AstroTurf at Earl Beatty???

At the October 10th EBSAC meeting we learned that Earl Beatty is one of several schools that is being considered by the TDSB to have the field area inside our track replaced by AstroTurf.

This information was delivered verbally by our Trustee, Sheila Cary-Meagher. The council has formed an “AstroTurf Fact Finding Committee” made up of parent volunteers to research and gather information such as why the current grass has had problems growing in the past, cost and kind of AstroTurf being proposed, other school’s experiences with AstroTurf, alternative solutions, along with expert environmental opinions on the topic. 

When all the information is gathered, we will have an open meeting to discuss the findings and voice opinions with teachers, community centre staff, day care centre staff, parents, and the community at large.

The Toronto Star has been in contact with EBSAC as well as several parents directly in search of individual opinions on the matter. The following statement was delivered via email to the two reporters who inquired: "The Earl Beatty Council found out about the TDSB's plans for Astroturf at our school from our Trustee at our meeting on 10 Oct. An Astro Turf Fact Finding Committee has been set up. No discussion will begin until the facts on Astroturf and alternatives are gathered."

 

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us and we will put you in touch with our “Astro Turf Fact Finding Committee”. 

Click here for background information on the TDSB's plans, including some pros and cons of turf fields and the expected timeline :

The AstroTurf Fact Finding Committee will be presenting the information they gather at our monthly meetings (the next one is scheduled for 21 November, 6:30 pm).

SAC Meeting is This Week!

The Next Earl Beatty School Advisory Council Meeting will be held Thursday March 8, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. in the Earl Beatty Library. Please click here for the agenda.


Minutes from the last meeting held February 8 are now available. Click here to see what was discussed at the meeting.

Earl Beatty Playground Reconfiguration

You may have noticed that exciting things are happening in the Earl Beatty Playground!

After the meetings and discussions in December, it was decided to reconfigure the playground to maximize play space and safety! The reconfiguration was decided on in consultation with EBSAC, Board experts, the school administration, the School Trustee, and the school superintendent. We hope that with these changes students will continue to have a safe place to play, exercise, and have fun!

If you would like to see what is happening, click below:

Relocated hockey space (and playground map)

Bench repositioning 1

Bench repositioning 2

Bench repositioning 3

Tree relocation 1  

Tree relocation 2  

Gail Bornstein, School Ground Design Consultant with Evergreen/Toronto District School Board, has suggested that the trees be replaced with a red maple and a tulip tree.

Community Meeting on Monday, November 28

On Monday, November 28 at 6:30 p.m. there will be a community meeting in the basement lunch room. Please join staff, parents, and students for a working group discussion on ways to manage the outdoor play area at Earl Beatty school.

Childcare will be available in room 10.

What are those orange fences for? Earl Beatty's Science Experiment

What are those orange fences for? And how long will they be there? The answer lies in the hard-packed soil of Earl Beatty's slowly disappearing playing field. Despite proper installation, the small field at the back of the school couldn't take last winter's lack of snow cover and the frequent pounding of many happy feet. What to do - and should it be a replacement of the same?

The answer is, maybe not. So the test plots were born in the early morning of June 4th, 2010. The plots include different types of grass seed/sod with a protective layer underneath. The entire field is being watered in the evenings each day. The fence will help the plots get established, and will remain for four months.

Then, let the games begin! Let us see which area stands up the best to the heavy use our little field can give. We need every one’s help in recording and observing accurate results – fences need to stay until the end of September…and everyone can assist with observations throughout the Fall and then in the Spring of 2011 until June.

Thank you for your participation in this…I’m certain we all look forward to key results and answers to our disappearing field.

Ms. L. Ordubegian, Ms. Boudreau, Ms. Wallace, Ms. Laporte and Mr. Travers

To catch up on all things EcoSchool related, please check out the Earl Beatty Eco/Green Team Blog at: http://www.earlbeattyecogreenteam.blogspot.com/.