March 25, 2008

Ruth Thompson Middle School project helps preserve local wetlands

Students and staff at Ruth Thompson Middle School received some good news this month—the City of Mississauga decided to preserve the wetlands area near the school. For the last five years, Ruth Thompson students and staff have been working to protect the land, which was at risk of being turned into soccer fields and a park. 

"Our school is very active environmentally," say Cathy Standring, principal of Ruth Thompson. "When we learned the city would be consulting with the public on the development of the wetlands area, we took full advantage of the learning opportunity for our students by creating a school project to help protect the land."

Ruth Thompson students conducted a survey of the wetlands and compiled their research into a presentation that resulted in a community consultation at their school. Their presentation taught the audience about the various species of plants and animals that live in the wetlands. According to the City of Mississauga, during the consultation process, more than 700 comments were received from students asking for the land to be protected.

Notes Standring, "Our local Councillor Sue McFadden has been very supportive of the students' efforts. We were very excited when she came to the school this month to announce that the wetlands would be saved. We're always teaching students that they can be the leaders of today and affect change, but this success proves it to them."

The City of Mississauga had proposed two options for the development of the land. One of the options ensured the wetlands area would be preserved, which received strong support during the public consultation process. As a result of the input from the public, the city will still create new soccer fields, but the wetlands will be protected. The final plans for the area are not yet available.

The project to protect the wetlands is just one part of the environmental focus at Ruth Thompson Middle School. The school has a student-run composting program producing soil that is used in the school's garden. Students also oversee recycling at the school and participate in workshops with Ecosource, a local environmental non-profit organization, to continue to learn how to reduce their impact on the environment.

"Our students are very active—we believe that having student-run environmental programs is the best way to prepare them for the future. The skills they learn by working with our school Green Team on projects like the wetlands protection are essential in today's world," says Stacey Bucca, teacher and Green Team leader.

Ruth Thompson is located at 5605 Freshwater Drive in Mississauga.

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Media contact:               Cathy Standring, Principal, Ruth Thompson Public School, 905-814-1729