Enviroschools in Onehunga and Royal Oak showcased their Holistic Reflection journey, highlighting student-led environmental actions, community connections, and inspiring collaboration to care for Papatūānuku across Tāmaki Makaurau.
As the ākonga grow and thrive in their time at the schools of Onehunga and Royal Oak, so does their Enviroschools action.
Symbolism of the growth of a bird from hatching to soaring was used to help reflection.
Using the new Enviroschools Holistic Reflection process, Onehunga Primary (OPS), Royal Oak Intermediate (ROI) and Onehunga High School (OHS) students came together for the day to showcase work across their schools, connect to their wider community, and plan and prepare for their next environmental action steps.
Choosing symbols that represent their journey over many years as Enviroschools, and collaborating on a multi-school reflection, OPS and ROI are forging a new path for the Holistic Reflection process in Tāmaki Makaurau.
ROI have an existing inquiry cycle using symbolism of the growth of a bird from hatching to soaring which, with the opportunity to create a new reflection model, both schools felt could be used to capture their Enviroschools journeys.
Environmental action examples shared on their reflection day included carbon reduction action messages on murals developed by the whole school at OPS through their Mana Ora project and their abundant new vegetable gardens.
Placing bark around native plantings at Royal Oak Intermediate.
Royal Oak Intermediate School ākonga learn about measuring the water clarity of their local stream.
Students from ROI showcased their work with Royal Oak Freshwater action group, testing the health of the stream which flows through the Onehunga People’s Garden, their pest trapping with community organisation Maungakiekie Songbird, and native plant restoration.
Onehunga Primary School gardens
Mana Ora project
Kaiako, Sheryl Campbell, from ROI, said that one of her shyer Enviro students told her that, from the reflection process, they were proud of their public speaking, which they had previously been scared of.
Onehunga High School (OSH) students shared their part in the enviro journey these schools have taken over the last three years as past students of the Primary and Intermediate. They were able to share their part in initiating some of the environmental actions still happening today.
We expect that the new approach to Holistic Reflection will encourage many more schools across Tāmaki Makaurau to take the time to pause, reflect on their successes, plan their next steps, and celebrate their outstanding contribution to our collective care for Papatūānuku.