- Science curriculum leader Brent Campbell, G.R.E.E.N. Schools judges Shirley Laidlaw and Anne Gooch, and principal Rob Lee are pictured beside Wallaceburg District Secondary School’s stunning water feature wall in the student courtyard. The school was one of three in the municipality to receive 5 Bloom ratings recently. Rain barrels supply water through drip hoses to plants in the garden and plans are being made to hopefully have solar pumps assist in watering the beds over the summer.
Three Chatham-Kent schools received top ratings during the 11th annual Communities in Bloom (CiB) school contest this year.
A.A. Wright, Wallaceburg District Secondary School and Lambton Kent Composite School earned the honour of 5 Bloom ratings in the 2014 G.R.E.E.N. Schools Competition.
Each school won a $100 gift certificate, compliments of Ross’ Nurserymen in Chatham, All Seasons Nursery and Flowers in Wallaceburg, and Sherry’s Perennials in Cedar Springs, to allow the schools to further enhance their properties.
As well, all competing schools will receive a schoolyard tree to plant in the fall, thanks to the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority.
The evaluation was based on the following categories:
G – Greening and gardening in the schoolyard;
R – Recycling and conservation activities;
E – Educational link to the environment and outdoors;
E – Engagement of staff and students in the community; and
N – Neat and tidy efforts.
Edwinna Rawlings, who has judged the CiB schools competitions for nearly a decade, was impressed with this year’s efforts.
“The level of activities and quality of education seen at these schools will give the students attending there such an advantage in life,” she said in a media release.
International CiB judges will hit the municipality July 26-29 and they will be touring some of the competing schools, as well as many other sites in the municipality.
