1. Obtain a copy of the School Board’s environmental policy if available
2. Review your school plan to see if it is in alignment District Plan
3. Complete a school audit to understand current practices within the building that include: waste management, recycling, purchasing behaviours, energy consumption (e.g. are lights or computers turned off when not in use, photocopier counts, etc.). This audit may be completed by classes, your EST or any other involves parties.
4. Identify key school leaders including: staff (teachers, support staff), students, parents who are interested in reducing your school’s environmental footprint.
5. Form an in-school environmental sustainability team (EST) team including students, staff, administration, parents, custodian, offices staff and community representative. This will have to be adapted for elementary schools
6. Call an initial meeting to inspire and motivate the team. The right student can chair the team meetings at the secondary level
7. Suggested agenda items for first meeting. (These topics will be referred to and will form the core discussions in subsequent meetings.)
   1. Introduction of members
   2. View inspirational video-(eg. An Inconvenient  Truth, The End of Suburbia)
   3. What are the "big picture" environmental issues?
      1. Biodiversity
      2. Climate Change
      3. Energy Consumption & Conservation
      4. Air Pollution
      5. Forest Depletion
      6. Soil Erosion
      7. Waste Reduction
      8. Noise Pollution
      9. School Data from audit
   4. Where are we now?
      1. Can we carry out a school audit?
      2. See rubric below and School Environmental Framework section 
8. What can we do? –see suggestion on the websites
9. How can we sustain our initiatives
   1. How can we see behaviour change for the betterment of the environment on a permanent basis?

Environmental Sustainability Continuum Based on School Practice

Environmental Sustainability Continuum Based on School Practices
Pre-Implementation	Implementation	Building Capacity	Sustaining Capacity
Our school community is acquiring information about environmental sustainability practice Our school community is exploring what is required for implementation of sustainability practice Our school community is preparing to implement this practice	Our school community is aware that this is a mandated priority for our system Our school is building knowledge for this school priority Our school has formed an Environmental Sustainability Team Our school has introduced environmentally sustainable practices	Our school community is seeing evidence of environmentally sustainable practices Our school community is monitoring impact and using this information to inform next steps Our school is routinely sharing best practices within our school community	Our school community is re-evaluating  the quality and effectiveness of the implemented strategies  Our school community is examining new developments in this field with a view to implementation Our school community has evidence that we have reduced our negative impact on the environment

 

School Self-Assessment for Environmental Sustainability Directions:

The purpose of this school self assessment tool is to provide teams a starting point to share perceptions of where their specific school is at on the continuum and which specific goals they may deem to be priority goals. We encourage the team leader to invite team members to assess their place on the continuum, with the understanding that there is no correct answer but many different perceptions of their school progress to date and priorities for the future.

School Self-Assessment for Environmental Sustainability Team (EST)
Whole School Component	School practice (from Acting Today, Shaping Tomorrow)
		Pre-Implementation	Implementation	Building Capacity	Sustaining Capacity
	Goal #1  By the end of Grade 12, students will acquire knowledge, skills, and perspectives that foster understanding of their fundamental connections to each other, to the world around them, and to all living things.
(Refer to: Acting Today, Shaping Tomorrow and Web Resource)	Our school EST provide opportunities for students to acquire knowledge and skills related to environmental education in all subject areas and encourage them to apply their knowledge and skills to environmental issues (ie loss of biodiversity, climate change etc.) through action based projects.
	Our school EST challenges students to develop skills in systems thinking and futures thinking that they will need to become discerning, active citizens
	Our school EST develops learning opportunities that will help students understand the underlying causes, the multiple dimensions and the dynamic nature of environmental issues
	Our school EST develop professional learning communities to share effective practices about pedagogical practices that support learning and teaching about the environment
	Goal #2  Increase student engagement by fostering active participation in environmental projects and building links between schools and communities.
	Our school EST will engage student leaders in the design and delivery of environmental education projects at the school level
	Our school EST will encourage students to enrich their learning by using IT to access resources, connect with others and create ecommunities that focus on environmental issues
	Our school EST provides student instruction and other interventions for at-risk students e.g. credit recovery, credit rescue etc.
	Our school EST encourages action research that promotes partnerships and the innovative implementation of environ mental education concepts and principles
	Our EST will create opportunities for students to address environmental issues in their homes, in their local communities, or at the global level
	Our EST works with their School council in promoting environmental education.
	Our EST encourages students to plan environmental activities for all students
	Our EST encourages all students to participate in environmental education activities on school grounds
	Our EST will work with parents, the school council, community groups and other educational stakeholders to promote environmental awareness and foster appropriate environmentally responsible practices
	Our EST will enrich and complement students classroom learning by organizing out of classroom experiences and activities. (such as the naturalization of the school yard, as appropriate)
	Our EST will encourage students to consider ways of complementing their community service requirement that involve addressing environmental issues in their community , in a manner consistent with school board policy.
	Goal #3  Increase the capacity of system leaders to implement evidence-based environmental education programming, practices, and operations.
	Our EST will create or revise an implementation plan that aligns with the school board environmental education policy
	Our EST adopts environmentally responsible management practices that are consistent with Board policy and considers advise of members of the school community on those matters
	Our EST encourages staff to develop knowledge and skills related to environmental education and responsible environmental practice and encourages mentoring opportunities
	Our EST facilitates sharing of staff expertise and knowledge through existing networks
	Our EST encourages staff to participate in school or school board sessions on environmental sustainability and the role of staff in preparing and implementing the school and/or school board’s action plan.
	Our EST will plan an environmentally responsible approach to managing resources an operations.