routines of school, children are often left unattended and have to engage themselves. Many young children and adolescents can get involved in street crimes. “Both girls and boys are drawn into the sex trade, often contracting HIV/AIDS, the girls falling pregnant very early to become trapped in a lifetime of poverty. The boys are drawn into drug use, gangs and criminal activity of all kinds” (Village of Love Website). Leonora told us, that children in Kenya are extremely passionate and serious about school and education. “They want to attend school, they want to better their families  lives, they want to make a positive difference in the world for their children” she said.  

Another way “Village of Love” is committed to assisting the growth, development and economy of Kibera is Micro Loans. Through donations, families are provided with small loans of $64 CDN, to start their own businesses, go to workshops to learn how to be an entrepreneur, as well as encouraging growth in the local economy. Families with 7-15 children would live on $1 a day, and could possibly go days without a meal. However, with the support of Micro Loans, families are making as much as $4.50 in a day! The results of this program, is happy and healthy families, who now can afford 3 meals a day.

After their presentation, Andrew and Leonora began to tell us about their life, and share some of their personal experiences. All 15 of their children attend school, thanks to the Village of Love. They will also get to attend university, and have big goals for their life, such as being a lawyer, chef and even a beautician! “We are all one big happy family, and I love all of them as if they are my own” says Leonora, who is an excellent and supportive mother. The whole group was very surprised when we were shown pictures of the housing in Kibera. It was also brought to our attention, that 30-50 people share one bathroom, which they have to pay for, and is not cleaned often.

       How can WE help?

You can help the Village of Love continue to change the lives of African children and families. Youth trips are organized through Village of Love. Students can help clean up Kibera, give support to children and families, help teenage mothers and experience the poverty of a slum that more than 2 million people call home.  Village of Love Canada, is always encouraging and accepting donations. Almost every cent of your donated dollar goes directly towards supporting education and Micro Loans in Kibera, as the organizations runs solely on volunteers! We, have the power to change and improve the life of a child and a family.

A HUGE thankyou to Leonora and Andrew for an amazing, inspirational and empowering presentation! Also a big thankyou to Ms.Cryer and Sarah from “Village of Love” for organizing such an eye opening event. Students at NPSS have definitely learned to be thankful for the education we receive, and the style of life that we live!     

County of Simcoe Waste Management comes to NPSS!

GUEST SPEAKER IN GEOGRAPHY!

As a grade 12 Environmental and Resource Management class we had the opportunity to have a guest speaker ; Gabriela Roman-Axt, from County of Simcoe's solid waste management department.

Ms. Roman-Axt with her new NPSS mug and Brandon and Brandon with their green bin liner bags.  

Through out the class, Gabriela covered the topics of :

• What the solid waste management department does
• Why Garbage is a problem
• What we can do
• How to properly use the 4 types of disposal bins
• What happens to recyclables/ organics
  
  
  

Some fun facts that we learned and would like to share are:

• There is only 6 and a half years of garbage capacity left in our landfill
• Buy “compostable” bags rather than “biodegradable” bags
• Even with the introduction of green bins, the amount of garbage we are producing is still increasing each year
• Sorting products prior to bringing them to a landfill can result in free disposal
• You exchange a broken green bin for a new one for free or call 1-800-263-3199 for more information

For more information about proper disposal, visit their websites at:

http://www.simcoe.ca/dpt/swm/index.htm#.VGTtokvoYfE

or use the “Waste Wizard” at :

http://www.simcoe.ca/dpt/swm/collection/wastewizard/index.htm#.VGTt3kvoYfE

Not only was Gabriela a phenomenal speaker, but she also graciously brought gifts for our class such as t-shirts, compostable bags and recycled denim pencils. As a class we would like to thank her for visiting our class and informing us on a such a large global issue that is directly effecting our community and the world.

-Sarah and Cassidy