Silver Lining for Eco Warriors
Posted ~ Sunday 11 July 2010
The Raglan Junior School has been awarded The Eco-Schools Silver Award for its continued efforts to become more sustainable. Congratulations must go to The Action Team and The Recycling Team for their hard work throughout the year to make our school more environmentally friendly. Mr Newham has led both teams and our school to ensure that we have concentrated our efforts on the 9 key areas of sustainability. Below is a timeline of events, showing just some of the major changes that have taken place within our school in the past academic year.
September2009:
• Eco-Schools registration and creation of Action Team made up of pupils from all year groups.
October 2009:
• Walk to School and bikeability programme launched.
• Year 5 trip to Hudnell Park as part of Water Cycle and Rivers topic.
• Year 4 visit for Cuffley Camp as part of Biodiversity topic
November 2009:
• A new boiler was installed to replace the 20 year old existing boiler.
• The Action Team undertook an Environmental Review in order to create an Action Plan for the 9 areas of sustainability: energy; water, litter and waste minimisation; transport; healthy living; biodiversity; school grounds; global perspective and pupil participation.
• Year 4 visit to the Geffrye Museum as part of a Recycling Awareness project.
December 2009:
• Assembly led by Mr Newham to inform the school about the energy saving measures that had been put in place already and those that were to come.
• Art club completed recycled materials project.
January 2010:
• Creation of Recycling Team made up of pupils from all year groups to collect and manage recycling around the school.
• Prefects recycling school packed lunches during the building of the new refectory.
• Year 3 Healthy Eating topic started, with pupils understanding the importance of a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
• Sports for Schools visit with GB athlete Ryan Pierre demonstrating importance of Healthy Living and exercise.
February 2010:
• Links with schools in Ghana and Zimbabwe were established after Mr O’Flynn’s visit in 2009 to Africa and Mr Newham’s trip to Zimbabwe in February 2010.
• All year groups learnt about Africa with cross curricular links brought into all lessons.
• Mr Newham led an assembly on his visit to Zimbabwe and a continued link between countries through letters and emails was established.
• Potted plants placed in every classroom and corridor in the school.
March 2010:
• A school trip to Heartwood Forest, taking pupils from the Action Team, Recycling Team and Gardening Society to plant trees to gain pupils’ awareness of deforestation took place.
• Eco Code winning entry displayed in every classroom showing children the importance of sustainability.
April 2010:
• Environmentally friendly toilets and taps installed in new boys’ toilets. Dyson energy saving hand dryers also installed.
May 2010:
• Gifted and talented project with Junior Open House architecture for pupils to design Eco-Houses. Raglan later finished joint first in all of London.
June 2010:
• The World Cup used across the curriculum for children to find out information about other countries and be involved in major global event.
• Environmentally friendly new build refectory opened.
July 2010:
• The school teamed up with jewelleryrecycling.org to recycle costume jewellery from the Year 6 Oliver Production.
• African Market day held at Raglan selling items made out of recycled materials made by the children to welcome our African guests and raise money for their communication with us.
• Eco Schools Silver Award achieved by The Raglan Junior School for its efforts to become more sustainable.