Upcoming Support for teachers
Māori Perspectives Noho Marae Wānanga
21-22 May (overnight)
Takapūwāhia Marae, Elsdon, Porirua
Hosted by Ngāti Toa Rangatira, a unique opportunity to explore tikanga Māori in a school context with tangata whenua. 1 day's teacher release time in lieu available to each school or ece with a teacher attending
A few places remain, last opportunity to register here. Registration date extended to 11 May.
Enviroschools Reflection for Progress Workshop
27 May 2016 (full day)
Treehouse, Botanic Garden, Wellington
An opportunity for schools wanting to reflect on their Enviroschools journey to learn more about the Enviroschools Holistic Reflection Process.
Download a flyer for more information or register here before 17 May 2016
Wairarapa Teachers Climate Change in the Classroom
Thursday 23 June 2016 1.50 - 5.00pm
St Patricks School, Masterton
- Practical non-threatening activities that investigate climate change science
- Understanding the concepts of mitigation and adaptation in our local context
- Inquiry avenues that can lead to students taking practical action at home and school.
Plus a tour of St Patricks School who are about to reflect on their Enviroschools Journey at a Green-Gold Stage.
Register here
Exploring Enviroschools Workshop
9 September (full day)
The Dowse, Lower Hutt
An introduction to the Enviroschools Programme and Education for Sustainability concepts
Download a flyer for more information or Register here
Congratulations to.....
. . . .Raumati South Kindergarten who, after ten years as an Enviroschool have successfully reflected at Green-Gold!
Read about their reflection here
. . . .Kelson Kindergarten who led the way for the Holistic Reflection process in Hutt Kindergartens when they became a Bronze Enviroschool on the 11th April.
. . . Koraunui School who also became a Bronze Enviroschool this term. We are blown away by your whole school commitment to sustainability. Ka mau te wehi!
What Enviroschools in the Region have been up to...
Kids Day Out at Otari Wilton's Bush
On the 14th and 15th of March, Enviroschools worked with Wellington City Council's Botanical Gardens staff to support 150 children from 7 schools to become scientists, artists, rongoa Māori (traditional medicine) practitioners and conservationists at Otari-Wilton's Bush.
Students collected and planted native seeds, learned about Māori stories of the forest, conducted a health assessment of a local stream and created drawings to help Otari design its fernery gateway.
Wellington City Schools Celebrate Local Food Week
Enviroschools hosted 170 students from six southern Wellington schools at Berhampore Community Orchard in March to celebrate Local Food Week. They shared locally donated food and tips for gardening and Berhampore School students taught about beekeeping. Most of the students were able to walk to the orchard and many returned after school to enjoy the orchard and its produce.
Exploring Water Quality at Wairarapa Moana
Greater Wellington Regional Council has been supporting the Whitebait Connection to work with 4 Wairarapa Schools over the past 6 months to study water quality in their local streams and lakes. Enviroschools is supporting them to follow up their learning by
taking action to care for their water ways.
Bee Day at Epuni School
In March, students from 11 schools in the Hutt Valley spent a day at Epuni School learning about beekeeping. Local beekeeper Al Kilmeister showed his observational hive and taught students about how important bees are. Students also made bread to have with honey produced from local hives.
Stream Testing Teacher PLD
During the holidays, Enviroschools ran hands on stream testing workshops for teachers in Wellington City and the Hutt Valley. Teachers learned about how to use the GWRC stream testing kits now available for schools to borrow (see the Resources section below. They also explored the resources available to support students to learn about and take action for our living waterways.
You can also contact the Whitebait Connection to find out about their awesome, facilitator led programme for schools where students learn about life in stream and how to protect it. For more information about the Whitebait Connection, contact Zoe:
zoe.studd@gmail.com
Porirua Teachers ‘Wai Ora’ event at Pātaka
Teachers in the Porirua catchment were treated to a preview of
Bottled Ocean Exhibition at Pātaka Art and Museum. Artist George Nuku
spoke to the group about his work.
A number of education providers, including Enviroschools, were available to share their resources and discuss the support they can offer to local schools relating to the local harbour and catchment.
Resources worth looking at
Drains are for Rain
This "Kickstarter for Action" resource is our first go at an Education for Sustainability resource profiling a simple way that an Enviroschool has successfully applied the Enviroschools Action Learning Cycle to explore and take action on a meaningful environmental issue.
We want to know how useful this type of resource is and whether we should develop more of this type of thing. Please give us your feedback
Sew Good Cooperative lunch bags and produce bags
Sew Good is a community-owned enterprise supported by the Common Unity Project Aotearoa. They produce beautiful sewed goods made from repurposed textiles.
Lunch Bags start from $4 each and packs from $15
For more information or to order email sewgoodlunchbags@gmail.com or check out their facebook page
Common Unity Recycled Rides
A community bike library offering refurbished, rescued bikes to the Epuni and wider Hutt Valley community.
Stream Health Assesment Kits
Greater Wellington Regional Council supports schools interested in learning about freshwater ecosystems with stream health assessment kits and guidance for schools and environmental educators to use with students. The kits provide a simple and practical resource for teachers wanting to engage students in learning about the importance of water quality, ecological systems and scientific approaches.
For more information about the kits visit the GWRC website or to borrow a kit email streamkits@gw.govt.nz
Other important dates
2016 Meridian Sustainability Calendar
This calendar shows dates of Sustainability events around the country and the world for 2016. It is available on our website.
