Owairaka's Enviro Vision
Three groups of interested students, Thinkers, Worm Farmers and Waste Busters, meet on a regular basis to discuss environmental issues effecting the school. Ideas for projects are developed and children take part in carrying these out, for example sourcing and planting native plants.
GOING FOR GREEN GOLD
This year we are working hard to gain our Green Gold Enviro Award. This involves our children, staff and parents in reflecting on what we have achieved and how far we have travelled on our Enviro journey. This year every class is working on a particular environmental project. Some of our projects include introducing hens to Owairaka School, adding to our school orchard, creating more gardens, building sculptures out of recycled materials, reducing the waste in the school, producing signs for our trees, developing more cultural gardens and developing play areas.
GREEN TIPS
Don’t use plastic bags for dog poop, use biodegradable bags. Plastic only preserves the dog poop for the next 100 years!
Even if a computer is switched off, it can still be drawing power from the mains. Unplug or switch it off at the wall!
Make a compost! Composting is a great way to reduce waste in landfills and a wonderful way to naturally fertilise your garden.
Make sure you use lids when you are cooking as it means that food will reach boiling point far quicker and take less time to cook!
Turn the lights off when you leave the room!
Observe the three R’s – REFUSE, REUSE, RECYCLE – these are the three most important rules to live by as far as the environment is concerned!
Put an extra blanket on the bed and wear some pyjamas so you can reduce the amount of heating you use.
Remember to turn the tap off when you are cleaning your teeth.
Wash fruit and vegetables in a bowl rather than under a running tap!
Remember to take your reusable bags when you go shopping and say “no thanks” to a bag when buying one or two items. Plastic takes a long time to break down!
Use small plastic containers or bags for taking snacks to school. A few crackers from a large pack placed in reusable containers creates less rubbish and is more cost effective!
Use the back of paper that is no longer needed for your children to draw on, learn spelling words or write stories. At school we call this GOOS paper – paper that is Good On One Side!
Wrap sandwiches and other lunch items in paper wrap instead of plastic wrap. Paper can go to the worm farm and not fill up our bins. Paper wrap is also much cheaper than plastic wrap!