June 10th, 2025

The Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) was honoured to have been recently recognized by Sustainable Waterloo Region (SWR) with the Roots and Shoots Award for our ongoing partnership that has brought 22 microforests to WRDSB schools.

Hear from WRDSB students about what this opportunity meant to them:

Written by Yuvraj and Tesvyn, students at Groh Public School

SWR in partnership with Groh Public School, planted a new micro-forest in the school’s yard. The hope is the forest will encourage students to learn and play outside.

Nine different species of trees were planted by grade seven and eight students. Volunteers from two local companies, Enova Power and EY Accounting, as well as the Kitchener Rangers, came out to lend a hand during the planting day, helping us build our new microforest.

Also, visiting that day was Chairperson Radlein. Three of our “Groh-bal Leaders” showed her around and explained the planting process.

The following day, Groh Public School celebrated the new microforest with some outdoor learning. Students moved through stations led by the “Groh-bal leaders”, learning about the new trees and how to take care of them.

Without the support and funding from Sustainable Waterloo Region, Enova Power, and EY Power, the micro-forest project would not be here with us today! Thank you!

#StudentVoice Series

This article is written by a WRDSB student and is part of the Student Agency and Voice program. Student journalists embody WRDSB’s commitment to creating space for students to tell their stories. They are ambassadors for their peers as they share their personal experiences and stories about their schools and communities in their unique voices.