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


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.