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Environment and Conservation
February 10, 2011

Get to Half at Preschool Program Launched

Childcare centres province-wide are encouraged to participate in the Get to Half at Preschool Program which was unveiled today at College of the North Atlantic’s Childcare Centre at the St. John’s campus. The program, developed by the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB) in consultation with early childhood educators in the province, is designed to teach preschool children about environmentally-friendly practices.

“Our government recognizes the importance of promoting environmental stewardship within Newfoundland and Labrador’s school system, and the MMSB’s Get to Half at School Program has been a key factor in educating and motivating the youth of our province to reduce waste and to recycle,” said the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Environment and Conservation. “The successes we have realized in working with children from kindergarten through to Grade 12 inspired the development of a program to engage an even younger audience of preschool children.”

The Get to Half at Preschool resource kit includes age-appropriate materials created to help teach children aged three to five the basics of reducing waste and recycling. The materials are available for all licensed childcare facilities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

“The MMSB can provide childcare centres with educational resources to help teach young children about the importance of practising the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) to keep our earth clean and healthy,” said Leigh Puddester, Chief Executive Officer of the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board. “The kit includes interactive group activities such as Pass the Trash and Bin Buddies, a preschool 3R checklist, and creative arts and craft ideas for children and educators.”

The MMSB has a team of educators available, free of charge, to licensed childcare centres for interactive presentations that focus on simple ways to reduce, reuse and recycle every day.

“Our childcare centre is proud to be a Get to Half preschool,” said Trudy Barnes, Campus Administrator for College of the North Atlantic’s Prince Phillip Drive Campus. “With the information included in the Get to Half at Preschool resource kit, combined with the assistance of the MMSB educational staff, we have the tools to teach our children how to protect the environment.”

Early childhood educators are encouraged to contact the MMSB for more information, to schedule an MMSB visit, or to request a Get to Half at Preschool resource kit. For more information, visit www.mmsb.nl.ca

The MMSB is a Crown agency of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador that reports to the Minister of Environment and Conservation. Its mandate is to support progressive waste management practices in the province, with a particular focus on waste diversion, recycling and public education, in order to ensure a clean and healthy environment throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Media contacts:

Melony O’Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca
Carol Ann Carter
Director of Communications
MMSB
709-757-3696, 689-4795
ccarter@mmsb.nl.ca
Roger Hulan
Communications Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709-643-7938
roger.hulan@cna.nl.ca
 

2010 02 10                                                         11:20 a.m.

 
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