Anton Demetrakopoulos’ passion for the environment has won his school more than 20 new computers.
The Grade 8 student at École Gron Morgan Public School wrote the winning 300-word essay for the Staples Canada Recycle for Education contest. Anton went up against elementary and secondary schools across the country.
The winning schools were selected based on environmental attributes, school and student leadership and community influence.
But in the end, the judges chose École Gron Morgan as one of the 20 schools to receive $25,000 worth of computer equipment.
“It makes me feel proud and excited to have these new computers,” Anton said. “I’m very happy even though I’m graduating next year and I won’t be able to use them very much but the rest of the school will be able to use them.
“Our school has older technology and it takes several minutes for each computer to power on and off. The new ones use less energy than the old ones and that helps the environment.”
Anton joined his school’s green team in Grade 1 and helped them in their fundraising campaigns. Through those efforts, he and his fellow teammates were able to buy benches and plant trees.
He said he’s always been passionate about the environment.
“We should give back to our world,” he said. “I have been giving my birthday money for years to the green team.”
As he makes his move to Hammarskjold high school next year, Anton said he’s going to miss his elementary school.
The school’s principal Jo-Anne Giertuga said they were sad to see Anton go but added Hammarskjold High School was getting a great student.
Giertuga said the contest changed from previous years and she wanted to capitalize on the hard work the students, parents and staff of the green team were doing. She said the group started about 10 years ago to help teach children to become more ecofriendly.
With all the effort of the green team, Giertuga said she’s seeing her school become a leader in the community.
“Our green team as well as staff and students are starting to take more initiatives by keeping the grounds clean,” Giertuga said. “The green team has purchased more than 50 benches, has planted maybe a hundred trees.”
