EARTH DAY PROJECTS are occupying students throughout This group of Grade 8 researchers, part of Miss Wisniewski's cl ~—- School District 88. ass, were hard at The trappings for the planetary holid: it in the Skeena school library when they were interrupted by our photographer. ay include posters, caps and shirts, ow q od to ay EARTH DAY: It’ everybody’s planet ~ At the last B.C. Teachers’ Federation annual general meeting, three enviromental resolutions were passed: 1) that the BCTF encourage all school staffs to establish and promote school-based environmental education programs; 2) that the BCTF urge the Ministry of Education and school districts to establish recycling programs in ‘all B.C. schools; 3) that the BCTF urge the Ministry of Education to incorporate En- vironmental Education in the curricula from K to 12. To continue the process, the Jerrace and District Teachers’ Association is initiating en- vironmental awareness projects in the schools in conjunction with Earth Day, April 22. A two-person committee has been formed to approach the School District #88 board with - proposals to commence recyc- ling. programs in the schools, save energy and ban styrofoam - from the schools. Teachers San- dra Audet and Ray Walker, hope to work together with the gchool board to effect changes that will startin the schools, but educate and benefit the whole community.” “according to Earth Day co- oidiriator “Ray “Walker, the TDTA will soon make a pro- posal for an environmental! 10-year plan which they hope will grow every year with school and community support. Earth Week and Young Writers’ Week are running con- currently. Teachers are taking advantage of the duo-purpose week by assigning environmen- tal topics for English essays. English teacher Linda Wis- niewski has her five Grade 8: classes studying and writing about endangered species. Each student is required to research the endangered animal of their choice, explain why they are en- dangered and propose solutions to prevent their extinction. Bach student is writing as essay about their animal and will do verbal and visual presentation to the rest of the class. . Consumer education classes will do merchants’ surveys to determine their concern for and actions in dealing with environ- mental problems related to their . business; consumer surveys to determine community awareness of environmental concerns; and a post-event survey to determine - the effect of Earth Day on peo- ple’s attitudes and actions relating to the environment. a Some classes:-are producing flyers to be distributed community-wide with en- vironmental tips for around the home. TDTA members met last week to sew cloth grocery bags. They anticipate sewing and selling 300 bags and making a small profit of about $1 on each. Dave Com- fort is designing a logo for the bags. These bags will be sold on Earth Day, April 20 and 21, to encourage people to take their own grocery bags when shop- ping, and to raise money for next year’s events. Also for sale | will be Earth Day sweat shirts and T-shirts. The display will be in the Skeena Mall on April 21 and 22. It will represent both Earth Day and Young Writers’ Week. Contributed by Ray Walker Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970, involved 20 million peo- ple, and was the single largest organized event in history. This year, more than 120 nations will participate. Because our planet faces new and more serious problems such as ozone deple- tion, greenhouse effects, toxic waste management, shrinking rainforests, and acid rain, organizers hope to involve a new generation of environmental ac- tivists in this year’s activities. Some environmental experts have said that we must turn things around in the next decade or face possible extinction as a species. Accepting the challenge, con- cerned teachers and others have christened the 1990’s the ‘‘turn- around’’ decade and are generation in profound lifestyle changes. Activities throughout the schools are many and varied. Students will be involved in re- searching and debating topics such as fashion vs. furs, nuclear power and waste disposal, rain- forest depletion, and a multitude of others. School librarians have been busy in searching out resources and instructing stu- dents in research skills. An elementary classroom is con- structing a collage of junk mail and excessive packaging materials, Art classes will be silk screening a logo designed by teacher Dave Comfort for cloth shopping bags sewn in the eve- nings by volunteer teachers, Some schools are engaged in paper recycling projects. The Teachers’ Association has made a number of Earth Day T-shirts available for prizes for creative dedicated to educating a new - student involvement. PEN Centennial Christian School - 3608 Sparks Street, Terrace, B.C. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. . _ Everyone is invited to visit our school, sit In on classes, take a look at the HOUSE : EB programs and view student work..