Environmental Education

Environmental Education

When environmental education is incorporated into the school curriculum, students:

·         learn about the environment

·         develop skills to investigate and solve issues in the environment

·         acquire attitudes of care and concern for the environment

·         adopt behaviors and practices which protect the environment, and

·         understand the principles of ecologically sustainable development

Schools can use their own School Grounds and the way they use and manage Resources as a context for student learning. This makes the school curriculum more integrated with the daily lives of the students, increasing understanding and relevance.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Environmental education programs provide resources for classroom teachers, outdoor educators, club leaders, and others to teach students of all ages about our environment.  Students of all ages gain an understanding of the environmental challenges we face and how to meet those challenges.

Why Recycle

Recycling is good for the environment

It takes less energy to create new items from recycled materials than it does to create new products from raw materials. Mining minerals and milling trees into lumber requires vast amounts of energy to create products. Recycling entails reusing materials as many times as possible to conserve natural resources.

Recycling is good for communities

Extracting materials from mines or forests is done far from the place where goods are consumed; however recycling starts in your own home. Gathering recyclables, and reprocessing them into feedstock for future products is done locally by people who live, work, and spend money in their own communities.

Recycling reduces pollution

Burning garbage or throwing waste into landfills produces byproducts that pollute the environment. Runoff from landfills and metals like mercury find their way into streams, rivers and oceans, fish, and eventually into human beings, harming our health.

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder

ADHD is a common behavioral disorder that affects an estimated 8% to 10% of school-age children. Boys are about three times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with it, though it's not yet understood why.

Kids with ADHD act without thinking, are hyperactive, and have trouble focusing. They may understand what's expected of them but have trouble following through because they can't sit still, pay attention, or attend to details.

Of course, all kids (especially younger ones) act this way at times, particularly when they're anxious or excited. But the difference with ADHD is that symptoms are present over a longer period of time and occur in different settings. They impair a child's ability to function socially, academically, and at home.

The good news is that with proper treatment, kids with ADHD can learn to successfully live with and manage their symptoms.

ADHD used to be known as attention deficit disorder, or ADD. In 1994, it was renamed ADHD and broken down into three subtypes, each with its own pattern of behaviors:

1. An Inattentive Type, with signs that include:

       inability to pay attention to details or a tendency to make careless errors in schoolwork or other activities

       difficulty with sustained attention in tasks or play activities

       apparent listening problems

       difficulty following instructions

       problems with organization

       avoidance or dislike of tasks that require mental effort

       tendency to lose things like toys, notebooks, or homework

       distractibility

       forgetfulness in daily activities

2. A Hyperactive-Impulsive Type, with signs that include:

       fidgeting or squirming

       difficulty remaining seated

       excessive running or climbing

       difficulty playing quietly

       always seeming to be "on the go"

       excessive talking

       blurting out answers before hearing the full question

       difficulty waiting for a turn or in line

       problems with interrupting or intruding

3. A Combined Type, which involves a combination of the other two types and is the most common

Although it can be challenging to raise kids with ADHD, it's important to remember they aren't "bad," "acting out," or being difficult on purpose. And they have difficulty controlling their behavior without medication or behavioral therapy.