Have you hear of blackle?

Thank you Laura from 7G who shared a search engine site with the class today.

Ever hear of blackle? If not click the link http://www.blackle.com/

or you can just read more:

(Note: the following text is from the "About us" link on the blackle site.)

How is Blackle saving energy?
Blackle was created by Heap Media to remind us all of the need to take small steps in our everyday lives to save energy. Blackle searches are powered by Google Custom Search.
Blackle saves energy because the screen is predominantly black. "Image displayed is primarily a function of the user's color settings and desktop graphics, as well as the color and size of open application windows; a given monitor requires more power to display a white (or light) screen than a black (or dark) screen." Roberson et al, 2002

In January 2007 a blog post titled Black Google Would Save 750 Megawatt-hours a Year proposed the theory that a black version of the Google search engine would save a fair bit of energy due to the popularity of the search engine. Since then there has been skepticism about the significance of the energy savings that can be achieved and the cost in terms of readability of black web pages.
We believe that there is value in the concept because even if the energy savings are small, they all add up. Secondly we feel that seeing Blackle every time we load our web browser reminds us that we need to keep taking small steps to save energy.

How can you help?
We encourage you to set Blackle as your home page ( set ). This way every time you load your Internet browser you will save a little bit of energy. Remember every bit counts! You will also be reminded about the need to save energy each time you see the Blackle page load.
Help us spread the word about Blackle by telling your friends and family to set it as their home page. If you have a blog then give us a mention. Or put the following text in your email signature: "Blackle.com - Saving energy one search at a time".
Have a look at our energy saving tips page for ideas on steps you can take to save energy.

There are a lot of great web sites about saving energy and being more environmentally friendly. They are full of great tips covering the little things that we can all do to make a difference today. Try Blackling "energy saving tips" or visit treehugger.com a great blog dedicated to environmental awareness.

Green Team activities for Earth Day

Earth Day activities for the Green team:

Fundraising: "Be sweet to the Earth"
Green team selling treats to build a future fund for Green team activities.
Yummy cookies, fruity freeze drinks and more....

Green team clean-up
Help the school stay clean. Minimize your waste AND be part of the Earth Day (April 22) lunch-time clean-up.

Book sale:
Donated books for a loonie or a twoonie.

Bathroom contest deadline too!



Note: primary colours and mixing paint (the contest has been revised a bit).

M ilne Valley Middle School Green Team Contest

Hey, Milne Valley! Are you bored with our school washrooms? Do you want to beautify the environment? Then enter the Green Team Washroom Stall Challenge!

The Green Team is having a contest, where YOU get to paint a bathroom stall! There are going to be 4 winners:

1 grade 6 team

1 grade 7 team

1 grade 8 team

1 group of friends

The prize?????

YOU will be remembered at this school for your artistic talents, and your creative ideas forever (plus you get a prize pack).


The Rules (design brief)


Groups of 4 –to-6 students can enter.

Submit your design drawn on graph paper to Miss Reinsalu (309), with your name(s) and home rooms.

Slogans allowed but please limit your word use.

The design should fit the bathroom stall properly.

Indicate which contest you’re going for (e.g. gr.6 can only enter for grade six team or group of friends)

Deadline: Designs must be submitted by Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 3:09 pm.

How do you win??

Green Team members will choose the winning design.

You get to choose whether you will paint the door or the green team. If green team will paint you must include colour coding for your design (e.g. for a sun-the exact shade of yellow)

We are trying to not waste resources so we are mixing acrylic paints from primary colours.

Be creative! Have fun!

Painting will start in May.
The Green team have all ready started on a door of their own in the Grade 7 girls bathroom.

Beautifying our School

Milne Valley Middle School Green Team Contest

Hey, Milne Valley! Are you bored with our school washrooms? Do you want to beautify the environment? Then enter the Green Team Washroom Stall Challenge!
The Green Team is having a contest, where YOU get to paint a bathroom stall! There are going to be 4 winners:
- 1 grade 6 team
- 1 grade 7 team
- 1 grade 8 team
- 1 group of friends
The prize?????
YOU will be remembered at this school for your artistic talents, and your creative ideas forever (plus you get a prize pack).

The Rules (design brief)

1. Groups of 4 –to-6 students can enter.
2. Submit your design drawn on graph paper to Miss Reinsalu (309), with your name(s) and home rooms.
3. Slogans allowed but please limit your word use.
4. The design should fit the bathroom stall properly.
5. Indicate which contest you’re going for (e.g. gr.6 can only enter for grade six team or group of friends)
6. Deadline: Designs must be submitted by Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 3:09 pm.


How do you win??
Green Team members will choose the winning design.
You get to choose whether you will paint the door or the green team. If green team will paint you must include colour coding for your design (e.g. for a sun-the exact shade of yellow)

Painting will start in May. Please see the Green Team’s bathroom door on the grade 7 floor for an example.

For ideas see our Green Team blog at http://greenteamofmv.blogspot.com.

Earth Hour and TDSB - Milne Valley info too

Milne Valley is registered for Earth hour - it's official!!


In response to a flurry of excited interest among both elementary and secondary students, the Toronto District School Board is happy to support the global Earth Hour campaign to raise environmental awareness. Earth Hour uses the simple action of turning off the lights for one hour to deliver a powerful message about the need for action on climate change.

Why does it matter? Why participate? A TDSB Earth Hour awareness campaign is a simple and powerful way for students to take part, and perhaps even become environmental ambassadors in their communities. The Earth Hour campaign creates hope by giving everyone a glimpse of what can be accomplished if we work together!
PART 1: Friday, March 28, 2008 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. “Preparation for Earth Hour” Toronto District School Board – all schools and offices Since the official Earth Hour occurs outside of school hours (Saturday, March 29 between 8 and 9 p.m.), the TDSB will observe its own Earth Hour in a “warm up” or (“cool down!”) in preparation for Earth Hour. Every school or office will decide on its own plan – for one hour can your school or office manage without lights? ...photocopy machines? ...coffee makers?... computers?...? ...?


PART 2: For Earth Hour itself, March 29, 8:00-9:00 p.m. Friday night of the Earth Hour weekend, caretakers will be asked to shut off all interior lights except for emergency lighting, and turn off exterior lighting starting 8 p.m.(as long as there is consensus at the local level that it would be safe to do so and the caretakers are able to adjust the timers). In addition, computer monitors will automatically be put to sleep and fan use will be minimized.

ECO friendly Easter

Here are some ways to colour eggs using natural substances that you may already have around your home!


For pink and red colored eggs use cranberry juice, beets, or raspberries.

For yellow eggs use saffron or tumeric

For purple eggs use red wine.

For blue eggs use red cabbage leaves or blueberries.

For brown eggs use grape juice, rosehip tea, or coffee.

For orange eggs use yellow onion skins.

More go to the nature mom blog http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2008/03/06/eco-friendly-easter/

For baskets go to: http://www.creativekidsathome.com/activities/activity_15.html