Hello!

Stacey Passey

Programs Manager, Keep Australia Beautiful National Assoc.

02 8626 9396

Stacey@kab.org.au

Slides and other handouts will be emailed to those on the attendance list

Eco-Schools Australia

Wollongong Network & Eco-Schools

• An overview of the Eco-Schools program

• Becoming an Eco-School – an introduction• Eco-Schools Framework – 7 Steps• Forming an Eco-Committee Activity • Awards – Bronze, Silver & Green Flag• How to get involved – an invitation to take part• Eco-Schools Project Planning Activity

What is ‘Eco-Schools’?

Eco-Schools is...

“empowering students to be the change our sustainable world needs by engaging them in fun, action-orientated learning.”

-Foundation for Environmental Education (Denmark)

• Empowerment

• Learning for Sustainability

• Hands on ACTION

• Environment

• Respect & care

• Pupil Leadership

• Citizenship – of a local & global community

• Democracy

• Whole School & Community Participation

Eco-Schools priorities – the WHY

Eco-Schools Background

• 1992 UN - Rio Declaration

• Foundation for Environmental Education (Denmark)

• 59 Countries

• Results? Benefits?• 40,000 Schools, 14 million pupils, 1

million teachers• Environmental outcomes – energy

use & waste reduction• Education & Pupil outcomes –

relating to behaviour, confidence, citizenship & belonging

• Eco-Schools England Report

How does it work?

“Sustainability” is so broad – it can be overwhelming!

• Framework (7 Steps) for schools to organise & prioritise sustainability education & environmental management

• Milestone awards – celebration & recognition

• An international community• Eco-Schools Connect

Eco-Schools Malaysia Videohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYnTmgnUmmo

• Name What is the committee called?

• Forum A new group? An existing group?

• MembershipWho is on the committee?

• Recruitment Election? Volunteers? Open door?

• Meetings When do they meet? Where? Frequency?

• Leadership How do pupils take leadership?

• Whole School How do we inform/involve others?

Activity:Form an Eco-Committee!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UroTAX_1k1Mhttp://www.fernfirst.dorset.sch.uk/news/introducing-eco-committee/

Awards Criteria & Progression

• Schools have different starting points, budgets and capacity

• 7 Steps

• Action Plan Achievements• Bronze 1+ Theme• Silver 2+ Themes• Green Flag 3+ Themes• GF renewal Add more themes

• Aim = 1 Award application per year

• School chooses timing and award level

• Continual improvement, rather than perfection

Get involved

1. Register at eco-schools.org.au ($100 per year)

2. Utilise subscribers-only website content• 7 Steps guidelines and templates• Themed action project ideas & resources sharing • Baseline Survey & Award Application forms• Detailed case studies written by Australian Eco-Schools• School Profiles: school details, award status & submissions log

3. Awards – 1 per year, self evaluate then online form• Bronze – desktop assessed• Silver – desktop assessed• Green Flag – desktop assessed + mentoring visit ($)

4. Training, events & support?

• Waste

• Litter

• School Grounds

• Biodiversity

Activity:

Themed project planning

Parents

Curriculum links

$$$ Cost? Savings?

Environmental impact (Campus, Community, World?)

Eco-Schools project planning activity

The 3 C’s – Campus, Curriculum, Community

Inform & Involve - Whole School & Community

Eco-School theme / project

Parents

Curriculum links

$$$ Cost? Savings?

Environmental impact (Campus, Community, World?)

Eco-Schools project planning activity

The 3 C’s – Campus, Curriculum, Community

Whole School & Community involvement? Benefits?

Eco-School topic / project

• Developing the school grounds• Reduced food miles• Supporting organic food producers –

through chicken feed• Reduced need to produce man

made fertilisers - Chicken droppings used a liquid fertiliser in school gardens

• Supporting animal rescue campaigns through battery chicken rescue

• Using recycled materials for chicken pen

• Using rain water for watering animals rather than processed water

• Changing tarmac area in to area for animals

School grounds – develop chicken

pens and buy battery

chickens• Increased interest in aspects of the national curriculum – hand on approach

• Attendance increase through individual responsibility for animals

• Home grown produce - Strengthening links with catering staff

• Home ‘grown’ fertilisers – strengthening links with site managers

• Charity campaign – focus on a relevant topic - rescued animals

• Encouraging an interest in animals

• Engaging disengaged pupils with practical activities

• ICT • English • Mathematics• Design &

Technology• Citizenship• Art & Design• Enterprise• Science -life

processes & living thingsResearch; recording and displaying data (number of eggs laid); caring for animals; working in a team; designing the chicken pen; creating posters for animal care and handling; making food; life processes & living things

• Support from parents – involvement with creating pen, donating materials

• Parents encouraged to bring children in to school earlier due to pupil commitments

• Parents taking home chickens during holidays

• Feed & enclosure installation

• Using own fertiliser• Using recycled

materials or donated materials

Story so far…

WebsiteCheck out eco-schools.org.au

NSWMacarthur Sustainable Schools Network – Launch 21st MaySydney Learning Community for SustainabilityKatoomba, Blue Mountains

NT & TASDarwin & Hobart

Stacey Passey

Programs Manager, Keep Australia Beautiful National Assoc.

02 8626 9396

Stacey@kab.org.au

www.eco-schools.org.au

info@eco-schools.org.au

Thank you – keep in touch!

Award Criteria: Eco-CommitteeEco-Committee NB Schools may call their Eco-Committee by another name, e.g. Green Team or Eco-Action Team.

The school has an Eco-Committee that meets at least once a term, and members include:-Pupils-Teachers Minutes are kept of meetings and progress reported back to class

The school has an Eco-Committee that meets at least once a term, and members include:-Pupils-Teachers-Parent/governor representative Minutes are kept of meetings and progress reported back to class Pupils share responsibility with adults for running the committee, e.g. chairing, voting, taking minutes. (At teachers’ discretion, based on age and ability of pupils involved.)

The school has an Eco-Committee that meets at least once a term, and members include:-Pupils from a range of year groups-Teachers from 3+ classes or departments-The Principal or Principal’s representative-a parent and/or governor representative-School facilities staff member Minutes are kept of meetings and progress reported back to class and school governors Pupils take significant responsibility for running the committee, e.g. chairing, voting, taking minutes. (At teachers’ discretion, based on age and ability of pupils involved.) A list or photo of the committee members is displayed in school and there is an agreed method for electing and training new members to ensure continuity of the Eco-Committee.

Award Criteria: Action PlanAction plan (work on themes)

The Eco-Committee has produced a basic Action Plan, influenced by the Environmental Review, covering 1+ Eco-Schools theme. The action plan details timescales, targets and who is responsible The Eco-Committee can identify progress towards achieving elements of the Action Plan

The Eco-Committee has produced a detailed Action Plan, influenced by the Environmental Review, covering 2+ Eco-Schools themes. The action plan details timescales, targets and measures, and who is responsible Action Plan updates and other evidence in the Eco-Schools portfolio show achievements against at least 2 Eco-Schools themes

The Eco-Committee has produced a detailed Action Plan, influenced by the Environmental Review, covering 3+ Eco-Schools themes (For Green Flag Renewal: +1 additional theme incorporated per year)

The action plan details timescales, targets and measures, who is responsible plus what curriculum & community links will be made.

Action Plan updates and other evidence in the Eco-Schools portfolio show continuous improvement against at least 3 Eco-Schools themes. Action plans are reviewed at Eco-Committee meetings and updated based on evaluation of previous projects and environmental review findings. Achievement of the Eco-Schools Action Plan is a priority in the overall development plan or strategy for the school.

Award Criteria: Curriculum

The school can demonstrate that Eco-Schools themes are explored within curriculum work

The school can demonstrate that Eco-Schools themes are explored in at least three curriculum areas by most year groups Aspects of Eco-Schools activities such as Environmental Review, Monitoring & Evaluation and Informing & Involving, are integrated into a range of subjects across the curriculum for at least one year group.

The school can demonstrate that all students have the opportunity to explore Eco-Schools themes in at least three curriculum areas. Aspects of Eco-Schools activities such as Environmental Review, Monitoring & Evaluation & Informing & Involving, are integrated into a range of subjects across the curriculum for the majority of classes or year groups. The school has a named individual responsible for promoting Eco-Schools/ESD throughout the curriculum and an Eco-Schools curriculum audit has been completed. The school has a dedicated Eco-Schools day or event at least once a year.