August 13 2010
Pekerau school has received bronze in the Enviroschools award for continued progress towards a sustainable school community.
Enviroschools facilitator Robyn Irving said Pekerau School was to be commended for its commitment to learning about sustainability, and in particular Room 4 who challenged other classes and the community to take action.
“Room 4 continues to challenge the rest of the school to participate in and learn about the environment. The whole school has identified their environmental concerns and issues. Together they will work with the community to learn more about them and find sustainable solutions.” Irving said.
The school has a number of sustainable practices in place and has led community initiatives involving other schools, including early childhood educators.
The school has vegetable gardens, a native area, a kowhai walk, a waharoa (gateway), and food and paper recycling.
An Eco-warrior ‘exchange’ saw Pekerau school students spreading the sustainability message around other schools and early childhood centres in the district. This included visiting some of the early childhood centres and helping them with their sustainable projects.
Students are also involved in the Mangaohoi Stream project alongside other young people and schools in Te Awamutu.
Waipa District Mayor Alan Livingstone joined the school on Thursday, 12 August to celebrate their achievement. Envirokids took the Mayor on a tour of the school grounds after a whole school assembly where the Mayor presented the Enviroschools award.
Enviroschools is a national network of schools learning about, creating and implementing environmental action and sustainable communities. The Enviroschools programme in the Waipa is funded by the Waipa District Council and Environment Waikato. 23 schools participate in the initiative, and 11 have gained awards, including Te Awamutu College, and Wharepapa South, Pokuru, Puahue and Rukuhia schools.
For more information, please contact:
Jeanette Tyrrell
Ph: 07 872 0097 or 027 293 8679
Email: jeanette.tyrrell@waipadc.govt.nz