Community Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Enviroschools Marlborough

April 3, 2025

From bare boxes to boxes of produce

The new garden boxes at Redwoodtown Kindergarten are providing produce for their community. Redwoodtown Kindergarten joined the Kids Edible Garden programme towards the end of 2024 after having some new vegetable boxes built in their front garden. The children had been growing seeds and small plants in preparation for planting in their boxes. This was done with Joy- Marie, their gardening facilitator, the supportive teachers and enthusiastic tamariki. The once bare vegetable boxes are now full of bountiful produce. So much produce in fact that they can regularly give away the fruits of their labour to their community. Ka Pai Redwoodtown Kindergarten, it is so great to see what you have been growing and...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

December 10, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Growing a sustainable community

“The visions we have for the future affect what we think is worth doing in the present” In term one this year the Redwoodtown Kindergarten teaching team set about creating an Enviroschools vision. They considered what was important to them, the tamariki, whānau and community. Some of the actions that they identified after brainstorming around the Enviroschools Guiding Principles were to strengthen their community relationships, create more gardens and set up a koha table - a place to share produce and kai. To say that it has been a busy year for the team would be an understatement. They have worked hard to make these goals become a reality. Mara Kai Having been growing kai in a...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

November 24, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Taylor River Writers Walk

On the 29th of October the first ECE written poem was unveiled to be a part of the Taylor River Writers Walk. Huddled under umbrellas next to the Old Mill on the Taylor River the rain didn’t put anyone off. Students from both Springlands School and Mayfield Kindergarten opened the celebration with waiata. Several speeches followed to acknowledge how special this addition was to an already very well valued part of the Taylor River.

: Springlands School

: Mayfield Kindergarten

This year's poem was a collaborative effort from the Marlborough Kindergarten Association. It combines the voices of multiple tamariki to share their message. Titled Te Awa o Omaka, it reads beautifully about what they value from the...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

July 26, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Matariki at Montessori

Matariki - a time of reflection, coming together, celebration and looking to the future. Earlier this month Montessori celebrated Matariki with their whānau and community. It was also a time to acknowledge 30 years of Montessori operating in Blenheim and the unveiling of their Enviroschools sign. A very special event that was marked with whānau and friends coming together, sharing kai and a heartfelt performance from the tamariki. Ramona Millen from the MDC Environmental Education team was invited to their event to present the community with their sign. She also shared some information about the Enviroschools kaupapa. The Enviroschools kaupapa is about creating a healthy, peaceful, sustainable world through learning and taking action together. Montessori signed up...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

July 18, 2024

Enviroschools stories

Matariki at Awatere Early Learning Centre

Walking into Awatere Early Learning Centre on the 27th June there was the hum of people, adults and children. In the kitchen a group of mums were organising crock pots of soup and buttering bread. Whilst also arranging other kai that had been brought in by whānau. Meanwhile a group of dads walked through carrying the BBQ ready to start cooking outside. Children were playing and laughing, and younger siblings were desperately trying to keep up. The feel of whānau and community resonated within the room - they have gathered to celebrate Matariki and unveil their new Enviroschools sign.

: Fairy lights lit up the outdoor area

: Whānau helping out in the kitchen

: Ramona Millen unveiling their Enviroschools sign

Awatere Early Learning Centre have been involved in an Enviroschools pilot programme since...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

July 1, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Redwoodtown Kindergarten take action

With a new team of teachers at Redwoodtown Kindergarten and a passion to do more for Te Taiao they invited Ramona in to re engage the Kindergarten with the Enviroschools Kaupapa. They started with getting familiar with the Enviroschools Guiding Principles. They then identified all that they were already doing as well as some areas that they would like to strengthen. This then led them to looking at their environment and brainstorming how they would like the place to look, feel and sound. The combination of this information supported the team to develop and identify areas to take action. Some of the key areas were Strengthening community relationships Growing their cultural awareness Growing/providing kai for...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 26, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Montessori tamariki connect to nature

At Montessori Blenheim, children live and breathe the guiding principle, Kaitiakitanga - Guardianship. Children see themselves as active global citizens who are responsible for their actions. They engage in sustainable practices and show aroha for Papatūānuku. This means the children are finding ways to connect with the local community, step into their role as a kaitiaki and recognise themselves as part of the natural world. As they build their sense of belonging and connect with their natural environment, they are learning to show respect for Tāne Māhuta and the Mauri of his ngāhere. "Just enough people to give it a cuddle" - Cameron Last month, a group of little Montessori explorers embarked on...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 21, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Wetland Warriors

Every Wednesday morning a volunteer team calling themselves the Wetland Warriors meet at Grovetown Lagoon to plant natives, weed, clear paths, raise plants and trap pests to protect the beautiful environment around the Lagoon. This term on partnership with Junior Landcare, Envirogroup’s have the opportunity to work alongside the Wetland Warriors (WW) volunteers while learning about the wetlands and why its restoration is so important. Unfortunately the first session was called off due to wet weather, and so in the first week of June Tua Marina and Waikawa Bay Schools became the first groups of students to join the WW team. Their job for the morning was to plant grasses and trees on the banks of...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 9, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Tuarua – giving back – at Waikawa Bay School

The students at Waikawa Bay School have been learning about the values of Matariki with a focus on tuarua - giving back. Free Fair at Waikawa Bay School The first three weeks of term 2 students explored what it means to help and support others. They explored ways that appreciation can be shown and developed an understanding of how in working together as a community everyone is valued. Ideas came flooding in as to how the school could say thank you to the people and local community groups that had given time, shared their knowledge and expertise, donated sports and classroom equipment, and funding for projects. The ideas were sorted and grouped together...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 8, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Kahikatea Reserve Planting

If you haven’t visited Kahikatea Reserve between Springcreek and Tua Marina, you must put it on your to-do list! This 20 year restoration of bare pasture land features beautiful Rimu, Totara, Kahikatea, Matai, Manuka, Tarata, Lancewood, Harakeke, Kawakawa, Koromiko and a myriad of other natives. The aim of the restoration is to return the land to its origins of a lowland swamp ngahere dominated by the mighty Kahikatea of which there are only 3 semi-mature trees left standing on the Wairau Plains. This was the backdrop of a planting project with Tua Marina and Springcreek Schools. Unfortunately, a small fire destroyed part of the restoration late last year. The crew of Landscape Marlborough wanted to...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

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