Regreening Sudbury schoolyards

Kaitlynn Tomaselli, a Grade 5 student at Queen Elizabeth II Public School, is among the many students who are benefiting from the transformation of the school’s playgrounds. The school was winner of the 2008 Ugliest Schoolyard Contest and hosted a grand opening of its revamped grounds June 5. Students, staff, parents/guardians and members of the City of Greater Sudbury’s Vegetation Enhancement Technical Advisory Committee joined the celebration. During the grand opening, the school officially named its outdoor classroom in memory of the late Sarah Gonawabi, an Ojibwe teacher at the school for more than a decade.

“Sarah Gonawabi’s philosophy reflected what we teach here at Queen Elizabeth Public School - set realistic goals for yourself and stick with it,” said principal Jane Davey. “She encouraged the older students to stay in school, emphasizing that more education means more freedom and more job choices. Students loved Sarah Gonawabi’s gentle but firm manner.”