Haere mai 2023

 Kia ora koutou!  

Welcome to our 2023 Education for Sustainability programme.  Tawhirimatea has been blowing and the rain has been falling.  Awhi to those across the motu effected by the the storm.  I'm so thankful to Papatuanuku for our abundant green spaces, coastline and wet lands for soaking up all the extra water and keeping or suburb safe.

The changing weather hasn't stopped our Edible Gardens producing buckets and buckets of tomatoes over the raumati.  They're frozen and ready for our tamariki to make rich tasty pasta sauce in the coming term. 

Other highlights this term will include a treasure hunt to remind ourselves of what it means to be a GreenGold Enviro School, Eye on Nature Festival, replanting the Edible Gardens & our honey harvest. 

As always you can support our sustainability journey at home by packing a litter free lunch, composting, recycling,  & walking to school. You are welcome to put household food waste in our hot compost collection point at the Fordyce Entrance.

Do you have a little time to spare at school drop off or pick up, to help weed the Edible Gardens?  We would really appreciate it!  Please email christine@sunnyhills.school.nz.

Thank you for your continued support to help create a peaceful sustainable world,

Christine Daniel

Sustainability Specialist

Celebrating our 2022 Achievements

On Friday the Eco Leaders attended the Enviroschools Online Celebration.  We were excited to learn about the other schools that have reflected this year and Share and Shine our own mahi.  We loved the idea of a Repair Cafe at Newton Central School and the compost monster at Henderson Valley School.

The guest speaker was Marcus the Sandman, who made amazing sand art as he spoke.  He seeks inspiration from Te Taiao (the environment).  His key messages were:

- Make you maunga (what will challenge you?)

- Find your flow (what are you great at? Do that!)

- Surround yourself with support (people who want you to succeed)

During the celebration we shared kai and after we investigated "Nice Blocks" - plastic free ice blocks.  We are going to ask the PTA to use these on Frozen Fridays to help us on our journey to Zero Waste.

Renovating Skink Suburbia

 Today Room Wha added rotting logs to Skink Suburbia. They'll give hidey holes for the skinks to live in and attract bugs they can eat.

Making Celebrations Sustainable - Share & Shine

 It's coming to that time of year that lots of us are decorating our homes. We wondering how we can be more sustainable for Christmas.

Lots of decorations are made from plastic and lots of other non-biodegradable and unrecyclable materials, which means eventually they just junk up our world.  Year Wha have made salt ceramic playdough decorations.  At the end of their life they'll break down into soil! You can make them too by following these very easy steps:

1. Measure four cups of flour, one cup of salt and around 1 and a half cups of water into a bowl.

2. Stir and add more water if too dry

3. Knead on a floured surface until smooth

4. Roll out and cut out shapes. Push a skewer through to make a hole.

5. Bake on 120 degrees until dry (about one and a half hours)

6. When cool decorate with paint or felt tips

7. Thread with reused ribbon or biodegradable string

Giant Cauliflower Kai

 Room Rua harvested a GIANT cauliflower. It seems like our vegetables are LOVING the new hot compost and koanga weather.

It was a delicious cauliflower mi goreng morning tea.

Fake or Real Christmas Tree? Year Wha GET THINKING ...

 

Which is more sustainable - a fake or real Christmas tree?

Year Wha GOT THINKING ...

Only two out of 22 tamariki thought a real Christmas tree is more sustainable.  Here's why...

PRO FAKE:

You can use the plastic one for a longer amount of time but the real one you have to compost - Emily

The plastic tree can reuse more but if you buy new Christmas decorations each year then you have to have a lot of room on the tree - Frida

A real one can only be used once- Zoha

If you got a real tree the pine needles come off and whither and die and a bunch of people cutting down trees - that's a lot of trees - Elizabeth

PRO REAL:

The plastic ones even if you reuse them will go into landfill, but a real tree you can compost it

WE'RE GOING TO EXPLORE to find out more ...

Bok Choy Ramen

 🌞 🌧 After all the spring rain & sun this week, the bok choy donated by Live Lightly was ready to harvest, so Year Rima cooked it with ramen, for a delicious snack 😋 🍜