The Simcoe County District School Board honoured some of their greenest schools and students last week.

The board welcomed students and staff from a number of county schools to the Celebrating Environmental Awareness in Simcoe County event.

Superintendent Michael Carson said it’s important to recognize the accomplishments of the board’s schools.

“Sometimes, when you have the people like me, we can’t figure out ways to do that (go green),” he said. “It’s wonderful to see the young people who are here with us today. They are the ones who have more of the suggestions and better answers than I could ever come up with.”

The event honoured the student winners of the Eco Journalism Contest Awards.

Toby King, from Regent Park Public School in Orillia, took home first prize for his essay Ride a Green Kilometre on Green Commute Day.

Second prize went to Codrington Public Schools’ Jakob Clements in Barrie for his essay The Dangers of Drive-Thrus and third prize went to Nottawa Elementary Schools’ Rachel Patten for Your Part of the Environment.

The event also included a dramatic skit presentation from Clearview Meadows Elementary School students.

Those in attendance also heard from students from Barrie North Collegiate and Bear Creek Secondary School about the green programs going on at their schools.

The board took the time to honour Cameron Street Public School in Collingwood for receiving the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Youth Achievement in Natural Heritage.

The board’s Environmental Incentive Program Award winning schools were also recognized.