Enviroschools – helping to make the future brighter
In the Greater Wellington region, more and more schools are making their environment more sustainable and helping make sure the future looks brighter for us all. On Wednesday, 7 December, fifteen schools celebrated their success in improving the environment at the 2005 Enviroschool Awards.
Cr Chris Turver, Chairman of Greater Wellington’s Environment Committee, praised the twelve schools which won Bronze awards and the three which took home prestigious Silver awards. Presenting the awards, Cr Turver observed that the “number of schools and people involved had grown significantly in size since the previous year, which reinforces for students that their environmental work is making a difference”.
“The large turnout of parents and teachers indicates a high level of personal support for Enviroschools”, he said. Cr Turver also paid tribute to the hard work of Jan Cox, the Regional Enviroschools Co-ordinator, Jean Pugh and Gill Stewart who help schools undertake the programme, and others involved in enabling schools to achieve awards.
To gain an Enviroschool award, students must identify issues, plan solutions, and take action to create a sustainable school environment. Teachers must integrate environmental education for sustainability into all aspects of school life. This happens with the support of the whole school community and in partnership with Greater Wellington, Porirua City Council, Hutt City Council, Masterton District Council, Carterton District Council, Wellington City Council, WWF and Victoria University of Wellington.
Jan Cox says schools have adopted a wide range of approaches to improving their local environment. She points to worm farms and composting as standard activities for many schools, significantly reducing the amount of waste going to landfills. One school employs chooks to eat its leftover lunch-box food scraps. The majority of schools involved have also undertaken Greater Wellington’s environmental education programme Take Action for Water.
Maori perspectives and knowledge of the environment are an integral part of the Enviroschools’ learning journey. The awards recognise students and school communities as kaitiaki or guardians of their environment.
Organisers of the Enviroschools event were thrilled with the support shown to participating schools by the region's public transport providers. Tranzmetro, Runcimans, Stagecoach Cityline, Mana and Newlands Coachlines all offered transport assistance to schools.
The criteria for winning an award are very stringent, making this year’s success all the more satisfying for the following schools across the region.
Bronze award
- Paparangi School
- Plateau School
- Muritai School
- Wa Ora Montessori School
- Raphael House Rudolph Steiner School
- Naenae Primary School
- Lakeview School
- Carterton School
- Mauriceville School
- Greytown School
- Glenview School
Silver award
- Plimmerton School
- Khandallah School
- Douglas Park School