Issue 3 August09 - Enviroschools : Home · contributions to the Enviroschools Scrapbook ......
2
Northland Enviroschools newsletter www.nrc.govt.nz/enviroschools 4 Northland College students have been talking a load of rubbish by addressing the amount of waste generated at school. Green waste and food scraps are already turned into compost or fed to the pigs and chickens on the Year 10 Farm. Cardboard is used for mulching and plastic bottles for plant protection. Now Year 10 students aim to reduce the amount of rubbish going into landfill. They conducted a rubbish audit, and in term 3 set up processes to sort and recycle waste. The riparian planting of flax on the banks of the Wairoro River also continued on the school farm – including the planting of flax suitable for weaving. Planting was also carried out at Lake Ōmāpere, with all agreeing it was a rewarding experience “restoring the mauri” to their lake. Your Enviroschools team Susan Karels Enviroschools Regional Co-ordinator Northland Regional Council Ph 0800 002 004 Email: [email protected] Teresa Rudgley Enviroschools Facilitator Northland Regional Council Ph 0800 002 004 Email: [email protected] Julie Holt Enviroschools Facilitator (Primary) Ph: (027) 452 9091 Email: [email protected] Marty Taylor Enviroschools Facilitator (Secondary) Ph: (022) 650 2098 Email: [email protected] Sarah and Jessica from Kamō Intermediate School report that students are having heaps of fun with their ‘Islands Of Life’ project. They work very hard for three days a week during their “Island” time, and have just about finished the butterfly house. The worm farm is coming along nicely, with plans for more plywood for over the baths, where the wood is starting to rot. A big weeding session was carried out on Nikau Hill, and the students are considering re-barking the area. Their eco-pond is getting a new pump put in and large rocks are being placed around it, and they have also just finished planting more flax on the flax mountain. Kamō kids enjoy “Island” life Northland College takes out the rubbish On reflection... “After we get the Green Gold Enviroschools Award… what do we do?” Claire Chateau, teacher at Kamō High School, overheard this burning question from Alex, 8, as he reflected on his school’s eco-journey at the Reflection and Awards for Progress Workshop on August 16. During the workshop, students created an awa (river). On it they identified the place (stage) they felt their school was at, then talked with students either side to identify next steps. Subsequently they elaborated on future action plans based on the five Enviroschools principles. Claire accompanied five Kamō High School environmental committee members to the workshop and spent time observing younger students. She says: “Their focus and positive attitude blew me away!” she reports. “They asked pertinent questions and were fully engaged all day. They initiated the karakia and enthusiastically shared ideas with others. “A Year 6 girl even had the final word and, with full confidence, thanked the facilitators for their organisation of the workshop!” “Young leaders of tomorrow…grow a tree from the planted seed. Our future is in safe hands!” Waste not, and want it not at Northland College. “Island “ life at Kamō Intermediate. Last term, Oromahoe School entered the Certified Builders Association of New Zealand Wendy House competition as part of the Home Show held at The Centre in Kerikeri. Students portrayed their Me in My Environment learning as a project theme – a study of life in the Oromahoe area in pre- and early European times. The panels were painted at school, then taken to The Centre to be assembled with the help of a registered builder. One panel showed a Māori and European child holding hands climbing Mount Pouerua. The birds around Oromahoe School featured on another panel, and one portrayed students snorkelling at The Poor Knights. The door was uenuku, the rainbow, and the roof was a copy of The Four Winds from The Story Of Rangi and Papa by Pauline Kahurangi Yearbury. Oromahoe School raised $410 through the auction of their Wendy House, which will be put towards purchasing books with Education for Sustainability themes for the school. Building a beautiful environment Kia ora tatou… In this issue… Kia ora tatou P1 Building a beautiful environment Kotuia - a SLAM good time! P2 Recommended resources Bring on the birds NRC Award helps Onerahi School create future walkways P3 Issue 3 August 09 Page 1 0800 002 004 www.nrc.govt.nz Northland Enviroschools supporters Leaving a lasting legacy Hurupaki School makes headlines Dates to remember Northland College takes out the rubbish P4 Kamō kids enjoy “Island” life Your Enviroschools team On reflection Kia ora tatou… Term 4 already! What a great time to reflect on our enviro-journeys. Make a date with your Enviroschools Facilitator for help with planning for future learning and action and/or to check out whether your school is ready for an Enviroschools Award. Thanks to Kamō Primary, Ōhaeawai School, Ōkaihau College and Oturu School for their contributions to the Enviroschools Scrapbook this year. We look forward to seeing their pages in print towards the end of November. We also eagerly await the outcome of the Scrapbook Cover Competition – could it be a Northland winner again? A big SHOUT out to Ōkaihau College for our feature pictures this newsletter. These beautiful bird artworks hang proudly in the College’s front foyer. Enviroschools highlights for Term 3 included: ♦ ‘Literacy through Enviroschools’ Workshops; ♦ National event for rangatahi Māori – Te Aho Tu Roa – Kotuia!; ♦ ‘Reflection and Awards for Progress’ Workshops; and ♦ In-school reflection sessions led by Enviroschools Foundation members Every day is Earth Day! Noho ora mai, Susan Karels Enviroschools Regional Co-ordinator Oromahoe School students with their builder and CBANZ competition entry.
Transcript of Issue 3 August09 - Enviroschools : Home · contributions to the Enviroschools Scrapbook ......
Northland Enviroschools newsletter
www.nrc.govt.nz/enviroschools 4
Northland College students have been talking a load of rubbish by addressing the amount of waste generated at school. Green waste and food scraps are already turned into compost or fed to the pigs and chickens on the Year 10 Farm. Cardboard is
used for mulching and plastic bottles for plant protection. Now Year 10 students aim to reduce the amount of rubbish going into landfill. They conducted a rubbish audit, and in term 3 set up processes to sort and recycle waste. The riparian planting of flax on the banks of the Wairoro River also continued on the school farm –
including the planting of flax suitable for weaving. Planting was also carried out at Lake Ōmāpere, with all agreeing it was a rewarding experience “restoring the mauri” to their lake.
Your Enviroschools team Susan Karels Enviroschools Regional Co-ordinator Northland Regional Council Ph 0800 002 004 Email: [email protected]
Teresa Rudgley Enviroschools Facilitator Northland Regional Council Ph 0800 002 004 Email: [email protected]
Julie Holt Enviroschools Facilitator (Primary) Ph: (027) 452 9091 Email: [email protected] Marty Taylor Enviroschools Facilitator (Secondary) Ph: (022) 650 2098 Email: [email protected]
Sarah and Jessica from Kamō Intermediate School report that students are having heaps of fun with their ‘Islands Of Life’ project. They work very hard for three days a week during their “Island” time, and have just about finished the butterfly house. The worm farm is coming along nicely, with plans for more plywood for over the baths, where the wood is starting to rot. A big weeding session was carried out on Nikau Hill, and the students are considering re-barking the area. Their eco-pond is getting a new pump put in and large rocks are being placed around it, and they have also just finished planting more flax on the flax mountain.
Kamō kids enjoy “Island” life Northland College takes out the rubbish
On reflection...
“After we get the Green Gold Enviroschools Award…what do we do?” Claire Chateau, teacher at Kamō High School, overheard this burning question from Alex, 8, as he reflected on his school’s eco-journey at the Reflection and Awards for Progress Workshop on August 16. During the workshop, students created an awa (river). On it they identified the place (stage) they felt their school was at, then talked with students either side to identify next steps. Subsequently they elaborated on future action plans based on the five Enviroschools principles. Claire accompanied five Kamō High School environmental committee members to the workshop and spent time observing younger students. She says: “Their focus and positive attitude blew me away!” she reports. “They asked pertinent questions and were fully engaged all day. They initiated the karakia and enthusiastically shared ideas with others. “A Year 6 girl even had the final word and, with full confidence, thanked the facilitators for their organisation of the workshop!” “Young leaders of tomorrow…grow a tree from the planted seed. Our future is in safe hands!”
Waste not, and want it not at Northland College.
“Island “ life at Kamō Intermediate.
Last term, Oromahoe School entered the Certified Builders Association of New Zealand Wendy House competition as part of the Home Show held at The Centre in Kerikeri. Students portrayed their Me in My Environment learning as a project theme – a study of life in the Oromahoe area in pre- and early European times. The panels were painted at school, then taken to The Centre to be assembled with the help of a registered builder. One panel showed a Māori and European child holding hands climbing Mount Pouerua. The birds
around Oromahoe School featured on another panel, and one portrayed students snorkelling at The Poor Knights. The door was uenuku, the rainbow, and the roof was a
copy of The Four Winds from The Story Of Rangi and Papa by Pauline Kahurangi Yearbury. Oromahoe School raised $410 through the auction of their Wendy House, which will be put towards purchasing books with Education for Sustainability themes for the school.
Building a beautiful environment
Kia ora tatou…
In this issue…
Kia ora tatou P1 Building a beautiful environment Kotuia - a SLAM good time! P2 Recommended resources Bring on the birds NRC Award helps Onerahi School create future walkways P3
Issue 3 August 09
Page 1
0800 002 004 www.nrc.govt.nz
Northland Enviroschools
supporters Leaving a lasting legacy Hurupaki School makes headlines Dates to remember Northland College takes out the rubbish P4 Kamō kids enjoy “Island” life Your Enviroschools team On reflection
Kia ora tatou… Term 4 already! What a great time to reflect on our enviro-journeys. Make a date with your Enviroschools Facilitator for help with planning for future learning and action and/or to check out whether your school is ready for an Enviroschools Award. Thanks to Kamō Primary, Ōhaeawai School, Ōkaihau College and Oturu School for their contributions to the Enviroschools Scrapbook this year. We look forward to seeing their pages in print towards the end of November. We also eagerly await the outcome of the Scrapbook Cover Competition – could it be a Northland winner again? A big SHOUT out to Ōkaihau College for our feature pictures this newsletter. These beautiful bird artworks hang proudly in the College’s front foyer. Enviroschools highlights for Term 3 included: ♦ ‘Literacy through Enviroschools’ Workshops; ♦ National event for rangatahi Māori – Te Aho
Tu Roa – Kotuia!; ♦ ‘Reflection and Awards for Progress’
Workshops; and ♦ In-school reflection sessions led by
Enviroschools Foundation members Every day is Earth Day!
Noho ora mai, Susan Karels Enviroschools Regional Co-ordinator
Oromahoe School students with their builder and CBANZ competition entry.
www.nrc.govt.nz/enviroschools 2
Northland Enviroschools newsletter
Kōtuia - a SLAM good time!
Bring on the birds! Recommended resources
Last Child in the Woods : Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder... Winner of the 2008 Audubon Medal, this book by Richard Louv brings together a growing body of research showing that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development. More than just raising an alarm, Louv offers practical solutions and simple ways to heal the broken bond -many in our own backyard.
Droplets : The Kiwi Kids Cloud Identification Guide… A colourful, waterproof flip chart by Paula McKean for any kid - big or small - who wants to know what they are looking at when they lie on the grass watching clouds go by. A must for every class and home library.
St Joseph’s School in Dargaville has been turning barren spaces into great places for birds to enjoy. The school’s enviro teacher, James Nyssen, organised Betty Mason from the Duck Creek Garden Centre to come along to help Year 5 - 8 students prepare and plant around 100 native shrubs. A few taller native trees already attract a kukupa (native wood pigeon) and other birds, and the new under-plantings are expected to encourage many more birds into the school grounds to rest and feed.
Three Northland kura contributed to the huge success of the first ever national Enviroschools event for secondary Maori immersion students. In the first week of September, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Taumārere, Te Kura Taumata o Panguru and Te Wharekura O Te Rawhitiroa connected with other students from around the country at the Maketu Marae in Kawhia for Te Aho Tu Roa—Kōtuia! The main aim of the event was for students to forge a stronger connection with their home waters. Local historical stories about wai/water were performed, incorporating composed waiata, haka, scripts, costumes and choreography. Below is an excerpt from a Slam poetry piece written by participant Tyson Paul about the highlights of Te Aho Tu Roa—Kōtuia:
Our chants grew louder, our haka became more vocal and our ancestors were proud to see our language flowing around within our communities. The warmth of the air was the cultural essence of our ancestors proudly looking down at what they had achieved. Not only was the room full of Māori culture, our next door neighbours, masters of slam poetry were there, Hawaii. Their inspirational words of wisdom bring comfort towards our stay; their pride brings the pursuit of happiness to our land. Similar words caress the tips of our lips and yet both cultures are hidden within the mist. The mist of myths, the kind of myths that becomes stories, the stories that we have forgotten. For once in my life I knew that our culture is still within us, and that’s what makes it better. We stood proud, proud that we tried our best...
St Joseph’s students, enviro teacher James Nyssen and Betty Mason take a break on planting day.
HAKA NGAPUHI
SLAM POETRY
YOUTH SPEAKS!! INSPIRED TO SLAM POETRY
www.nrc.govt.nz/enviroschools 3
Northland Enviroschools newsletter
Leaving a lasting legacy
Term 2 saw the Hurupaki School Enviro Green Team taking part in a newspaper competition run by ‘Newspapers in Education’. They designed the front page of a newspaper focussing on environmental issues, with each group choosing a topic to investigate. Interviews came next, and questionnaires for Councils, Waste Works, Enviroschools and Eco Solutions. Everything on the page was completed by the students, and their newspaper front page now lives in the window of the school office for all to see.
Dates to remember
Hurupaki School makes headlines
NRC Award helps Onerahi School create future pathways
Week 2 Thursday 21 October
Registrations due for Environmental Expo to [email protected]
Empowering students to take action!
Weeks 2– 5 Monday 18 October – Friday 12 November
Reflecting on your enviro-journey? Feeling ready for an Enviroschools Award? Planning for future environmental learning and action?
Book an in-school reflection session with your facilitator.
Week 6 Tuesday 16 November Thursday 18 November
Environmental Expo Kamō Primary School, Whāngārei 8.30am – 2.30pm Riverview Primary School, Kerikeri 8.30am – 2.30pm
Hands on workshops: alternative energy, waste busting, insect studies, organic gardening, paper-making, worm farming, earth building...and Share your school’s action project(s)
Onerahi Primary recently received its eighth Northland Regional Council Environmental Curriculum Award. The cheque for just over $1220 was presented by Cr John Bain and Susan Botting and will be used to develop planting and pathways for the ‘Enhancing our Bush’ and ‘Pathways to the Future’ projects. In term 3, students built pathways in their environmental education area, constructed a boardwalk, and created ponga edging for the butterfly garden. The school’s middle team participated in the ‘Drains to Harbour’ programme by examining the health of the Waimahanga Stream and Dragonfly Springs wetland. They tested water clarity, temperature, shade levels, pollution and biodiversity levels, and concluded both waterways were quite healthy! Future plans include planting native trees at Dragonfly Springs to increase shade cover.
Whāngārei Heads School recently enjoyed a visit from Bryce the ‘gecko man’, who talked about native geckos. He shared a slide show on lizards, geckos and skinks, brought Fat Albert, the gecko, and showed traps for catching rats and stoats. Room 4 has made a gecko house to put in Fern Valley as a safe haven for geckos. The school’s chicken coop is now set up and ‘Fluffy Feet’ and ‘Ginger’, their Spangled Pecans, have settled in nicely. Students look forward to baby chickens arriving soon. They are also busy spreading bark to mulch new trees in Fern Valley, so that they survive the summer. All in all, a great legacy to leave future generations at Whāngārei Heads School.
Onerahi’s future freshwater scientists at work testing the health of local waterways.
Fern Gully workers at Whāngārei Heads School.
