Go _ _ _ _ _ Go!

By Emily Chan

What has 8 letters altogether and rhymes with “Pike Lest?” In hearing the announcements, no doubt you’ve heard their catchphrase: GO BIKES GO! One more hint – it starts with BIKE and ends with FEST. If you’re thinking Bike Fest, then you’re right!

Bike Fest was originally introduced two years ago, by the ACTION team. Since then, the event has grown before our very eyes. It used to be composed of having one huge celebration in June, but now Bike Fest is now composed of THREE mini bike trains (plus the June celebration). For only $2.50, you get to ride in the bike train, eat a free nutritional breakfast, be entered into a draw to earn your own bike, and have access to a free bike and helmet rental for the day!

Mini-Bike Train

Mini-Bike Train
By: Jonathan Fung, Grade 12

Hello and howdy do!  March has arrived, and so has spring!  As the sun begins to break out (hopefully) in the coming months, there are many exciting things happening from here and onwards.  One of such things is the Mini-BikeTrain!

To Whom It May Concern

Hey Warriors!

It’s December and the weather is getting chilly. We understand that students feel more tempted to get a ride to school and to get picked up after school, but parents picking up students have been seen idling along the streets around the school. In case you didn’t know, idling, which is staying stationary in your vehicle with your engine running, is illegal if you do it for more than 10 seconds and also produces excess carbon emission. That’s why ACTION members will be taking on the task of reminding parents to turn off their engines while they wait. Did you know that idling for more than 10 seconds wastes more gas than restarting your engine? Well now you do! So we challenge you to be idle free!

Sincerely,
Windermere ACTION

Comic & Eco-Tips

Comic by Venus Wan, Eco-tips by Windermere ACTION

** Wrap your gifts in fabric instead of wrapping paper. This unique way of wrapping saves the landfills from tonnes of waste. If you’re feeling even more adventurous, give your gifts in pots or jars.
** Reuse gift bags – Nobody cares how you give them their present. All that matters is that you put thought into what you’re giving.
**Use LED lights instead of the kind that sucks up energy.
**Organic Fair-Trade Chocolate is a great gift for friends and family. Not only are you keeping out those toxins from your body, but you’re making sure cocoa farmers are paid fairly for their crops.
**Send e-cards instead of buying boxes of expensive cards. You’ll be saving paper and you’ll save money on postage. If e-cards aren’t your thing, make your own cards with recycled paper and other scraps.

ZERO WASTE?

Did you know that Canadians produce 12 million tonnes of waste per year? Waste Reduction week is October 19th to 25th and we want you to take charge. There are so many simple ways to reduce the number of times you take the trash out. For example, compost! 2/3 of our household wastes can be composted. We throw out almost 7 millions tonnes of organic waste each year! So, as long as it isn’t a meat product, or something that isn’t biodegradable, it can go in a compost bin and you’ll have a batch of healthy soil ready for your garden.

Fact: 60% of all garbage in landfills don’t belong! Other than composting, most ‘garbage’ can be recycled. Another way to reduce waste is by using less. This includes packaging, paper, plastics, water, food, and almost anything else. For example, you can bring your own lunch from home instead of buying it every day. In fact, for the duration of Waste Reduction week, the Windermere Cafeteria will be charging more for anyone who does not bring their own tupperware. So remember that if you want to buy your lunch, bring your own plates and utensils. For those who do bring their tupperware, you’ll be saving money and a small part of the planet too!

Now you may wonder why we even do this at all. Well, in case you haven’t noticed already, the world is pretty much as its breaking point. Any more over the edge and we’ll never be able to turn things around. Scientists all around the world have been saying this for years, and we need to listen to them! We live in such a consumer society that the line between “needs” and “wants” has pretty much disappeared. We buy so many things and throw out even more! All the garbage we make hides in a bag while it’s around us. Then, some large machine comes and takes it away to massive landfills where the garbage sits for many years. “Out of sight, out of mind!” But we need to think about this. Start changing your habits during Waste Reduction week and then go on to make it every week of the year. You don’t know how much of a difference you can make until you actually try it out.

Bikes, Bikes, Bikes! Yikes!

Here at Windermere, the newest “it” toy is not a Nintendo DS, or the new 3G IPhone, but a bicycle!

Have you noticed the sudden increase of bikes around the school lately? Windermere is beginning to enter a new revolution of bicycles. More and more students and teachers are buckling up their helmets and riding to school. I mean, why sit in that stuffy, humid car when you can relax and enjoy the fresh air on your bike?

Fortunately Windermere has many areas where to store your bike and opportunities to learn how to properly maintain it. ACTION (Active Community Team In Our Neighbourhood) has been holding bike workshops from time to time and are going to continue to do so this year. (If you are interested, come to ACTION meetings on Tuesdays to get more details).

Also, we have bike racks that are very conveniently located in front of the school’s main entrance to lock up your bike. If those are fully occupied (which they frequently are), no worries, we have another solution! Our new bike shed in front of the parking lot beside the tech building is another great place to store your bike. It keeps your bikes safe and dry from the elements. The bike shed is available to all students and staff and will be open in the mornings between 8:00 and 8:25am. You can simply drop it off and pick it back up after school beween 3:05 and 3:30pm.

Windermere has held some very successful and pretty awesome events that have promoted bike awareness, including last year’s “Bike Train,” “Bike Fest,” and “Anti-Idling Week.” These are just a few steps that Windermere students have taken to be that muc more of an eco-friendly school. You can also help take action by simply riding your bike to school. You’re not just helping the environment by putting less pollution into the air and using up limited resources; you’re also helping your own body to gain those extra benefits that you don’t seem to get setting in a car. It’s a win-win situation! So, grab those funky bikes of yours and ride to school TODAY!