Students at Caulfeild Elementary recently toured their neighbourhood, picking up litter along the way. They then dumped the assorted trash on the school’s gym floor.
Don’t worry, they had permission from the teachers.
The move was part of a school-wide enquiry-based project built around the theme of waste and responsible recycling. Students in all grades took a closer look at the garbage and discussed questions such as where did the item come from? Who might have left it there? What else might they have done with it instead of dumping it on the street, sidewalk, or on the grass?
The project was inspired by a student video contest hosted by the District of West Vancouver called Our Waste. Our Responsibility.
“It’s really interesting because this type of contest drives educators to get behind the project,” says Aaron Bichard, community programming co-ordinator with the engineering department, which led the contest.
This is the second year the district has hosted the video contest, which is open to all West Vancouver students, kindergarten to Grade 12. Last year’s theme was water because of the area drought.
Bichard explains that the contest is meant to help engage students in issues that are important to their community, and he says he continues to be impressed with the quality of submissions they get.
Some members of district council helped judge the contest, as well as district staff, and a member of the Solid Waste Association of North America (B.C. chapter), which sponsored the contest and provided the prizes.
Judging criteria included creativity, a clear message, and whether or not the student displayed that they understood the message.
Forty-two videos were entered in the contest this year, and Bichard says it is a topic that resonates with young people who are concerned about their environment.
• • •
The North Shore News has the great pleasure of helping announce the top prizes in the contest and they are as follows:
First: Tavish Kelpin, Grade 12, Rockridge Secondary, prize $750. See his video on YouTube by clicking here.
First runner-up: George Barrie, Grade 12, Rockridge Secondary, prize $150. See his video on YouTube by clicking here.
Second runner-up: Sam Khoshnevis, Grade 6, École Pauline Johnson, prize $100. See his video on You Tube by clicking here.
A special Participation Prize is awarded to Leanne Pruner’s Grade 5 class at Ridgeview Elementary for submitting the most videos. The class will receive a zero- waste pizza party!
Check out the district’s website (click here) for more information and links to the videos.
