Feature A Teacher

"Feature a Teacher” introduces inspiring teachers in the division who are integrating sustainability in their classrooms.

To recommend a teacher to be profiled on Feature A Teacher, please contact Pat Elsworth, Information Officer. Phone: 888-7951 ext. 201.

Tina Nowosad is a grades 6, 7, and 8 Art and Drama teacher at Bruce Middle School. She has been an arts educator for the past 15 years working at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Tina describes her interest and integration of sustainability into her classroom this way:

“I have never liked throwing things away. Perhaps this is in part due to my upbringing and the fact that…one could not afford to
buy new things…one had to reuse…one had to wear
hand-me-downs…in other words, one HAD to be sustainable.

Maybe this is why I still keep things that others would discard, but the truth is I really enjoy finding artistic purposes for my “junk” collections. Over the past few years, I have been finding ways to share this passion with my students. Maybe in some small way challenging them to use their “junk” for an artistic endeavour will raise an awareness in them that it’s the little changes we make that can lead to bigger changes in our schools, our communities, our world. I think it’s working. The students are proudly exhibiting their work in their lockers, around the school, on artsonia.com, and downtown during Young Artists on the Avenue.

Something many artists and teachers do not know is that Manitoba boasts its own Arts Junktion, a local depot that collects materials (that would otherwise be discarded by companies). They provide free materials to artists, teachers, and students. I am a regular visitor there, and encourage others to do the same. The idea is that less waste ends up in landfills while teachers, artists, and students have access to free materials to support their art projects.”

Visit Tina’s classroom website to see just two of the latest art exhibits which challenge the notion that something “used” should go straight to the recycling bin. Perhaps there is a need for a new term… “precycling”? The student projects will get you thinking about some creative applications for post consumer waste before it hits the blue bin.

Click on the following links to see some of Bruce Middle School’s artwork.
http://www.sjsd.net/~tnowosad/016A738D-00802E21?Plugin=Cosmo http://www.sjsd.net/~tnowosad/022A3027-00802E21?Plugin=Cosmo

Tina Nowosad can be reached at Bruce Middle School, 333 Booth Drive, Winnipeg, MB, Tel: (204) 888-1990.

Kyle Lizotte is a Grade 5 teacher at Crestview School. He is a graduate of both the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba and has been teaching in the St. James School Division for the past 6 years at the grade 4 and 5 levels.

Kyle describes his interest and integration of sustainability into his classroom this way:

"At Crestview School we are heavily involved with a variety of sustainability issues and awareness activities that have involved students at all grade levels throughout the school year. I truly believe that the more we focus on the aspects of sustainability and global citizenship with our students now, especially at a young age, the more likely they will carry these habits on throughout the remainder of their lives. We are educating the leaders of tomorrow who will ultimately be responsible for continuing to make a positive impact on the world for generations to come. The link between education and sustainability is a necessary one that we at Crestview try to incorporate each and every day.”

Go to his classroom website to see how Kyle creatively integrates sustainability into the daily life of his class as well as his website! The address is: crestview.sjsd.net/~klizotte/

Kyle can be reached via email at klizotte@sjsd.net or through Crestview School, 333 Morgan Crescent, Winnipeg, MB, Tel: 885-7710, Fax: 885-7711.