Vending Machine Proposal
Dear parents/guardians/Caregivers:
Many of you will recall a student-initiated campaign that began at Fern more than a year ago with a goal to reduce the use of plastic water bottles at the school. The students started by selling reusable stainless steel water bottles printed with the slogan "Students Making a Difference." The campaign was a tremendous success and more than 300 bottles were sold. I am very proud of our students for initiating such a worthy and successful campaign.
The next step in the student plan was to secure a filling station for the school. At several school council meetings this year, the idea of filling stations or vending machines was discussed. The school council has been receptive to this idea. The vending machine would offer a single serving (500 ml) of either filtered tap water (fast-chilled) for 50 cents or a water/juice blend for $1.00. The juice is from concentrate with no sugar added and conforms to Ministry of Education nutrition standards.
You are likely aware that this issue has received significant media attention recently. I want to emphasize that the primary motivation for the pilot project is waste reduction. I also want to note that no decision has been made at this point. Please join us for a school meeting on Thursday, March 11 at 7:00 pm so that we can move forward together on this decision.
Do keep in mind that if the project does move forward, parents will still have the choice, as is currently the case, to send students to school with (preferably) reusable bottles containing water or juice. Water fountains are also available throughout the school, including right next to the proposed location for the vending machine, where children will be able to refill bottles at no cost.
The final point I would like to make is that water in our school and all TDSB schools is safe. Water in TDSB schools is tested annually and, in the case of Fern, flushed daily.
Thank you and hope to see you on Thursday.
Craig Tsuji - Principal
Many of you will recall a student-initiated campaign that began at Fern more than a year ago with a goal to reduce the use of plastic water bottles at the school. The students started by selling reusable stainless steel water bottles printed with the slogan "Students Making a Difference." The campaign was a tremendous success and more than 300 bottles were sold. I am very proud of our students for initiating such a worthy and successful campaign.
The next step in the student plan was to secure a filling station for the school. At several school council meetings this year, the idea of filling stations or vending machines was discussed. The school council has been receptive to this idea. The vending machine would offer a single serving (500 ml) of either filtered tap water (fast-chilled) for 50 cents or a water/juice blend for $1.00. The juice is from concentrate with no sugar added and conforms to Ministry of Education nutrition standards.
You are likely aware that this issue has received significant media attention recently. I want to emphasize that the primary motivation for the pilot project is waste reduction. I also want to note that no decision has been made at this point. Please join us for a school meeting on Thursday, March 11 at 7:00 pm so that we can move forward together on this decision.
Do keep in mind that if the project does move forward, parents will still have the choice, as is currently the case, to send students to school with (preferably) reusable bottles containing water or juice. Water fountains are also available throughout the school, including right next to the proposed location for the vending machine, where children will be able to refill bottles at no cost.
The final point I would like to make is that water in our school and all TDSB schools is safe. Water in TDSB schools is tested annually and, in the case of Fern, flushed daily.
Thank you and hope to see you on Thursday.
Craig Tsuji - Principal
