Environment and Sustainability

Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) is committed to protecting the environment around students, staff, schools, and communities.  

This work is guided by our Sustainability Framework.
 Sustainability Framework (PDF)

sustainability icon   Sustainability Framework 

The Three Pillars 

The three pillars of our Framework are: Energy, Water, and Waste.

  • Each pillar includes actions and goals achieved through the efforts of all students and staff.
  • Through projects, partnerships, and education, TVDSB is committed to achieving its goals.
  • While introduction of the Sustainability Framework marks the official start of our sustainable journey, efforts to reduce TVDSB’s environmental impact are already underway, as are opportunities for students to learn more ability sustainability. More pillars may be required over time as Thames Valley moves forward. 

Equity and Inclusion  
We know everyone experiences sustainability and climate change differently. We will work to identify and address any disproportionate environmental impacts on schools.  
Educational Content 
Educational tactics cross all three Energy, Water, and Waste pillars. Learning will focus on direct connections to sustainability. TVDSB will encourage behavioural changes to support principles in these pillars.  
Energy Reporting 
As part of our commitment to energy conservation in the Sustainability Framework and regulatory requirements, TVDSB produces reports to track progress on our energy reduction targets. See below for our CDM and energy reports:

Environment and Energy Reports
Waste Reporting
As part of our commitment to annual reporting for the Sustainability Framework, in addition to our Regulatory requirements, TVDSB produces waste reports to track progress on our waste reduction targets, and our performance from the previous year. See below for our past waste reports:

Environment and Energy Reports
Policy and Procedure

Please see the Environmental Education and Management Policy and Procedure on our Policies and Procedures webpage for further information on TVDSB’s commitment to sustainability and environmental education.  

Policies and procedures webpage


community icon   Parents and Community Members 

School Grounds Greening 
Low Impact Developments are systems and practices that mimic natural processes to increase infiltration, which naturally filter stormwater and minimize impermeable surfaces. These developments reduce the number of contaminants entering surface and ground water while increasing the quality of the environment surrounding schools and neighbourhoods. Greening projects also provide a natural learning space for students to explore, play, and interact with.

To pursue a Greening Project, please contact Ryan Dunne (r.dunne@tvdsb.ca), Learning Coordinator for Science, Environmental Education and Experiential Learning: 

View the School Ground Greening Process (TVDSB Employees Only)
Waste-Less Lunches 

Waste-less lunches are a fantastic way for students to see the effect of their actions and the positive changes they can make on the environment. Over many decades we have seen an increase in single use plastic packaging, which contribute a significant amount of landfill waste. A large contributor to this plastic waste comes from processed foods, as most of these products come in single-use plastic packaging or containers.  

Waste continues to grow as a major sustainability issue, so it's important we do our part to reduce our own environmental impact when possible. Here are some tips to successfully tackle waste-free lunches: 

  • Only pack as much food as a student will eat. 

  • Use a reuseable lunch bag/box for carrying lunch. 

  • Use refillable bottles when possible. 

  • Put sandwiches, muffins, etc. in reuseable containers instead of plastic bags. 

  • Avoid pre-packaged, single-serve portions of snacks. 

  • Pack re-useable cutlery and napkins in lunch. 

  • Encourage fresh and nutritious lunches. 
Learn at Home 
Explore at Home Environment Website
 Student Programs
H3-ELP

  • We are excited to offer a new multi-credit opportunity for students currently in Grade 9 who are interested in learning and leading outdoors through an environmental lens. This program will run in their Grade 10 year. 

EESS ELP

  • The Environmental Leadership Program offered at East Elgin Secondary School is a four- credit course integrating senior level Interdisciplinary Studies (Resource Management/Conservation), Physical Education (Outdoor Education) and Co-operative Education.
     

W.I.L.D.

  • The Wilderness-Based Interdisciplinary Leadership Development (WILD) Program is a student led outdoor and experiential learning opportunity. 

  • The course centres around student planning and implementation of a seven-day canoe trip in a Wilderness region of Ontario. This unique learning opportunity will allow students to explore and develop an intimate connection to a wilderness location. 


students icon   Students

Student Programs 
H3-ELP
  • We are excited to offer a new multi-credit opportunity for students currently in Grade 9 who are interested in learning and leading outdoors through an environmental lens. This program will run in their Grade 10 year. 
EESS ELP 

  • The Environmental Leadership Program offered at East Elgin Secondary School is a four credit course integrating senior level Interdisciplinary Studies (Resource Management/Conservation), Physical Education (Outdoor Education) and Co-operative Education.

W.I.L.D.

  • The Wilderness-Based Interdisciplinary Leadership Development (WILD) Program is a student led outdoor and experiential learning opportunity. 

  • The course centres around student planning and implementation of a seven-day canoe trip in a Wilderness region of Ontario. This unique learning opportunity will allow students to explore and develop an intimate connection to a wilderness location. 
Learn at Home 
Explore at Home Environment Website
Eco-Clubs 

Starting an eco club at an elementary or secondary school is a great way to promote environmental awareness and action. Here are three steps to help get you started:

Step 1: Gather Interest and Form a Team 

  • Talk to Peers and Teachers: Discuss your idea with classmates, friends, and teachers to gauge interest and find potential members. Explain the purpose and environmental benefits for the community of having an eco club. 

  • Organize an Interest Meeting: Arrange an initial meeting for interested students and staff. Use this meeting to brainstorm ideas, discuss the club's goals, and decide on a regular meeting schedule. 

Step 2: Plan and Get Approval 

  • Define Objectives: Clearly outline the club’s mission, goals, and potential activities (e.g., recycling/composting programs, tree planting, environmental education campaigns). 

  • Draft a Proposal: Create a detailed proposal to present to school administration. Include the club’s objectives, planned activities, meeting times, and any required resources or support. 

  • Meet with School Administration: Schedule a meeting with the principal or relevant school staff to present your proposal. Be prepared to answer questions and make any necessary adjustments based on their feedback.  

Step 3: Launch and Promote the Club 

  • Plan a Launch Event: Organize an engaging event to officially launch the eco club. This could be a school-wide assembly, a special guest speaker, or an environmental activity like a cleanup or planting day. 

  • Promote the Club: Create posters, flyers, and announcements to spread the word. Utilize school newsletters, and the school’s website to reach a wider audience. 

  • Start Activities: Begin with small, manageable projects and gradually take on larger initiatives. Regularly hold meetings to plan activities and encourage all members to participate and contribute ideas. 

By following these steps, students can successfully establish an eco club that raises environmental awareness and fosters a sense of community and responsibility towards our planet. 
Sustainability for Students 

Thames Valley is dedicated to reducing our water consumption, waste production, and energy consumption. We’ll do this through changes to our buildings, operations, and ways we think about the environment and sustainability.

  • Students can reduce their power usage at school. This can be accomplished by turning off lights, unused equipment, or encouraging others to do the same. 

  • Starting an eco-club is an excellent way to build awareness on environment and sustainability topics at your school. Engage your fellow students, teachers, and principal to learn more about starting an eco-club 

  • Opt for sustainable transportation when possible. Taking the bus, biking, walking, carpooling and so much more are all fantastic ways to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions when travelling to and from school. 
Waste, Recycling, Compost 

Thames Valley follows the Three Rs Hierarchy (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) as the core strategy for our waste reduction plan. With these core values in place, we aim to eliminate waste before it is created and take action to deal with waste in the most environmentally responsible way possible.

We also add E for Education to this core strategy. Using the Three Rs as a foundationstudents interact directly with their waste, so there are many opportunities for students to learn more about types of waste, where it’s going, and how they can reduce it. As part of their curriculum, students learn about the life cycle of materials, waste minimization, and how waste affects the environment and different ecosystems.

Core Principles 

  • Reduce our waste created by educating students and staff. 

  • Reuse waste produced through other creative applications. 

  • Recycle sorted and accepted waste to reduce landfill contributions. 

  • Educate students and staff on different waste management practices/programs and accepted waste.

Waste Streams

TVDSB handles many different types of waste. Click here for resources on what can be recycled and what should be placed in the garbage. 

View recycling resources

Garbage
Thames Valley collects waste in garbage bins, which are collected in dumpsters at each school. Once there, the waste is picked up and taken to the landfill where it’s eventually buried. Efforts to reduce waste through recycling and composting are fantastic ways to reduce environmental impacts, promoting a sustainable future for all.

Recycling
We collect recycling in co-mingled bins. This means all material like paper, cardboard, plastic, aluminum and more go in the same bin (see the link below for accepted recyclable material).  

View recycling resources


Furniture

Over time, furniture inevitably breaks down and reaches a point where it’s unusable. At that point, it’s important we properly recycle it, so material isn’t wasted in landfill. Things like desks, chairs, chalkboards and more are all picked up by our waste hauler to be reused, recycled, or dismantled to properly repurpose materials or for it to be recycled.

Composting

Composting is a fantastic way to reduce waste that goes to the landfill. Products from composting can be used in gardens to produce nutrient-rich plants at schools.Talk to your Eco-Club and teachers for more information.  


   Educators

Lesson Resources 
View TVDSB Science  

View TVDSB Environmental Education Homepage on Sharepoint
School Grounds Greening 

Low Impact Developments are systems and practices that mimic natural processes to increase infiltration, which naturally filter stormwater and minimize impermeable surfaces. These developments reduce the number of contaminants entering surface and ground water while increasing the quality of the environment surrounding schools and neighbourhoods. Greening projects also provide a natural learning space for students to explore, play, and interact with.

To pursue a Greening Project, please contact Ryan Dunne (r.dunne@tvdsb.ca),Learning Coordinator for Science, Environmental Education and Experiential Learning: 

View School Ground Greening Projects on Sharepoint 
Energy Dashboards 
Schools receive monthly data for energy, water, and waste based on monthly billing data.This information is an excellent resource for lessons, eco-clubs and EcoSchools.Please reach out to Evan Grant at evan.grant@tvdsb.ca to obtain your schools energy data. 
Waste, Recycling, Compost

Thames Valley follows the Three Rs Hierarchy (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) as the core strategy for our waste reduction plan. With these core values in place, we aim to eliminate waste before it is created and take action to deal with waste in the most environmentally responsible way possible.

We also add E for Education to this core strategy. Using the Three Rs as a foundation, students interact directly with their waste, so there are many opportunities for students to learn more about types of waste, where it’s going, and how they can reduce it. As part of their curriculum, students learn about the life cycle of materials, waste minimization, and how waste affects the environment and different ecosystems.   

Core Principles 

  • Reduce our waste created by educating students and staff. 

  • Reuse waste produced through other creative applications. 

  • Recycle sorted and accepted waste to reduce landfill contributions. 

  • Educate students and staff on different waste management practices/programs and accepted waste. 

Waste Streams 

TVDSB handles many different types of waste. Click here for resources on what can be recycled and what should be placed in the garbage.

View recycling resources


Garbage 

Thames Valley collects waste in garbage bins, which are collected in dumpsters at each school. Once there, the waste is picked up and taken to the landfill where it’s eventually buried. Efforts to reduce waste through recycling and composting are fantastic ways to reduce environmental impacts, promoting a sustainable future for all. 

Recycling 

We collect recycling in co-mingled bins. This means all material like paper, cardboard, plastic, aluminum and more go in the same bin (see the link below for accepted recyclable material).  

View recycling resources

Furniture 

Over time, furniture inevitably breaks down and reaches a point where it’s unusable. At that point, it’s important we properly recycle it, so material isn’t wasted in landfill. Things like desks, chairs, chalkboards and more are all picked up by our waste hauler to be reused, recycled, or dismantled to properly repurpose materials or to be recycled. 

Composting 

Composting is a fantastic way to reduce waste that goes to the landfill. Products from composting can be used in gardens to produce nutrient-rich plants at schools. Talk to your Eco-Club and teachers for more information. For teachers: contact your appropriate Learning Coordinator to start planning and request composting digesters.  

Environmental Education Centres
 Jaffa Environmental Education Centre

Address:       48346 John Wise Line, RR 5 Aylmer ON

Telephone:   519-773-5196

Email:           JaffaEEC@tvdsb.ca

 
 London Environmental Education Centre

We have two locations: Pond Mills and Westminster Ponds. Both maps are located below.

Pond Mills Site

Address:        1095 Pond View Road, London ON 
Telephone:    519-452-8880 
Email:            LondonEEC@tvdsb.ca

 

 

Westminster Ponds Site
Address: 930 Western Counties Road
Telephone: 519-681-4485
Email: LondonEEC@tvdsb.ca

 

 

 
 Vansittart Woods Environmental Education Centre

Address:      775275 Blandford Road, Woodstock ON

Telephone:  519-467-5468 

Email:          VansittartEEC@tvdsb.ca

 

Environmental Centres are part of our out-of-school learning landscape where staff and students can: 

  • Develop inquiry and observation skills based on their natural curiosity. 
  • Integrate their learning and understand that it continues outside their classroom and in their community. 
  • Build transferrable 21st century competencies such as problem solving, critical thinking and questioning, collaboration, communication skills and creativity. 
  • Enhance their physical and mental health and wellness. 
  • Enjoy experiential learning opportunities with a focus on environmental stewardship. 
  • Have an opportunity to consider their roles as confident, capable and caring citizens.

TVDSB Educators can find out about programs and book program requests by visiting the Environmental Education Sharepoint Site

 


   Support Staff

Composting in Schools 

Composting is a fantastic way to reduce waste that goes to the landfill. Products from composting can be used in gardens to produce nutrient rich plants at schools. For teachers: contact your appropriate Learning Coordinator to start planning and request composting digesters.

Some schools collect compost in each classroom, and have a representative bring the container to a central location at the end of each day. A member of their EcoClub then brings the food waste to the Greencone. Other schools collect in their lunchroom only or in certain classrooms.

Any food waste collected in your school is managed right at your location, and not sent to landfill. Starting small is still starting!

If you’re interested in acquiring a Composting Digester and starting a composting program, please contact Ryan Dunne (r.dunne@tvdsb.ca), Learning Coordinator for Science, Environmental Education, Experiential Learning: 

  • Info on installing / Maintaining (to support Eco-clubs). 

  • Helping Students / Teachers organize pickup and maintenance. 

  • Keeping cones free from vandalism / contamination. 
Sustainable Purchasing Practices 
At Thames Valley, we have a responsibility to current and future students and employees to minimize our environmental impact. There are several things we can control when making a purchase. We can consider:  

  • Manufacturing and ethics

  • Quality, shipping and packaging

  • What use the item has when it can no longer be used (for example, can it be recycled or composted?) Please see the below tips for sustainable purchasing practices. 

Manufacturing and Ethics 

When considering a purchase, it is important to understand the lifecycle impacts of a product. This includes anything like the sourcing of raw materials, manufacturing, distribution, labour, use, and what happens when it can’t be used anymore. We can do our part by considering the questions below when deciding which product to choose. As a result, we can promote long-term environmental and social well-being for current and future students to come. 

  • Who is the manufacturer? Do they have a sustainability plan? 

  • Does the company have any outstanding ethical issues? 

  • What other options are there? 

Quality 

When considering a product, choosing a product that is designed to be durable, and long-lasting will have significant environmental benefits. We will see reduced environmental impacts by minimizing resource consumption, waste generation, and need for constant replacements. When choosing what product to use, consider the following questions in your decision! 

  • What materials are used in this product? 

  • Will this withstand years of use in a classroom setting? 

  • Are there better options available? 

Shipping and Packaging 

Shipping and packaging pose an extremely large impact on the environment. Whether it is travelling by air, land or water, there are significant emissions attached to shipping a product. 

  • Where is the product shipping from? 

  • Are there local options available? 

  • Are there opportunities to order in bulk if needed? This will reduce the number of shipments required. 

What happens when it can’t be used anymore  

Over time, products we use eventually needto be replaced or disposed. Some products can be reused for another purpose or recycled, while others can’tbe salvaged due to the nature of their construction or disposal. When deciding on a purchase, it's important to consider what will happen when the product can’t be used anymore. TVDSB has recycling options for electronics and furniture, among others. If it can’t be recycled it will go to landfill. Please reach out to your custodian should there be any items that need to be properly disposed. 
Energy Best Practices 

Turn Off Lights and Electronics When Not in Use 

  • Lights: Always turn off lights when leaving a classroom, restroom, or any other room. Encourage classmates and teachers to do the same. Use natural light whenever possible.

  • Electronics: Ensure computers, projectors, and other electronic devices are turned off or put into sleep mode when not in use. Unplug chargers and other devices that are not in use to prevent energy drain from standby power.

  • Create awareness: Encourage teachers to turn offlights and unplug electronics when not in use. 

Maximize Energy Efficiency in Classrooms 

  • Optimize Heating and Cooling: Keep windows and doors closed when heating or cooling is on to maintain temperature efficiently. Dress appropriately for the weather to reduce the need for excessive heating or cooling. 

  • Natural Light Use: Open blinds and curtains to make the most of natural daylight, reducing the need for artificial lighting.  

HVAC 

  • Filter Replacement: Check and replace air filters regularlyto ensure optimal airflow and system efficiency. Clogged filters force the system to work harder, consuming more energy. 

  • System Inspections: Conduct regular inspections of HVAC systems, including checking for leaks, malfunctioning equipment and any other inefficiencies. When a system is not properly running it can cause both short and long termissues that can effect occupant comfort, and increase energy consumption 
School Grounds Greening 

Low Impact Developments are systems and practices that mimic natural processes to increase infiltration, which naturally filter stormwater and minimize impermeable surfaces. These developments reduce the number of contaminants entering surface and ground water while increasing the quality of the environment surrounding schools and neighbourhoods. Greening projects also provide a natural learning space for students to explore, play, and interact with.

To pursue a Greening Project, please contact Ryan Dunne (r.dunne@tvdsb.ca),Learning Coordinator for Science,

Environmental Education and Experiential Learning:

View School Ground Greening Projects
Waste Handling and Pickup 

Please contact your zone lead for any of the following and they will be able to assist: 

  • Get an additional waste or recycling pickup 

  • Change waste or recycling pickup schedule 

  • Old furniture or scrap that needs to be landfilled 

 

Contacts

Ryan Dunne (r.dunne@tvdsb.ca), Learning Coordinator for Science
Evan Grant (evan.grant@tvdsb.ca), Sustainability Specialist

Contact Us