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Kia ora Enviroschools whānau,
The Enviroschools Kaupapa has never been more important and we are heartened by examples of decision makers listening and responding to the views of our young people.
Our Government has responded to the call of thousands of young people and their supporters in declaring a Climate Emergency this term.
Students from Gladstone and Carterton Enviroschools sat at the table with Carterton District councillors last month, sharing what they have been doing for the environment and their aspirations for the future. The councillors listened attentively and offered both moral and practical support.
These are signs that we really can work together intergenerationally for a more healthy peaceful sustainable world.
May we all be replenished over the holiday season and we look forward to working with you to empower more young people in 2021.
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Ngā mihi nui ki a tātou,
Karyn and the team at Enviroschools Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui |
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Exploring Enviroschools Workshop
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Friday 19 March 2021, 9am - 3.30pm
The Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt
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This Exploring Enviroschools workshop is open to primary and intermediate schools already engaging in an Enviroschools journey.
More information about the workshop can be found here.
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Participants can be teachers, principals, parents or BOT members who are new to the Enviroschools approach, new to sustainability concepts, new to the school or who just want a refresher.
Please register here before 9 March 2021.
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Teachers and Climate Change Conversation
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Wednesday 10 February 2021, 3.30 - 5pm
The Pavillion, St Patrick's College, Silverstream
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An opportunity for teachers to discuss their responses to the themes coming out of Rachel Bolstad's NZCER Research: Educatonal Policy and Practice for a Changing Climate. Let’s share what we are already doing, our questions and ways we can make change.
Please register here
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World of Waste Experience
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The Hutt City Council/Enviroschools World of Waste Experience has been a big success for the nine Te Awakairangi schools that participated this term. The full-day experience involves visiting the Silverstream landfill, Earthlink and The Dowse, as well as in-school facilitated waste related activities and action.
We have a few dates still available for Lower Hutt schools in terms one and two, and have opened up bookings for terms three and four. All places for Upper Hutt Schools are already full for 2021!
Lower Hutt schools are invited to express their interest in booking a WOW experience here.
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Student leaders impress Carterton District councillors
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Students from Carterton and Gladstone schools impressed Carterton District councillors when they visited in November. The councillors were in the middle of their strategic planning for the next 10 years and valued the opportunity to hear what students wanted for their town and district: for kindness to be common and for their town to be colourful and waste-free.
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The students shared actions they were leading in their schools including garden initiatives, bank plantings, trail making, and kindness weeks. The councillors were impressed with the leadership these students are showing and wondered if we might see these same faces around a council table in the future.
A couple of councillors offered to support some of the student actions - magic! It is great to see communities listening, sharing and working together - intergenerational cooperation at its best!
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Te Awakairangi Early Childhood Network Hui
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 Early childhood teachers from Te Awakairangi gathered at Boulcott Kindergarten this term to network, learn and inspire each other. There was lots to catch up on!
Boulcott Kindergarten hosts shared how they are connecting children with the pūrākau of our area, taking small groups up Pukeatua and other sites to look down on Te Whanganui-a-Tara and see the space Ngake and Whātaitai swam - and where Ngake broke through to Raukawa Moana.
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He Kaimanaaki at Little Earth Montessori
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A strong role model for well-embedded sustainable practices, Little Earth Montessori have been opening their doors to other centres. Enviroschools have facilitated a visit from teachers from the wider region who are considering reflecting as Green-Gold Enviroschools. Little Earth also hosted the local Kāpiti Early Childhood and Junior School Cluster Network. Their beautiful purpose-designed environment has been a source of inspiration. He mihi maioha i te manaakitanga mai i a mātou.
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Young Enviro Leaders Porirua (YELP) - Community Celebration
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Student leaders from a number of primary, intermediate and secondary schools in Porirua West, shared their visions for the wellbeing of their local community and taiao when they gathered with their whanau and invited guests, at Ngāti Toa Enviroschool on Saturday 14th of November.
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Enviroschools has been delighted to support this project, led by Porirua Harbour Trust educator Rebecca McCormack in partnership with Ngati Toa, represented by Calisa Hippolite.
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Congratulations Fernridge School - the sixth Green-Gold/Totara Enviroschool in the Wairarapa!
We felt it in your passion and your manaaki. We saw it in your vibrant and exciting outdoor environments and we heard about it from a wide range of voices as we gathered to uncover evidence of the Enviroschools Guilding Principles in the school.
You stand tall like a Totara - you shelter and provide for so many others in our diverse ecosystem. You have been on this journey for over 15 years - and we look forward to working with you to share your journey with others.
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Congratulations also to Paparangi School who confirmed this term that they are definitely still a Green-Gold/Totara Enviroschool! From their original Green-Gold reflection in 2015 Paparangi School have thrown themselves into addressing their self-identified next-steps.
Students, teachers, parents, visitors from neighbouring Paparārangi Kindergarten and Enviroschools team representatives were treated to an incredible tour of the school. The tour included students in action preparing sustainable products to sell at their fair and a vast array of displays of their thinking about sustainability concepts, their school values and how the two interact.
Ka mau te wehi Paparangi School!
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Congratulations Ōpaki School - our latest Silver/Ponga Enviroschool extraordinaire.
It was great to hear adults and students on the reflection team sharing their ideas for next steps on the school's journey. As we toured the school we also took action, clearing the pest traps that the students are responsible for monitoring and ushering the latest visiting mouse to the compost!
The school has a special relationship with the team from Seeds and Cereals who participated on the reflection team. Paul and Chelsea inspired students and adults alike with their new fully biodegradable paper and jute product bags which are replacing their plastic ones from now on.
Thanks for an awesome day Ōpaki School.
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Silverstream Kindergarten
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There was much to celebrate at Silverstream Kindergarten's Bronze/ Mānuka reflection. After four years as an Enviroschool it is clear that strong foundations are being laid with the support of teachers who all offer their different passions. A vision is developing that recognises the vital importance of this kaupapa for the future of our tamariki and te taiao/the environment.
Learning for sustainability is a real strength here. Ngā tamariki shared their curiosity and expertise about the living world and demonstrated mindfulness in the way the centre uses resources thinking about the impact of plastic on our environment. We saw a commitment to recognising the unique gifts of each child and the special responsibilities of recognising Te Tiriti and mātauranga Māori.
Ka mau te wehi!
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Community support was evident in the special people who made up Normandale School's Bronze/Mānuka reflection team. As the students took us on a tour of their school, we heard of their passion from grandparents, previous teachers, and the principal. They talked shared many examples of the care students have been taking for each other and the local environment over the last few years.
Knowledge was also passionately shared and received during the day. And we were sustained by delicious treats made by students with their homegrown silverbeet.
Mīharo Normandale School!
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Paremata School's lead enviro students certainly demonstrated how empowered they are at their recent Bronze/Mānuka Enviroschools reflection. Particular passion and strength is evident in their waste practices, active travel projects and learning in their wider environment outside the classroom.
It was great to have Kim Tabrum from The Sustainability Trust and Kirsty Barr from the Greater Wellington Regional Council Travel Choice team join us as supporters of the enviro team's projects.
Ngā mihi maioha ki a koutou!
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Members of the Wellesley College Envirogroup were excited and proud to share how they had been growing sustainability at their school on their Bronze/Mānuka reflection day.
Supported by teachers and other key staff to make the most of learning from their beautiful environment, these empowered students are growing food from seeds, creating healthy kai, exploring ways to take action to minimise waste and learning to take care of native ecosystems.
Tau kē Wellesley College.
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Ngā mihi nui ki a Petone Kindergarten who became a Bronze/Manuka Enviroschool on 2nd December. They began their Enviroschools journey at the end of 2018 and have been exploring ways to work with their tamariki and community to connect with their environment.
It was wonderful to see the transformation of their indoor and outdoor spaces to create a living landscape. This process is generating learning and joy! Maintaining regular practices and experiences in nature is empowering tamariki to become experts and to tautoko younger tamariki.
Miharo!
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Congratulations to Berhampore School who reflected as a Mānuka/Bronze Enviroschool this term. . It was inspiring to hear how practices started in 2009 have continued through to today!
We loved hearing the waiata performed by the juniors, seeing the legacy the seniors were designing for the hall and making a decision with an engaged and articulate Enviro Group.
Tino pai Berhampore School!
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Kids Reserve kaiako have been creatively naturalising their CBD learning environment with natural resources. They have created a sustainability policy to guide their practices and established valuable relationships in their wider community in relation to their waste management and a community garden, as well as their regular forest walk programme. It was wonderful to see all this mahi at their Bronze / Manuka reflection this term. Ka rawe Kids Reserve.
“We are so proud of all our mahi together! Our tamariki, team and community are learning together and building our relationship with Papatūānuku which feels really meaningful and important. We look forward to continuing and strengthening our learning on this tu meke journey.” - Janis Murray (Kids Reserve Supervisor).
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Movin'March is an annual celebration of safe and active travel to school, free for all primary schools (years 0-8) in the Wellington region.
Walking, biking or scooting are great ways for students and families to connect with their community and do their bit for climate action. It's also a great way for children to be active and gain independence.
Registering is easy and schools can sign up anytime before March 2021. If your school registers by this Friday 11th December you'll go in the earlybird draw to win a $100 Prezzy card for your school! Complimentary Planet-Friendly Resource packs will be sent in early Term 1.
For more information contact schooltravel@gw.govt.nz.
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Sea Week (6-14 March 2021)
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 Seaweek is New Zealand’s annual national week celebrating the sea and comprises a wide range of events, activities, opportunities, competitions and calls to action.
This year's theme is Connecting with our Seas Toi Moana - Toi Tangata, with the intention of highlighting the diverse connections and interactions we have with the sea which make our lives intertwined with the health of our ocean environment.
Whether you are a Seaweek veteran or this is your first time organising an event - big or how small - the Seaweek team are here to support and help promote your mahi! If you or your organisation would like to sponsor or support Seaweek 2020 please get in touch by emailing seaweek@merc.org.nz
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Parks Week (6-14 March 2021)
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 Parks Week is about hundreds of organisations across Australia and New Zealand holding events to celebrate the vital role parks play in creating liveable cities and thriving communities.
Parks Week 2021 will focus on the how spending time in our parks and open spaces positively influences our wellbeing.
Find out about Parks Week events happening in your area.
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Radical Action Grants supports radical grassroots environmental activism – especially climate and climate justice activism – in Aotearoa. Their grants are aimed at groups less able to access conventional sources of funding. They usually go to projects run by groups on shoestring budgets and volunteer time, giving out grants of up to $500.
Next grant round opens 11th February.
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Student Action Project Fund - GWRC
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 This Greater Wellington Regional Council fund supports schools and early childhood centres to carry out projects that support native plants and wildlife.
It will help students with projects like planting, cleaning up litter and pest animal control. There is up to $500 a year available for each project. It is easy to apply - download the form from the website.
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Like or follow our Enviroschools Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui facebook page where we continue to post a range of ways to connect with the Enviroschools Kaupapa.
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