Walk To School Week

Hi Jackman! Did you know that Walk to School Week is coming soon?

From Tuesday, October 10 to Friday, October 13, we want everyone to WALK to school.

Walking is good for the Earth. And good for us too!

If you walk to school, you’ll be able to... get a cool STICKER, draw with sidewalk CHALK, eat a yummy SNACK and DANCE your heart out!

So please join us for Walk To School Week. It’s going to be so much fun!

Let's get walking Jackman!

~ Lucy, Harlow and Autumn (the JETs)

Walk to School Week

Save the date...  

Walk to School Week is coming soon. It's Tuesday, October 10 through Friday, October 13, 2017

Walking to school is cool - very cool.  Just ask Snoopy!  He knows that walking is 

- great exercise,

- eco-friendly and 

- a whole lot of fun!

Why wait?  Start walking to school now!

The JETs (Jackman's Eco Team)

Hey Kids!  We need your help!   We are looking for creative, committed, enthusiastic kids to get involved in Jackman’s Eco Team, a.k.a. the JETs.    

New this year - instead of one big eco team (that works hard all year long), we’re going to have lots of little eco teams that work on a specific project for about 4-6 weeks. 

And our first 3 teams are ready to begin.  Which project do you want to help with?

• The Use-Less-Paper Team
• The Waste-Free Lunch (and Snack) Team
• The Walk-To-School Week Team

As usual, the JETs will meet at lunch on Wednesdays.  Talk to Mr. Cressman or Ms. Csamer if you want to get involved.   

Let’s make a difference in our school and community!

Bear Paws vs. Homemade Cookies

I did something this weekend that I've never done before.  I bought Bear Paws at the grocery store!!!   My kids used to ask for them and I always said, "No."   I baked them fresh cookies and brownies instead.  They didn't complain.

Lately, I've noticed a lot of Bear Paw wrappers at school.  In the school garbage cans, in the school recycling (even though they don't belong there) and littered all over the schoolyard. Sigh.   

I thought myself, "Maybe Bear Paws really are tasty.  Maybe I've been mistaken all these years. Maybe I should give them a try".   

So I bought some Bear Paws on the weekend and... YUCK!   I did not like them, not even a little bit.  Still, I thought... maybe it's just me.  Maybe I'm just too picky.  Maybe kids are different.  And right then and there, a new eco project was conceived.   

I brought some chocolate chip Bear Paws in to class today.   I also brought some homemade chocolate chip cookies.  This afternoon, I conducted a blindfolded taste test in class.   Everyone had a small taste of a Bear Paw cookie and a small taste of a homemade cookie.   Then they were asked, "Which cookie did you like best... cookie one or cookie two?"

And check this out... 24 people participated in the taste test (20 kids, 2 principals and 2 teachers).  Now check this out... everyone agreed... homemade cookies tasty better, way better!   No one chose the Bear Paw cookies... not one!  Now I know.

So, now I'm thinking... if more Jackman families switched to homemade cookies, their kids would be enjoying a tastier treat and our school would have a lot less garbage, a lot less litter and and a lot less recycling mistakes.  Win - Win.  

Stay tuned for cookie recipes and more.   More ways to make less garbage at Jackman.   

Juice Box Recycling

Got a juice box?   Are you going to recycle it?   Great!   But please remember these simple recycling rules.  



1.  Put the straw and the straw wrapper in the garbage... not the recycling.

2.  Make sure your juice box is completely EMPTY!    Drink it all up. 

Now, your juice box is ready for recycling.   Thanks for taking time to do the right thing with your recycling.

Better yet... you can reduce waste by getting a reusable juice container or water bottle.

School Lunch Ideas

It's back to school and you know what that means... back to school lunch making.   Ugh!  Hey Parents... Need some fresh lunch ideas?   Check out this TreeHugger article... 

13 Non-Sandwich-School Lunch Ideas

I'm going to try the pizza kebabs with my kids. 

Here are more lunch ideas from Eat Right Ontario...  School Lunches

The Mango Chicken Wraps look yummy.   I think my kids agree.   

You know it... great lunch ideas are just a google search away.     

Oh, and don't forget to make your school lunches waste-free!   

Don't Even Think About It!

The 'Lunch Lady' has come to Jackman with a very important message...

"Don't even think about putting your snack wrappers and coffee cups in the recycling!!!"   

These continue to be two common mistakes that kids and adults make when disposing their waste.   

Hopefully, with a little humour, we can once and for all put an end to these waste misunderstandings.   

We are trying to make recycling and garbage 'rules' clear for everyone.

Think Green, Act Green, Be Green

Another school year has begun and everyone at Jackman is encouraged to Think Green, Act Green and Be Green.  What does it look like?

• walking and biking to school

• preparing waste-free lunches and snacks

• reducing, reusing and recycling - making less garbage

• packing a reusable water bottles, coffee cups and juice containers

• joining Jackman's Eco Team

• powering down our lights and electronics

• taking care of our trees and gardens

• getting outdoors to explore nature

• using less paper

• reading and researching about eco ideas and issues

So, what are you waiting for?  Let's make this the greenest year ever! 

Water Bottles

Everyone at Jackman is encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle to school.  It can be filled with tap water at home and refilled at school when needed.   Everyone knows that Toronto tap water is clean and tasty.   And better yet, it’s practically free.  There’s no need for single-use plastic bottles.  Reusable bottles are best.  

Drinking tap water isn't just eco-friendly and cost effective.   It's also good for your health.   Unfortunately, we often fail to drink enough water.   It's time to change that.  

Let's make this school year the healthiest, eco-friendliest year ever.