Visiting Our Lady Star of the Sea

 Ms Daniel visited Our Lady Star of the Sea for inspiration from another Enviroschool.  Check out these amazing actions:

Bug hotel

Bath worm farm

Natural play and loose parts play

Mosaic

Huristic play

What could we do?

Continuing our Carbon Footprint Project

CARBON FOOTPRINT with Nigel Zhang - Mr Tuatara

Our notes:

MAGIC method

M  - Measure (thumb - most important)

A - Analyse (pointer finger) where you can save our carbon footprint 

G - cut (longest finger) mitiGate

I - ring finger - core business - Integrate carbon footprint into core business 

C - Communicate - extend activities to community

Carbon is everywhere. Identify where the carbon is. 

Children and teachers driving to and from school x distance x days - should we measure??

Electricity

Make list of electricity consuming devices then measure high usage devices - this must be measured

APRIL ELECTRICITY - 8126 kw/h x 0.1014 kg carbon dioxide per kilowatt hour (kgCO2e/kwh) = 823.9768 kg of carbon dioxide ( that's a lot of carbon!) 

That's 101 686 rugby balls equivalent we filled with carbon in one month with our electricity use. What would that look like filling our library?

Can also look at water use as that creates carbon. 

Different gases have different effects on global warming. Methane is much worse than C02 for example.

We talk about carbon equivalent

1T of C02 contributes to one centigrade increase in temperature - global warming potential value

Are our fridges the most climate friendly?

Need to analyse school van log book and calculate carbon footprint.

Power tools - how much fuel has Mr Lesley used this year??*

So we need to measure Direct emissions eg van and indirect emissions eg power bill. Possibly measure other indirect emissions eg teacher and child commute

Get figure and communicate to BOT and community

Carbon Footprint Crack Team needed - Efan, Bokai, Michael 

*Update from Mr Lesley - he uses 5 litres of petrol a month.

Being Regenerative Gardeners with Year One

 Today Year One looked at life cycles and how to be regenerative gardeners. We read Old Huhu by Kyle Mewburn and then we watered and sprayed our vege gardens with worm tea. Our worm tea is full of microbes and nutrients so our plants will be healthy and strong.

Mrs Daniel visited the For the Love of Bees gardens yesterday and found out lots about regenerative gardening from Sarah Smuts Kennedy. You can find out more about For the Love of Bees on Facebook  Instagram or visit their website.

Hopefully we can fundraise to have Sarah visit our school.

Exploring Putatara - Our new resource

https://putatara.education.govt.nz/#/home

We followed the link above to watch the video  and learn about Putatara,  an exciting new Education for Sustainability resource.

Here is Room 12's response:

We start each year by exploring our turangiwaewae, which empowers us to act as kaitiaki. Whakapuawai - we think and act for our whenua and record our endeavors - check out our blog  https://shsenvironmental.blogspot.com/?m=1

"Education for sustainability makes me feel super! It looks like nature and green gardens. It smells like rain and a cup of tea. Enviro lessons sounds like chirpy children and birds. It tastes like our own Sunny Honey!" - Room 12 Year 3

Hosting and Presenting the Moth Plant Competition - HAVE YOU ENTERED YET?

Our Eco Leaders proudly hosted and presented at the moth plant competition.

Have you entered yet? There's AMAZING prizes for kids. Register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BLD6DL3

Vector Sustainable Energy Visit

Today Esther from Vector came to tell Team 5 & 6 about Sustainable Energy. It was an informative, fun & high energy presentation. A great way to start our Energy inquiry!

Bill Ballintine Memorial Lecture - Changing Ecology in a Changing Ocean

Mrs Daniel attended the Bill Ballantine Memorial Lecture and Sea Champions Awards as part of Seaweek last week.

Our 2018 Going Gold Enviro Team were nominated for their Marine Metre Square work, but weren't lucky on the night.

The three guest lecturers had interesting points to make about how important citizen science data collection like our MM2 work is to tracking how climate change is effecting our ocean ecologies.

Teach the Teacher - Mrs Daniel Goes On An Edible Garden Workshop

The learning never stops. I feel super lucky and very inspired after attending an edible garden workshop with experts at the botanic gardens today. I can't wait to add things to our wish list, enhance our practices and get cooking with Koru Whanau.

 We made kale chips, parsley pesto, bean dip, seed crackers and kawakawa tea. All from easily grown plants & veges. YUM!

 Found out how to start a new compost system with our new bins

 Great idea for a bug hotel!

 Bottles scare birds that might hurt plants.

 Adding potting table to our wish list.

 Along with a washup station.

 Super useful kawakawa. Do we have this in the native trail? Hope so as it makes great tea.

Garden shed jealousy.

A beautiful indoor potting area.

The Potter's Edible Gardens

Aroha nui to facilitators Sian, Susie, Paul and Chris - thanks for sharing your knowledge and gorgeous gardens. What a fabulous experience!

More Compost Critters with Year One

Why are worms and other compost critters so important?

"They make nutrients" Ben

 "Worm poo helps plants grow" Milo

 "I made bacteria. It breaks down dead stuff." Dylan