Enviro Schools

Enviro Snapshot

West Melton has a hard working group of students, the ‘Eco Warriors’ who work hard to manage the different aspects around the school that make us an enviro school.

Recycling-the Moa team currently manage the whole school recycling around the school, library, staff areas and office. The students have to sort out the recycled paper and cardboard from each room.

Worms-we have a dedicated group of Eco Warriors: Sophie Clarke, Rosa Dunnlogan, Emily Waters, Megan Reed and Jorja Dann who look after the worms on Fridays and Tuesdays in the worm garden. These girls feed them, rake them, empty out their waste and put lime-dust on them to stop them from smelling because they never have a shower.

Gardens-there is a group of senior boys: James White, Logan Holland and Calum Murdoch who with Mr Blondell look after our garden plots. They are currently looking at which plants should be planted during winter and spring.

Mr Blondell is such a huge help with our gardens and recycling. The Eco Warriors could not complete the work that they do without them.

We would love to hear from any parents who would like to assist the Eco Warriors to develop our native gardens and garden plots in the school. Please contact Mrs Coster – liz@westmelton.school.nz if you would like to be a part of this wonderful group.

The worm farm blog.

Every Tuesday and Friday the ‘worm girls’ go to the worm farm and feed the worms, care for the plants and we sometimes we hoe the dirt. Every Friday we collect the worm pee and dilute it by adding water and then sprinkle it over the plants and flowers. We also care for the environment. Whenever we find flowers (mostly daffodils) lying on the ground we put them in a bottle of water. Here are the names of the girls that I do the worm farm with: Emily.W, Megan.R, Jorja.D, Rosa.D, Sophie.C and Emma.M.

Learn how to feed the worms.

1.take the lid off of the worm farm.

2.take the blankets off of the worm farm.

3.use your rake to rake up the worm farm.

4.sprinkle a little bit of food on top of the worm farm.

5. sprinkle about half a handful of lime dust on top of the worm farm.

6.put the blankets back on top of the worm farm.

7.sprinkle another half handful of lime dust on top of the blankets.

8.put the lid back on the worm farm

9.take the worm pee out.

now you're finished!

Images of worm farms.

worm farm diagrams.

 

Worm pee.

worm pee helps your garden grow by sprinkling little bits at a time onto your plants. you need a old milk bottle to collect the worm pee.

By Emma M and Emily W.

Environmental Education

•      Value: ecological sustainability which includes care for the environment

Enviro Programme:

•      Environments-urban, rural, coastal, alpine

•      Ecosystems-community of living organisms in conjunction with the non-living components of their environment

•      Biodiversity-variety of life on Earth/all eco systems/managing threats to ecosystems on Earth

•      Sustainability-the capacity to endure-diverse and productive

Enviro Schools:

•      Enviro Schools is about communities thriving by revitalising the ecosystems they are part of – producing healthy water, clean energy, rich biodiversity, nurturing buildings and healthy food…schools and community are one, with young people gaining skills, knowledge and experiences…

Enviro Schools Foundation, 2013

Four Themes to Enviro Schools:

•      Place – Buildings and grounds designed to work with natural systems/reflect culture and heritage

•      People & Participation – Decisions and actions made with involvement of everyone

•      Practices – Policies and systems support environmentally friendly and sustainable practices

•      Programmes – Students take action on real issues in school or wider community