local stories Archives - Page 2 of 7 - Enviroschools Marlborough

July 6, 2021

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

April 12, 2021

General

Summer Stream Studies

Term 1 has seen plenty of students getting out of the classroom and into a nearby river or stream to learn about healthy waterways. Students from the Home School Co-operative Learners group investigated Pukatea Stream as part of a day out at White’s Bay. They were impressed with the amount of life in the stream, especially the large banded kōkopu found in a shady pool. They got to see the kōkopu’s jumping ability first hand as it leapt from the container and wriggled back to its watery home. Tamariki were concerned that they didn't find any kōura - the group has found lots of them in this stream in the past. Maybe they were...

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

December 19, 2019

Enviroschools stories

Blenheim School: Kaitiaki for the awa

Tamariki at Blenheim School have been thinking about how they care for a place that is very special to their school: The Taylor River. The Envirogroup got together to think about kaitiakitanga, and talked about all of the different kaitiaki that care for the Taylor awa. These include ātua (e.g.: Tangaroa and Tamanuiterā), taonga species (e.g. tuna | eels), iwi/mana whenua, council, and community members. The students discovered that they can be kaitiaki for the awa too, as the more kaitiaki the awa has, the healthier the awa will be! They all had loads of examples of why the river is special to them. It turns out that they have already been doing some things...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

December 16, 2019

Enviroschools stories

Student artwork by the Taylor River

Student artwork will soon grace some of the entrances to Blenheim's Taylor River. Some of the Springlands Go MAD (Make a Difference) students came up with an idea to design artwork with messages to remind people to take care of special reserves in our region. The students displayed all the artwork in the staffroom window and then asked the school to vote on their six favourites. The MDC reserves team kindly turned these six artworks into signs that will be displayed on some of the entrances to the Taylor River. This was an exciting project that was totally developed by students with a bit of support. Look out for the signs when you are next...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

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