For my science baccalaureate, I have investigated the renewable energy possibilities for the Ardrossan Allotments. My presentation on this is below:
Category: Information
Update 26/01/17
A lot has happened over the past two months! Due to prelims I haven’t been able to update this blog as much as I would have liked, so here’s a list of all the stuff we’ve been up to:
- Ardrossan Organics got set up, and we sold our goods at both the school’s Christmas Fayre and the Wittlees Centre
- Our 3rd years presented at assembly, to update the school on our progress
- The Rights Respecting Schools group achieved their Recognition of Commitment certificate
- The Food for Life group started creating a cookbook of healthy recipes
- The plot is being kept up by pupils from the Astra base, and learning support is keen to use it as well
We are holding a meeting to discuss the way forward after the seniors (including myself) leave, tomorrow morning, period 2
Christmas Fair
We have a stall this year at the christmas fair for Ardrossan Organics: we will be selling soy candles, bath bombs and pickled produce from the allotments made by the food for life group.
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Plot Update
So much has happened with the plot in the past month! It was cleared of all the weeds, new sheeting put down , a shed put up and gravel put down, all done by our eco committee and by volunteers from the allotments: Big thank you to them!
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Minutes 04/11/16
Present:
Lauren Scott, Sophie Gribben, Rachael Waddell, Mrs Gilmour, Matthew.
Parent Council
Mrs Chalmers has asked us to speak at the parent council meeting on Monday at 18:30. The S3 pupils who are to attend are Christopher, Lauren and Matthew. Sophie will represent S6. This is to get funding for the plot, and to show them the work we have done so far on it. Hopefully we will be able to apply for Youth Bank grant funding through them for equipment and a polytunnel (Lauren adds we could also buy wellies and jackets). Sophie and S3s will meet up on Monday to discuss this.
Meeting Adjourned
Switch off Fortnight
Next week is Switch Off Fortnight, this is a partnership with EDF Energy. Switch off Fortnight is about everyone trying to save energy.
In class we are currently making posters to show all teacher and pupils around the school. We are also spreading the word on social media. Twitter – @ardacadeco
An issue in the UK is that the North Sea oil and gas is in decline. We need energy to provide us with heat and electricity and to power our vehicles.
One of the ways we can save power is by using solar power instead. The largest solar farm is in California, USA.
Minutes 25/08/16
Present:
Sophie Gribben, Rhanna Guilfoyle, Robyn Gurney, Clare Monaghan, Marie-Ann Wales, Mrs Gilmour, Erin Wigton.
Absent:
Rachael Waddell
Glow Blog
A couple of S3 pupils from the eco club have expressed an interest in helping maintain the blog, and hopefully taking over once Sophie leaves the school. They will be added as admins and shown the ropes in the coming weeks.
Social Enterprise
We are thinking of undertaking as social enterprise project this year, and are looking for suggestions. Ideas brought up were bath bombs, pickles and chutneys, cosmetics and candles; all made from allotment produce. We need to decide on the social issue we wish to tackle.
Allotment
The Pupil Support department are going to give us a huge hand in maintaining the allotment this year, as it is something the committee alone have been struggling with. We are also possibly going to set up a Gardening Group.
The Committee
Instead of meeting informally every week, we have decided to do progress meetings every month were we will get the progress of all the clubs and groups that fall under the eco committee banner. This way we will be able to stay more on top of things.
Meeting Adjourned
Global STEM Alliance
I recently travelled to New York to attend the first Global STEM Alliance conference. Centred around the Global Goals, I attended panels and met with interesting people from all around the world working to solve some of our biggest problems. Whilst there I attended a panel on how to achieve the Global Goals through STEM: I have attached my notes below.
Meeting Notice
EDIT: So not to clash with ongoing D of E meetings, the meeting has been pushed back to Thursday 25th August at 12:45. We hope you are still able to make it!
There will be a meeting held on Wednesday 24th August at 12:45, for all members of the eco committee and anyone wishing to join. We will organise a group to tidy up the allotment (and sample what we have growing!) and discuss how we are going to take forward our eco activities in the coming year. 
We’re Back!
Exam leave is now officially over, and while there are still exams going on, the eco committee will resume meetings on Thursday 7th June. Any new members are welcomed from all year groups, but if you are S1 to S3 there is also an eco club for these year groups specifically.
Lets go for green!
