What an inspiring Holistic Reflection sharing and celebration at Our Lady Star of the Sea – He Whetu o te Moana in Tāmaki Makaurau.
The Enviro-student reflection team Isabel, Tiffany, Maddy, Charlie, and Cavan enthusiastically guided visitors around their school with the aid of an illustrated map of Enviroschools initiatives and artwork. It was evident that the Enviro-leadership team vision, concentrated strategy and mahi has resulted in the whole school feeling incredibly cared for and loved.
Food waste being diverted to the worm farm.
Worm wee ready for distribution.
During the celebration visitors were told how the school has, over 4 years, reduced waste to landfill from 26.28 kg per day to 3.62 kg per day. Other initiatives include removal of moth plant pods, created a native board walk, mud kitchen, and a buddy bus stop. Being sun smart is a lot easier for students now with colourful house coloured sun umbrellas for eating lunch under. The living landscape of Our Lady Star of the Sea has been added to with native trees (that will attract native birds), a butterfly garden, a quiet contemplation memorial area, and green house. Waste reduction and healthy soils have been enhanced by compost bins, a worm farm and coffee pod collection. Spiritual wellbeing has been supported through the Sabbath space and Jesus is the Reason space. The Cola (Covered outdoor learning area) opened last year and is an all-weather space that the whole school can gather in.
The rainwater collection tank installed and operating.
Creative living and peaceful spaces.
One stand-out story was how the water tank was obtained. Charlie and Cavan shared how they learned about the water cycle in year 2 with Lee and how it is important to look after this precious resource. This led to them drawing plans for a water tank. Then lock-down came. In year 4 they started to think about solutions again and went to the Board of Trustees with a proposal for installing a water tank. The Board of Trustees listened and gave money for a 2000 litre water tank! With the help of the property manager this was purchased and installed with a pump and tap, that needs them to pop a key into it so they can water their gardens that are adjacent to the tank, as well as fill water trays for the juniors in the summer.
The Enviroschools Principles of Empowered learners and Sustainable Communities very strong at this school. The Enviro-Leadership group consulted with their community at parent interviews with the added incentive of house points for parents who agreed to complete the survey.
The DP and Key Teacher used a bespoke version of the Enviroschools Sustainability Survey to ask parents:
1. Tick or make a mark if you know your child is learning and about any of these topics / which of these initiatives are you aware of.
2. Circle if you have changed behaviour around this at home.
Parents were invited to mark each section it if they knew that their children were learning about this and circled it if they had adopted the practice at home.
Part of the survey showing parent responses around learning and action evident at home.
Past pupils also offered their voice and have taken their enviro learnings into their new schools.
The students loved the surveying and consultation so much they want to do it annually. As part of the conversations over this reflective time with past pupils, staff, whānau, students and community, some next steps have emerged.
- Increase parent engagement
- Transference from learning at school to home
- Learn about energy, consumption and carbon footprint
- Pest Cadet programme to increase awareness of pest animals and plants
- Have sustainability incorporated into our concept plans where appropriate.
By weaving learning for sustainability through their learning enquiries they have created spaces all around the school to nurture nature and people.
All about teamwork and collaboration.
The Our Lady Star of the Seas School representatives will join other Enviroschools in Tāmaki Makaurau to be celebrated for their efforts on Nov 29, 2024.