During Movin’March, Greytown School’s Green Team showed what empowered learners can achieve when they work together with purpose. Movin’March is a Greater Wellington Regional Council programme that encourages active travel in our communities, and at Greytown School, senior students stepped into genuine leadership roles to plan and run the kaupapa across their school.
Movin’March passports were stamped daily by the Green Team when students arrived at school using active travel.
From the outset, the planning crew worked collaboratively, with many voices and ideas shaping their approach. Using the Movin’March resources as a guide, the Green Team adapted systems to suit different age groups. Sticker charts, mainly used in the senior school, were creatively woven into existing class competitions — including the much-loved Gnome Mercy — which boosted engagement. Juniors, and even some middle school students, used Movin’March passports, stamped daily by the Green Team when students arrived at school using active travel. The availability of ready-to-use resources, such as stickers and stamps, made organising rewards enjoyable and manageable.
Rather than running whole-school assemblies, each class managed their own rewards through a simple, high-trust system. Students who earned five stickers in a row or completed a passport went into a prize draw, with prizes chosen by the students. Weekly class-based rewards helped learners see that their actions mattered, with Movin’March socks proving especially popular.
Class sticker charts
To keep things running smoothly, the Green Team set up three stamping stations at the front gate, library and hall, rostering crew members to avoid long queues. This approach encouraged students to arrive earlier at school and begin the day positively.
To connect active travel with climate action, completed passports were transformed into leaves for the Climate Action Trees, created by the Green Team. Each tree represented a school house, sparking friendly competition and rich discussions about kaitiakitanga.
Examples of the Climate Action Trees
Reflecting on the month, staff noticed strong enthusiasm and confidence among the senior leaders. Looking ahead, the Green Team is making further plans to encourage their school community to keep choosing active travel more regularly throughout the year. Movin’March at Greytown School was a clear example of Enviroschools in action — learners leading change for their wellbeing, their community and their environment.
