RHS Grade 8 students and Thrifty T’s group members Zoe Coutlee and Jacob Lopes show off a rack of free upcycled clothing located near the front entrance of the school. Courtesy Photo

RUSSELL – Grade 7 and 8 students at Russell High School (RHS) are combining creativity with sustainability through “Thrifty T’s,” a real-world learning initiative that fosters entrepreneurship and environmental awareness.

Named after the school’s Timberwolves moniker, Thrifty T’s involves students in upcycling and repurposing old clothing and materials. The initiative is divided into five sub-groups, each focusing on different aspects of sustainable creation.

One group, called Paper Cutters, repurposes paper waste from the school to create high-quality cardstock. Students shred collected paper, mix it with water to form pulp, and press it into sheets for use as gift tags, greeting cards, book covers, and other crafts. The group plans to sell their handmade paper at the RHS Store, with profits supporting tree planting efforts in the school and community.

“When I think of how much paper I’ve seen just being wasted—I’ve seen kids just throw out blank pieces of paper—I wanted to help with that,” said Jacob Lopes, a Grade 8 student and member of Paper Cutters.

Another sub-group, FINCH Clothing, revitalizes used t-shirts with custom, trendy designs. Students collect second-hand shirts, design graphics using Canva, and transfer the designs onto the clothing. The shirts are then sold to fellow students, with 50 per cent of profits reinvested in the initiative and the other half donated to homeless shelters and food banks.

Other branches of Thrifty T’s focus on textile creativity. Sustainable Styles and The Quilting Project teach students to sew, cut, and repurpose donated clothing into new fashion items and quilts. These projects highlight the environmental impact of fast fashion while providing hands-on experience in textile design.

“Sustainable Styles helps with fast fashion and cheap, low-quality clothing,” said Grade 8 student Zoe Coutlee. “I love fashion, so being able to create clothing is great, and we’re giving some away so people have clothes to wear that are comfortable and will last. It’s just really nice to see.”

A rack of upcycled clothing is available in the school foyer for students to take for free, with reversible bucket hats proving especially popular. Quilts and sensory blankets will be donated to seniors and Alzheimer’s and dementia patients in the community.

Thrifty T’s emerged from the RHS Student Specialist Program, which offers students hands-on learning experiences in various fields, including robotics, athletics, cooking, drama, hair and makeup, and writing. As students gravitated towards sustainability and entrepreneurship, they launched Thrifty T’s, which quickly gained popularity among Grade 7 and 8 students.

The initiative has also attracted the involvement of Grade 11 Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Business students, who mentor younger participants and oversee the financial and organizational aspects of the projects.

“It’s been a lot of fun working with the Grade 7 and 8’s and seeing their ideas actually become something,” said Samantha Berube, a Grade 11 SHSM student. “It’s been a great experience because we’ve been mentoring but we’ve been learning stuff too.”

“Knowing that you’re playing a part in helping people make a difference and helping them achieve what they want to do,” added fellow SHSM student Serenity Prieur.

Thrifty T’s aligns with the Upper Canada District School Board’s (UCDSB) focus on Real-World Learning (RWL), which connects classroom education with practical experiences. Earlier this year, students presented their initiative to the UCDSB RWL Team and secured funding to purchase sewing machines, paper shredders, and other necessary equipment.

“The biggest goal of the Student Specialist Program here at RHS is to increase student engagement in their learning,” said Grade 7/8 Resource and Special Education Teacher Jennifer Dobbin. “It’s very much student-led and based on interest, so they are creating these groups where they get to focus on something that they’re actually passionate about.”

Looking ahead, the students hope to expand Thrifty T’s by involving feeder schools and building new community partnerships, ensuring the initiative continues to grow and make a positive impact.