Blog - Enviroschools Marlborough

April 9, 2024

Building a Sustainable Community through Kai

Term 4 and 1 are always favourites in the Kids Edible Gardens calendar as there is so much to harvest. There is nothing better than fresh peas, broad beans (and their leaves), crunchy lettuce and broccoli eaten in the garden. School kitchens get a work out too – vegetable fritters and stir-fry’s are whipped up and lettuce wraps are folded. Apples cooked into crumbles or roasted potatoes have everyone’s mouth watering. As well as an oldie but a goodie, pikelets with cream and fresh berries from the garden. Once the children at Picton School have finished their gardening jobs they aim to deliver vegetables to the Picton School Kitchen to be used in their school...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

April 5, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Enviroschools 101 Workshop

An Enviroschool is full of active learners developing skills, understanding, knowledge confidence and working together to plan, design and create a sustainable place … but how do we get to that point? This term Angela and Annie ran an Enviroschools 101 workshop. This was for those new to Enviroschools or wanting to know a bit more before stepping into a lead role for Enviroschools at their school. Where was the best place to start? Out in the environment! Fairhall School was the background for our activities, noticing and observing te taiao in a slower more deliberate way. A place to map what we found to build a puna mātauranga, pool of knowledge. Creating a map is...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

April 5, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Tua Marina Stream Study

The Tuamarina Awa is a tributary of the Wairau Awa and flows through the largest remaining wetland in the Wairau catchment, the Para Wetland. Unfortunately, the water quality of the Tuamarina awa is rated as marginal, unacceptable water quality that needs to be improved. The awa passes Tua Marina school on the opposite side of SH1. It’s not an easy place to get to but the senior students wanted to learn more about it. Particularly its health and what they could do to care for it now and in the future. With a whole school inquiry into science, they leapt at the chance to investigate the awa with a scientific lens. They studied the cycle...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

April 4, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Koru Native Wildlife Centre

As the clouds parted and the sun broke through Marlborough ECE teachers descended upon Koru Native Wildlife Centre. The first event offered to Marlborough ECE teachers as part of the new Environmental Education support pilot for Early Childhood Centres was underway. In line with the regional focus of PLACE and CONNECTION this was an opportunity for teachers to meet Ellen. and see what resources she can support kaiako and tamariki with when learning about some of New Zealands native species. Koru Native Wildlife Centre is situated in Grovetown. It invites you to get up close and learn about brightly coloured Yellow Crowned Kākāriki, fascinating Giant Wētā and Marlborough Green Geckos.

: Gecko

: Kākāriki

The centre is set...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

April 3, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Rongoā Workshop – Monkey Bay/Rarangi

Marlborough teachers from early childhood, primary and secondary schools gathered at Monkey Bay, Rarangi for our second Rongoā workshop this month. As they arrived they were greeted by the glassy rolling swell of Tangaroa, the warmth of Tamanuiterā and the cool, refreshing presence of Tānemahuta. After a busy day in the classroom this warm welcome was the medicine needed to nurture a busy mind. Hosted by the Marlborough District Council Environmental Education team as part of their PLACE focus this year, they invited whaea Ripeka, whaea Tricia and whaea Lovey from Manaaki Ngahere Trust to share their knowledge on Rongoā plant identification.

: Whaea Ripeka

: Whaea Lovey and Whaea Tricia

This introductory workshop took kaiako on a guided walk into...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

April 3, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Nature Connection Workshop

How often do you take the time to slow down and experience the environment with all your senses? At the beginning of March Marlborough Early Childhood teachers left feeling inspired and excited to plan their next excursion after attending this term's Nature Connection workshop. Following on from the Nature Connection pilot programme last year where our Environmental Education team supported Spring Creek School and Springlands Kindergarten to set up their own Nature Connection programmes, they hosted an introductory workshop. Gathered at Sheps Park, Springlands Kindergarten teachers guided the group through the experience that they offer tamariki when they have their fortnightly visits there. Opening with a karakia, they then followed their process of a “safety check”...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

February 15, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Mayfield Kindergarten’s Mara Kai

Tānemahuta, Rongomatāne and Tangaroa greet you at the entrance to Mayfield Kindergarten. These Pou represent the Kindergarten’s connection to their environment. The characteristics of these Atua underpin the learning priorities for the tamariki that attend. Kaiako and tamariki tiaki (care for) these atua and their wide spread environment, made up of the native gardens, mara kai, a rocky awa and open spaces. Mara kai has been the focus over the last 6 months for kaiako, tamariki and Joy, their gardener. Joy spends 3 hours a week at Mayfield Kindergarten. During this time she empowers the tamariki to be hands on and involved in the garden. Together they sow seeds, plant seedlings, pull out weeds,...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

January 31, 2024

General

The Mighty Waitohi

Each year the tamariki of Picton School learn about the mighty Waitohi Awa. Most cross it each day on their way to school. It is the awa of their pepeha, flowing from their manuga Piripiri. The awa became even more of a focus this year. Lianne Adams, a teacher at the school, wrote and published a book about it. Originally named Te Wereanga o Waitohi, this small and powerful stream would engerize and empower the brave and skillful warriors before battle. The tamariki followed the path of the awa from Mt Piripiri down the valley to Waitohi. Where it flows through built up areas, under roads then completely disappears into covered culverts. Before meeting the...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

January 13, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Kumara planting at Bohally Intermediate

Students from the KEGs (Kids Edible Gardens) were keen to grow kumara to share with the school at their annual hangi next year. It started a journey of discovery and learning as they prepared kumara to grow tipu in term 3. They joined forces with Reuben Molnar from Te Whatu Ora. He had worked with students from Marlborough Boys College growing kumara at the Marlborough Community gardens last year. The boys harvested over 90 kg of kumara! The Bohally School students were interested to hear from Reuben how they had used Māori Mātauranga that Reuben had learnt from mana whenua to grow their kumara. Unfortunately the method the Bohally School students had used to grow...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

January 13, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Writers Walk Poem Unveiling

On a cool Spring day on the Taylor River the 21st poem was unveiled. Written by Mia Lasenby from Wairau Valley School, this new poem forms part of the Writers Walk. Springlands School students who were passionate about the environment start the project in 2009. The students had been learning all about the Taylor River including its water quality and came up with an idea that would make a difference then and in the future. With support from Marlborough District Council, who provided the large rocks. Sowmans Funeral Home who set the poems on plaques. Cathee Wilks and Ali Kay, teachers and project champions. 14 years on, the project is still going strong. They have...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

October 4, 2023

Enviroschools stories

Grovetown School Student Scientists

The children in Waihi class at Grovetown School have been investigating the health of the creek that runs alongside their school. After the Grovetown School students first visit to observe the creek they felt pretty confident that it wasn’t in a very good state. But the children wanted some facts to back up what they saw. The children named the weed on top of the creek Frog Porridge. Using the Enviroschools Stream Study Kit they measured the flow, temperature, and clarity of the water, before identifying the creatures that live in the creek. Unfortunately the only creatures they found were small snails. All their tests of the creek failed to meet healthy...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

August 9, 2023

Enviroschools stories General

Renwick Kindergarten Pause and Reflect

A key aspect to the Enviroschools journey is reflection. “Reflection is an integral part of the learning cycle, helping us to make sense of our experiences, deepen our learning, and gain direction for the journey ahead”. Renwick Kindergarten have been a Green Gold Enviroschols since 2019. Earlier this year they decided to reflect on their journey. They had completed all their “next steps” from their Green Gold reflection and felt it was time to identify some new ones. Renwick Kindergarten tamariki, John Leggett and Anne Best test out the new water access at Rousehill Reserve As their team reflected on the last four years it quickly became apparent the Enviroschools kauapapa is no...

by Enviroschools Marlborough