Nine Northland schools were recognised for a range of environmental initiatives - including community planting days and organic gardens - at the region’s third annual Enviroschools Awards in early December 2008.
Far North District
Award: Silver
Okaihau College has an active student Envirogroup who have raised funds for a range of projects including edible gardens, Tui flax garden, hanging baskets. Teachers are including unit studies on environmental topics in subjects as diverse as film studies, art and technology with students working on garden sculpture, biodiversity, coastal erosion and recycling. Class groups have assisted with restoration work around Lake Omapere.
Award: Silver
Oromahoe School have projects at all class levels. The senior students are working on creating an outside classroom the whole school work in a community organic garden in the school grounds, the school has a fruit orchard, and students are negotiating with a neighbouring land owner to help enhance a wetland. Younger students are involved in growing vegetables, recycling, butterfly gardens, shoe garden art, medicinal plant studies and learning about wetlands and pukeko.
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Award: Bronze
Riverview School has focussed on reducing waste paper across the school. Students are responsible for composting organic waste, and have planned projects to improve their own ‘Big Back yard’. To date they have planned for and helped to install a new sand pit and created zany mushroom garden sculptures. The school now has edible gardens which were created with the assistance of Northtec and taken part in unit studies in environmental topics.
Award: Bronze
Tautoro School staff have worked together to involve the whole school in projects to reduce waste. Each class focussed on different materials to recycle which was presented at a Gala day in term two. Students have been involved in developing edible gardens and a worm farm. The schools student enviro group have created a vision for future projects.
Kaipara District
Award: Bronze
St Josephs School students have been involved in a range of projects over the last two years which include growing vegetables, reducing waste, worm farms, beautification of school grounds and unit studies on the topics of seasons, exotic pests and climate change.
Whangarei District
Award: Silver
Kamo Intermediate has a number of projects two of which are well known, ‘Island of Life’ and ‘plant-it-on’, which have been developed over a number of years. Extensive native gardens were planted to encourage birds into the area. The garden incorporates endangered and rare natives, art work and a water feature. Students have been involved in growing edible gardens, setting up worm farms and unit studies across the school on sustainability subjects.
Award: Bronze
Kamo Primary students have been involved in a combined project called, ‘He kakano’ where they learn how to propagate native plants for restoration planting. This year has seen the school get active in enhancing their native bush area which has been part of the school grounds for a number of years and provides and excellent teaching resource. Teachers have included unit studies on energy efficiency, zero waste, worm farming. The school has been involved with the community to help with restoration work of two local rivers.
Award: Silver
St Francis Xavier continues to care for its local waterway and plans are underway for extensive planting of the stream banks. Students across the school have been involved in classroom studies around the topics of recycling and endangered species. The whole school is incorporating environmental studies into its programme.
Award: Bronze
Whangaruru School have been involved in constructing edible gardens, planing for fruit orchard, community planting project at Mimiwhangata and reintroduction of zero waste.