Category: Evidence

Skills Academy

Last week, as part of the Skills Academy programme, pupils explored their local environment including the Stanley Burn and South Beach.
They also helped to plant trees for the Three Towns Growers and made huge progress on the school allotment, filling our raised beds and building a bug hotel.
A big thanks to our sponsor Green Home Systems (Energy/Utility).

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Our crops update

We have been taking part in the UK space agency’s Rocket Science project, where we have two packs of seeds, one which has been to space. The task is to guess… which one? Our seeds have been sowed, and will be planted out in our allotment in the coming months.
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We’ve also been taking part in the ‘Grow your own Potatoes’ scheme, and our tatties are getting along nicely over at the allotment site!

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Tree Planting Day

The Three Towns growers held a tree planting day on Saturday to plant all 420 trees given to them by the Woodland Trust. the trees planted included dogrose, hazel, crab apple, blackthorn and elder. We also finished putting the tarpaulin down on our plot, so we’re ready for our raised beds to be built!

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Minutes from Meeting with Catering and Janitorial Staff

Date: 17/03/16

Present:
Mrs Futamata, Sophie Gribben, Marie-Ann Wales, Rachel Skimming, John Blackwood (Janitor), Wendy Hogg (Canteen Cluster Manager), Carol (Canteen Supervisor).

Food Waste:
this is already being separated through the cafeteria. Notable example of good practise was Kilwinning Academy, where food waste is taken to a ‘worm farm’ to be broken down.

Packaging Waste:
Cutlery and plates are to be reintroduced to the cafeteria for main meals. Recycling machine works an this should be highlighted at assemblies. We also discussed having stricter enforcement on those caught littering the canteen with waste-possibly a ban. We need to further discuss this with the head teacher.

Litter:
Most problematic time is after lunch. It was suggested by John that we photograph the playground and canteen after this time and display it at assemblies. Carol suggested highlighting the cost of litter, and the fact you are throwing away money. A litter policy team need to be put together to address this issue, and also give a clear policy on litter which was highlighted by our environmental review.

School Allotment:
This will be discussed more with the food for life group tomorrow, but the catering staff will use any produce from the school allotment, mainly salad crops and root vegetables. They will advertise if it is being used on the day, which will be done in the canteen and on the notice board.

Prefects:
The issue of prefects was also raised at the meeting. We felt that they were sometimes not respected and could be given a higher profile. We also thought that litter picking could be included in the prefect’s duties, but this should be voluntary.

School Grounds:
There is a hazard with thorns that have overgrown, which needs to be sorted. John suggested that a new approach is needed, as currently the area will only be vandalised again. This will be discussed at the next eco committee meeting.

The next meeting will be on May 19th, Period 3

Meeting Adjorned

Minutes 17-02-16

Present:

Sophie Gribben, Rhanna Guilfoyle, Robyn Gurney, Erin Wigton, Rachel Skimming, Ben Campbell.

Apologies:

Claire Monaghan, Rachael Waddell, Marie-Ann Wales, Kalle Smith.

Potential Roles

We discussed having a rotation for the minutes secretary , and Erin would like to be one of our new secretaries.

Ben wishes to be the recruitment officer, while Rachel is happy to take on the role of Relations Manager.

Sophie wishes to continue to be chairperson.

Planning Ahead

We have devised a plan for the coming weeks

  • 18/02/16- Meeting with Mrs Futamata, Organise Competition, Assign roles
  • 24/02/16- Start Environmental Review
  • 25/02/16- Continue Environmental Review
  • 02/03/16- Finish Environmental Review, Update notice board
  • 03/03/16- Devise an action plan

A.O.B

  • The competition for the Eco Code has not been decided upon yet.
  • Conor Monaghan has now left the committee as he is at college. Good Luck Conor!

Green Flag Award Criteria

eco-schools
So we are going for our green flag. What do we really need to do? Here is the criteria (you could call it the success criteria! haha) for green flag:

The Eco Committee

  • Pupils put themselves forward, and are selected by their peers to be part of the Eco Committee.
  • Pupils are given the opportunity to nominate some adult members on to the Committee for specific tasks
  • The Committee sometimes co-opts adult members on to the committee for specific tasks
  • The Committee meets at least once every half term.
  • Minutes are kept of meetings showing how decisions have been made, and pupils share the minute-taking responsibility with adults
  • Minutes are displayed on an Eco-Schools notice board
  • Reports of Committee meetings are presented at school board/Parent Council meetings
  • Pupil members of the Committee are responsible for taking ideas from the rest of the pupils and reporting back result of Committee meetings to all the classes or forms in the school

 

Environmental Review

  • Pupils and Adults on the Eco Committee plan and carry out an Environmental Review of the School in consultation with some non-Committee members
  • A review document is used that covers all areas of environmental impact
  • The results of the Review are collated into one document for display on the Eco-Schools notice board and website (if the school has one)
  • Pupil members of the Committee collect suggestions for action from school classes or tutor group
  • An Environmental Review is undertaken once a year to evaluate overall progress

 

Action Plan

  • The Action Plan is included in the school development or improvement plan
  • Pupils on the Eco Committee take responsibility for leading some action areas
  • The Action Plan prioritises targets
  • The Action Plan shows cost implications and include how activity will be monitored and evaluated
  • The Action Plan is displayed on the school’s Eco Notice Board in a clear, pupil-friendly format.

 

Monitoring & Evaluation

  • The Eco Committee ensures that evaluation of action is ongoing, appropriate to the activity monitored and that some of it is carried out by pupils
  • The whole school is aware of progress of environmental action, and is given the opportunity to evaluate its effect through discussion and debate
  • The Eco Committee meets to review progress and analyse the data collected
    They build on successes and decide on remedial action when activities are not proving successful
    Some monitoring data is used for curriculum work

 

Linking to the Curriculum

  • The school has a named individual responsible for environmental education/sustainable development education
  • The school has a curriculum plan integrating a range of environmental issues into the curriculum across some year groups or classes in a range of subjects
  • Aspects of Eco-Schools activities are integrated into a range of subjects across the curriculum for the majority of classes or year groups
  • Issues surrounding sustainable development are explored through curriculum activities in many year groups
  • (Secondary schools only) The school has conducted a comprehensive Curricular Audit for Sustainable Development Education.

 

Involving whole school and wider community

  • Eco-Schools activities are displayed on a notice board inside/outside the school Displays of Eco-Schools Activities are put up for the local community for example in the library, local shop, church or community hall
  • Eco-Schools activities are integral to the school and the whole school engages in an annual Day of Action (or similar activities)
  • The wider community is involved in the activities going on in the school; for example local council officers and members of local businesses, or environmental organisations
  • The school has approached the local press to cover its Eco-Schools activities.
    Details of the school’s Eco-Schools activities are put on the School’s web site (if the school has one)

 

Eco Code

  • The whole school is given the opportunity to make suggestions for what they believe should be included in the Eco Code
  • The Eco Committee drew up a Code from suggestions collected, and presented it to the school for approval
  • The Eco Code is displayed on the Eco Schools notice board and in all classrooms. It is also displayed on any outside notice board and the school’s web site (if the school has one)
  • The Eco Code is reviewed by the whole school every year to make sure it remains relevant

Source: http://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/sustainable-development-education/eco-schools/awards/green-flag-award/green-flag-award-criteria/

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