April 21, 2006

North Shore Enviroschool wins silver

An award-winning North Shore City school is teaching others a lesson in how to develop a sustainable school environment.

A ceremony to recognise Kauri Park Primary School's Silver Enviroschools Award was held at the end of term. The award acknowledges the school community's work towards integrating environmental learning and practice into all aspects of school life.

North Shore City Council's environmental education coordinator, Trish Kirkland-Smith, says the Enviroschools programme is about students' active participation in creating a more sustainable school environment.

"Young people are empowered to make environmental decisions for their school," She says. "It's about finding ways to reduce waste, conserve energy and protect our waterways and ecosystems."

Kauri Park joined the Enviroschools programme with North Shore City Council in 2004, and since then has been involved in a series of environmental initiatives.

Students, supported by teachers, parents and experts, have designed and planted a heritage organic orchard, created a sanctuary for lizards and geckos, and developed a vegetable garden.

"With the help of the Kaipatiki Project and World Wide Fund for Nature they created a garden of native trees for kereru," says Trish Kirkland-Smith.

"Kauri Park also took regional honours in the Meadowfresh Trees for Kids competition, winning 1200 native trees and compost and mulch for use around the school."

Trish Kirkland-Smith says the school's success was largely due to its commitment to integrate environmental education and action into the curriculum.

"Class time was provided for the Envirogroup to meet, learn and take action," she says. "The whole school approach means that all students have an opportunity to put forward ideas and then follow them through."

North Shore City's Mayor George Wood is immensely proud of all the Kauri Park students, staff and families.

"Their achievements to date have been a result of a lot of hard work, commitment and strong school-community-council partnerships," He says. "It is these partnerships that make the Enviroschools Programme such a success throughout New Zealand."

Enviroschools is a national programme supported by the Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Education and New Zealand Association for Environmental Education, Department of Conservation and local councils. There are currently 11 Enviroschools in North Shore City.

ENDS

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