Enviroschools stories Archives - Page 9 of 15

July 6, 2021

Redwoodtown School flying high

It was hard to miss the enormous hot air balloon bobbing up and down above Redwoodtown School last month. The school was visited by the Flying High Charitable Trust, which aims to provide opportunities to inspire and guide young people towards a more sustainable future through its education programme and use of an innovative and positive approach. The hot air balloon created a real buzz and gave children a bird's eye view of their school and community, along with a broader perspective on some everyday problems. Students explored how they could use this different perspective to come up with innovative and practical solutions to problems such as our use of non-renewable energy and single-use plastics. What...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

Picton Kaitiaki group at Shakespeare estuary

July 6, 2021

Enviroschools stories

Kaitiaki group visit Shakespeare Bay

Picton School's Kaitiaki Group visited the Shakespeare Bay estuary for NZAEE Seaweek. Picton School's Kaitiaki group were invited by Port Marlborough in conjunction with Cawthron Institute to visit the Shakespeare Bay estuary as a focus for NZAEE Seaweek in March. The Kaitiaki group were smaller in stature and younger in age than usual as the group's senior students were away on camp. However, their levels of excitement and enthusiasm were just as high! The Kaitiaki group and Cawthron scientists, smiling in the rain! Despite the rainy day, scientists from Cawthron had set up a range of activities to help the group study the estuary. Anika, Dana and Robyn each took a group...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

July 6, 2021

Enviroschools stories

Kindergarten powered by Tama-nui-te-rā!

This term, Renwick Kindergarten staff, students and whānau celebrated the installation of their new solar panels. After Renwick Kindergarten reflected at Green-Gold in 2019, the kindergarten community was inspired to investigate renewable energy sources: both as a way of future-proofing for generations to come, and minimizing their environmental impact. After lots of meetings and discussions, the decision was made to go solar. Making use of Tama-nui-te-rā (the sun) - who nearly always shines on Marlborough - seemed such a natural option. The kindergarten partnered with Harrisons Solar to install the panels. As a local, family-owned business, Harrisons are a past whānau for the kindergarten, and they were actively involved in raising the funds well before...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 17, 2021

Enviroschools stories

The Taylor River: Feeling the Love!

Blenheim students have been loving their river lately: learning about it, connecting with its natural spaces and raising awareness about how we can all take care of it. Whether you visit it as a way to get safely from A to B, to exercise your dog, to enjoy the sunshine during your lunch break or to teach your child to ride their bike: the Taylor River is a much-used and enjoyed part of Blenheim. As well as being a popular spot for recreation, the river is valued for its important role in flood protection, serving as a conduit for stormwater during rainfall events. It is home to a variety of native and introduced freshwater...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

December 17, 2020

Enviroschools stories

Blenheim School unveil Taylor River Care Code

Students and staff of Te Kura o Waiharakeke | Blenheim School proudly unveiled their ‘Taylor River Care Code’ sign in November. The sign, which has been over a year in the making, sits beside the Taylor River near the John Street footbridge. Developed by the Envirogroup and their Enviroschools Lead Teacher Tracy Holdaway, the care code sets out how the whole community can help the tamariki take care of this special awa. It features beautiful artwork drawn by the students and reflects the special relationship that the school has with the awa that flows right beside it. Many students pass the river each day on their way to and from school, and tamariki regularly pick...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

December 17, 2020

Enviroschools stories

Garden design challenge at Whitney Street School

Whitney Street School students are redesigning their Kids' Edible Gardens and taking the chance to learn some of thedesign principals used when building a new garden. It’s tempting to rush in to build a new garden, however not all plants like the same position. The site needs to have enough sunny spaces for sun-loving vegetables while providing shade and shelter for those that like a cooler, sheltered spot. Crazy shapes can look good but are they easy to get to and around with a wheelbarrow full of tools? Will your irrigation reach all parts of the garden? Where will you put your tool shed, workbench, worm farm or compost heap? How can you encourage beneficial insects...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

December 17, 2020

Enviroschools stories

Enviroschools on camp at Pine Valley

Term 4 is traditionally a great term for getting out-of-doors and into the bush or stream, especially if you are on camp! At Mill Flat in Pine Valley, Anna and Angela have been working as a team so that students are able to study the diversity of life in the river and in the bush surrounding it as part of their camp activities. Mill Flat is the perfect location to explore our wonderful diversity of native insects, animals, freshwater life and plants. Adult (winged) Stenoperla Stenoperla (aquatic) nymph One of the insect species living in Pine Valley Stream is the endemic large green stonefly ‘Stenoperla’. Its presence in the awa...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

September 24, 2020

Enviroschools stories

Working with Envirogroups

Our Environmental Education team have been enjoying the opportunity to work with some of our Marlborough school envirogroups this term. Witherlea School’s 'Green Ninjas' have been meeting each week to explore what sustainability initiatives the school already has in place, and to create a map of where these things are happening. They are now exploring how they can gather ideas from the rest of the students, plus teachers, support staff, whānau and the wider school community to develop a whole school vision for enviro at Witherlea. They are practising some fun activities to help everyone think about how they would like their school to be, and students will share these with teachers at a staff...

by Enviroschools Marlborough