World Water Day 2025 – St Joseph’s Beach Clean at Agnew Park 💧♻️

This week, to celebrate World Water Day 2025 and Spring Clean Scotland – Litter League Challenge, our pupils at St Joseph’s Primary School took action to support our local community by heading down to Agnew Park and the beach for a litter pick. As part of our commitment to caring for our environment, we wanted to help keep Stranraer’s coastline clean while learning about the importance of protecting our waterways.

When we arrived, we were delighted to see that the beach was already very clean – a wonderful testament to our community’s efforts in looking after our local area. However, that didn’t stop our eager pupils from getting stuck in! We split into two groups and focused on collecting as much litter as we could from around Agnew Park.

The children did an amazing job, showing great enthusiasm and teamwork as they searched for and removed any rubbish they could find. Every small effort makes a big difference, and our pupils were proud to play their part in protecting wildlife and keeping our town beautiful.

After all their hard work, the children had some well-earned playtime on the beach, making the most of the fresh sea air and wide-open space. We were also lucky to spot lots of swans gliding across the water – a lovely reminder of the wildlife that benefits from a cleaner environment.

It was fantastic to see how engaged the children were, and everyone had a brilliant time working together for such an important cause. Well done to all our pupils for their hard work! A big thank you also goes to everyone in our community who helps keep our beaches and parks clean every day.

Happy World Water Day! 💧♻️

UNCRC Rights Covered:

Article 12 – Every child has the right to express their views and be listened to.
Article 15 – Every child has the right to meet with others and join groups to take action.
Article 24 – Every child has the right to a clean and safe environment.
Article 29 – Education should encourage respect for the environment.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Linked:

Goal 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation – Understanding the importance of protecting water sources.
Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities – Taking action to improve our local environment.
Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production – Reducing waste and promoting sustainability.
Goal 14 – Life Below Water – Helping protect marine life by preventing pollution.
Goal 15 – Life on Land – Keeping natural spaces clean for wildlife.

Meta-Skills Developed:

Focusing – Staying engaged and committed to the clean-up task.
Integrity – Taking responsibility for looking after our local environment.
Adapting – Working flexibly to clean different areas and adjust to the conditions.
Communicating – Working together to plan the best way to collect litter.
Feeling – Recognising the impact of pollution on wildlife and showing care for the environment.
Collaborating – Supporting one another as a team to complete the clean-up.
Curiosity – Asking questions about how pollution affects ecosystems and what we can do to help.
Creativity – Thinking of new ways to reduce waste and keep our community clean.
Sense-Making – Understanding the importance of World Water Day and linking it to real-world issues.

SHANARRI Indicators Met:

Safe – Learning about environmental hazards and keeping our community clean.
Healthy – Enjoying fresh air and physical activity outdoors.
Active – Participating in a hands-on clean-up activity.
Responsible – Taking care of our local environment.
Included – Working together as a whole-school team to make a difference.

Strands of Faith Explored:

Mystery of God – Recognising God’s presence in creation and understanding our role in caring for the world He has given us.
Reign of God – Living out the values of the Kingdom of God by acting responsibly and taking care of our environment.
Other World Religions – Understanding that caring for the Earth is a shared responsibility across all faiths and cultures.