GNS Launches Into Eco Action!

This year, Glenlyon Norfolk School has begun work on the EcoSchools Canada certification program, which nurtures environmental learning and climate action. This program incentivizes, tracks and rewards environmental actions that reduce energy and waste, raise awareness and incorporate environmental learning into the curriculum.

Ms. Carolyn Green looked into EcoSchools Canada at her previous school and found them to be on the cutting edge of environmental sustainability. When she joined GNS as the Senior School Principal, she was keen to bring the program here. As sustainability is a core component of Momentum, the GNS Strategic Plan, it seemed a perfect fit. 

Sustainability efforts at GNS are not new, but joining the EcoSchools Canada certification process allows us to tie everything together. This program lets everyone calculate the impact of all of the sustainability initiatives across the entire school. Designed to align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, EcoSchools Canada allows students to make a positive difference and a tangible impact on the environment around us. 

Ms. Green shares that the EcoSchools program ties in perfectly with the International Baccalaureate as it is all about taking action! “When we become aware of a problem, we get curious, we do research and then create a plan and take action!” 

The Junior, Middle and Senior Schools all underwent an eco audit, which showed us what we were doing well and what we could improve on. With this data, all three schools were able to set goals for the 2024/2025 school year. This is also another unique feature of the EcoSchool program, where the whole school is able to work together on one initiative from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12.

As a result, all students at GNS recognized WWF Sweater Day this year, which is an annual event organized by the World Wildlife Fund. Since 2010, more than a million Canadians have participated in turning down their heat at least 1.5 degrees and putting on sweaters! This event raises awareness about climate change and energy conservation and shows support for limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Students loved wearing their cozy sweaters to school on February 6.

The Middle and Senior Schools are also home to the Climate Action Now (CAN) group, which works to improve our overall climate footprint. Led by Ms. Jennie Greven, the CAN team attended Game Changers: the ISABC Youth Sustainability Conference, at UBC on February 21, 2025. “I was able to meet a lot of like-minded people who I wouldn’t have met otherwise. It was such a great experience,” shares Grade 10 student and CAN member Leah Wang. The students attended a variety of sustainability-related workshops, including writing letters to MPs, exploring sustainable energy sources and even beekeeping!

The CAN club also hosted a speaker from Zero Waste Victoria (a program run by the City of Victoria), whose presentation focused on how important reducing our consumption is in terms of impact. Starting in April, the Pemberton Woods Campus will trial a new system of Friendlier reusable containers for hot lunches purchased in the Dining Hall. With it, there will be a new waste sorting system installed across the campus with CAN students planning to educate and support their peers. 

As well, Grade 10 student Victoria Luo and the Round Square Committee are running an e-Waste Recycling drive until March 14. All members of the GNS community are invited to bring their old smartphones, tablets, laptops, MP3 players, iPods, digital cameras, controllers, chargers, keyboards and light bulbs to be responsibly recycled. Drop-off bins are located in the Senior School reception in the Lower Denford Hall lobby. 

Overall, GNS encourages students to pack waste-free lunches from home, and where waste is unavoidable, to responsibly recycle. Students are also encouraged to work on waste reduction projects outside of school, including reducing household waste and recycling whatever is possible. We also encourage families to use alternative methods to get to school (look out for the Walking School Bus to return to the Beach Drive Campus in the Spring)! The Junior School is also starting a Green Club in the upcoming months led by Mr. Boisjoli. 

The EcoSchools Canada program is gaining momentum at GNS. With a deadline of May 9, 2025, our team hopes that we can achieve a certification that celebrates the hard work of the entire community that demonstrates our shared commitment to building a greener school. Sustainable things are happening at GNS—well done Gryphons!