Generation Green
We sent out a letter recently to all parents about a new ECO initiative (see General Correspondence link on the home page). Our school need to earn 34,473 'leaves' to exchange for eco rewards! These include a choice of solar panels, wind turbines, etc. Children can earn 'leaves' by playing the eco games, and parents, carers and adults can help too by completing the online energy report, helping you to find out how energy efficient your home is. There is also advice on how to improve your energy efficiency.
Keep up-to-date with how we are doing to achieve our target by regularly checking the Generation Green website!
Eco-Schools Green Flag
The Government wants every school to be a sustainable school by 2020. Schools are encouraged to incorporate learning about sustainable development issues into everyday school life. 'Eco-Schools' is an international award programme that guides schools by providing a framework to help embed these principles into each school day. Over the past two years Knaphill Lower School have begun to address a variety of environmental themes, ranging from litter and recycling to healthy living and biodiversity. Led by the eco-committee and school council, the children are the driving force behind Eco-Schools. The children assess, monitor and measure the environmental performance of the school and decide which environmental themes to focus on. Having gained the Silver Flag, following the development of the Woodland Enclave, Knaphill Lower is working towards the prestigious 'Green Flag'. This is awarded for excellence in the field of environmental activity. The eco-committee hopes that children will continue to think about their environment outside of school as well as during school hours. Here are some helpful hints for saving energy and looking after the environment. We hope you use some of them to reinforce your child's learning and help make the world a brighter place!
Click here to go to the Eco-Schools website to learn more about these initiatives
Here are some documents about our efforts here at Knaphill Lower. One sets out our action plan for achieving the prestigious Green Flag award; the next makes suggestions about what you can do at home to help and the last is the school's Eco-Code. They're all PDF files so you will need the free Adobe reader on your computer.
Click here to see our Action Plan (Updated April 2008) for achieving the top Eco award!
Action Plan - Green Flag Award (updated September 2008
Click here to see what you and your children can do at home
Click here to read the school's Eco-Code
Woodland Enclave
Click on the thumbnail to view a slide show of photos of the Woodland Enclave display outside Miss Pearce's classroom!
The major focus over the past 2 years has been to create a wildlife garden within the school grounds. Our 'Woodland Enclave' has been developed, providing a variety of habitats for insects, animals and plants. This has allowed the children and community of Knaphill Lower School to enjoy the space and learn about different environments safely. Spaces within the garden include:
The Church, nursery groups and parents use the garden on a regular basis and each class has timetabled slots for its use. Several 'Big Digs' have successfully involved parents and advisors from Merrist Wood College and local businesses in the garden. The children have enjoyed growing their own food and are looking forward to counting our potatoes.
The next steps for the Woodland Enclave include the creation of interactive signs to encourage investigation and bird box type areas in which to keep the identification cards for easy access. The Story circle is currently being developed as a more creative area to inspire imaginative story telling and writing. There is already a 'wishing well' installed. The Woodland Enclave has gained three awards in 'Woking in Bloom' competitions which provided the garden with extra funds for planting and purchasing stepping stones.
Recycling
We have created a recycling area in the Piazza (entrance area) at KLS. This designated recycling zone houses a can crusher, boxes to recycle telephones, stamps, coins and paper. Christmas cards have been collected and will be used to create labels. Each class has their own paper recycling box and cardboard and cans are placed in to council bins. Clothes are donated to Humana charities. Signs were placed in the photocopying room reminding staff to double-side paper and only use what they need. Ink Cartridges are now being recycled under scheme which provides the school with replacements.
Energy
The children created posters and mini signs reminding people to turn off lights around the school. The 'Woodland Rangers Eco Team' work with Advanced Teaching Assistants to carry out Energy Saving Surveys and litter checks. They forward their ideas to the School Council who in turn discuss ways to involve the whole school. Concerns have been raised about doors being left open at playtimes, wasting heat energy and the number of computers left on standby.
Water conservation
A 'water tree' was made by hanging cans and pans onto a tree to collect as much water as possible last year. Rainwater was collected in as many containers as possible for watering the plants in the outdoor areas.
Water retaining gel was used in pots and plants were chosen for their drought resistance to minimise watering. This year The Woodland Rangers made slow watering devices which trickle on to the vegetables and pots. They used milk bottles, which they painted to improve their appearance. Rangers made signs for the toilets to remind children to turn off taps after use.