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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-11-18, Page 17LAKE HURON LEARNING Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, November 18, 2009 - Page 17 School board bans bottles on January 1 _Stow Slater special to the signal -star Some changes have already been made in many schools, and full restrictions on the sale of bottled water in the Avon Mai- tland District School Board come into ef- fect January 1. "I think we're ahead of the curve. The municipalities are doing it and I see no reason why the school boards shouldn't," enthused Stratford trustee Doug Pratley, at a regular board meeting Tuesday, Nov. 10. Pratley — along with representatives from school staff, students and administrators — serves as the trustee representative on the Environmental Leadership and Education Committee, which first brought forward the recommendation early this year. A Jan. 27, 2009 board motion, in keep- ing with that committee's recommenda- tion, called for a prohibition on "the pur- chase and/or sale of bottled water ... on all (board) property, except where required for medical or emergency purposes." The motion called for implementation for the beginning of 2010, but some parts have al- ready been put in place. According to an update report provided to trustees at the Nov. 10 meeting, vending machines were removed from all elemen- tary schools at the conclusion of the 2008- 09 school calendar, and bottled water has been removed from all secondary school machines. "I would estimate we had machines in between 50-75 per cent of our (elemen- tary) schools," explained Avon Maitland purchasing manager Brad Hill, in an inter- view after the meeting. Machines remain in place in all secondary schools, mean- while, albeit with an altered offering as a result of the recent changes. Hill noted the elementary school ma- chines used to dispense both fruit juice and bottled water. The juices were removed some time ago due to revised Ministry of Education guidelines — based on Health ministry recommendations — on fruit juice serving sizes for younger children. The ma- chines could d not accommodate the smaller bottles; as a result, the elementary school machines, at the time of their removal, dis- pensed only bottled water. In secondary schools, where larger serv- ing -size fruit juices remain available in vending machines, bottled water has been removed and replaced. According to Hill, this has generally meant the introduction of "no -calorie" and "low -calorie" drinks, often described as "vitamin water" or "vi- tamin -enhanced beverages." The next step, scheduled for full imple- mentation Jan. 1, is the removal of bottled water from school cafeterias. Hill said the ban was already negotiated into contracts with each of the schools' food services providers (five of the board's nine high schools are served by the Chartwell's cor- poration; the rest are served by indepen- dent contractors). Cheryl Peach, a principal who served on the Environmental Leadership and Educa- tion Committee, was careful to note this is not an outright ban. "We will be allowing students, if they bring it from home, to have bottled water," Peach explained. The sale of bottled water will also be allowed for special events at the school, such as sports tournaments or other extra -curricular activities. With those exceptions in mind, the com- mittee recommended that schools "need to provide recycling facilities for plastic bottles" Peach added, however, that students have already shown they're ready for the changes. More and more students are bringing their own refillable water bottles and refilling them at fountains. And some school -related organizations — such as stu- dent councils or school councils — have un- dertaken refillable water bottle sales cam- paigns as a form of fundraising. The Plastic Continent: Did you know? • In the Padflc Ocean, half -way between Ha- waii and California, there is an unintention- ally man-made island created out of refuse - mostly plastic - that has migrated there? The Wand is larger than Texas, and was dis- covered in 1997 by Captain Charles Moore. • The island is composed of garbage that h ei- ther dumped, or carried off -shore, and con- tains items like furniture, plastk bags and bottles, televisions, large appliances, and fishing nets. • The man made continent is also known as The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Trashlantis, The Asian Trash Trail, and The Trash Vortex. 76% OFF! 4L casserole with cover. $464.90. CSU READY Tb' _ APTURE YOUR OLIDAY MEMORIES? oin local Photo Artist VIDEO CAMERA BASICS A 3 evening course for anyone who is interested in improving or learning how to use your video camcorder or the video function on your digital camera WEDNESDAYS, November 25, December 2 and 9 7-9pm GODERICH & DISTRICT COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE $70.00 Registration is required To register or learn more, contact Anna at sal 54 or info 101,turonlearninvm Branch 109 thanks all those who made our Remembrance Day so great. Our Poppy Chairman, Ben Prouse, and his committee who worked so hard. All those who helped with the Poppy Blitz, in the community and the stores, indudingthe Air Cadets, and all those members of the Junior Saiibrs Hockey Team. Those who participated in any way with the parade, the Celtic Blue Pipe Band, Laketown Band, the colour party, the solderfrom the Land Forces Centra' Area Training Centre in Meaford, our police department, the Air Cadets, Cubs and Scouts, Branch members, Veteranl,Jhe Laidlaw Bus, our volunteer driver, Murra ; alitleddy all those who att it'iv� It was so imp :to us that the Grade four to studentdrOm Public School attended too.to Rev. Canon AllanLivingstone whose wb 1 were so moving. Very special thanks goes to the Ladies Auxiliary to Branch 109 who fed over MAO made it look easy and also for their very spedai donation to the Branch W*re you ladies. 64% OFF! 20cm Supreme non-stick fry pan. $69:99: 74% OFF! 24cm Au Gratin (open). $116.00. 499 41% OFF! Stainless steel water bottles with rubber ring. Four colours. 1467997 50% OFF! Selection of non-stick bakeware. Starting at 72% OFF! Super -size 42cm stainless roaster w/rack, plus BONUS baster and lacer set. $359:99. $9999 NOVEMBER 18.22 ONLY AT GODERICH Machan Home Hardware Across from Suncoast Mali Hwy 21 South (519) 524-8312 PADERNO Information & dealers: 1-800-AtJEW-POT or www paderno com. Not all locations open Sunday Quantities limited. please be early. Sale items may not be exactly as shown.