Te Kaupapari

Our newest arrivals to Stanhope, the students in Room 2, have been doing some gardening this term. They have removed our old pea vines, planted some cherry tomatoes and basil, sowed some seeds, enjoyed using the watering cans and harvested some broccoli. We tasted the broccoli both raw and cooked and the verdict was that it was more delicious when cooked – the students polished off a huge bowl of plain steamed broccoli! Everyone tried it and only a few children decided it wasn’t for them and many came back for second helpings. Vegetables are more appealing and so much tastier when you’ve grown them yourself! Are you growing any vegetables in your garden at home? Enviroschools Principles in action here: -  Empowered Students   are enabled to participate in a meaningful way in the life of their early childhood centre or school. Their unique perspectives are valued for the knowledge and insight that they bring, and they are supported to take action for real change. ...

We have a  TREEmendous  announcement to make!  But first, some background... TREEmendous  – a joint initiative between the Mazda Foundation and Project Crimson, teaches children about the importance of caring for the environment through the development of amazing outdoor classrooms for teachers and students to reconnect with nature. The initiative is about encouraging environmental education in schools, along with teaching children and the wider community about the importance of caring for the environment. Ruud Kleinpaste, the ‘Bugman’, is an ambassador for the project who takes environmental education to the next level at  TREEmendous  events. Ruud brings his insect friends along and teaches the children about New Zealand’s native bugs and the importance of looking after the environment. Check out  treemendous .org.nz  for more information and examples. In July the Eco-Warriors heard the exciting news that their stage 1 TREE...

A group of students from Puāwaitanga needed some harakeke (flax) to use in their inquiry learning. Before harvesting, we said a harakeke karakia and the students sang a beautiful waiata. When we harvested, we cut on the diagonal away from the heart of the plant and we took only the Tūpuna (grandparents/ancestors) leaves, not the Matua (parents) or Rito/Pepe (baby) leaves. The students took three leaves to plait into a rope to be used on a waka they had crafted. The trimmings of the harakeke were returned to Papatūānuku and buried beneath the harakeke plant that we harvested from. Source: National Library Enviroschools Principles in action here: -  Empowered Students   are enabled to participate in a meaningful way in the life of their early childhood centre or school. Their unique perspectives are valued for the knowledge and insight that they bring, and they are supported to take action for real change. - The principle of  Māori Perspectives  h...

Enviroschools Principles in action here: -  Empowered Students   are enabled to participate in a meaningful way in the life of their early childhood centre or school. Their unique perspectives are valued for the knowledge and insight that they bring, and they are supported to take action for real change. -  Respect for the   Diversity of People and Cultures  acknowledges the unique gifts, contributions and perspectives of individuals and groups, reinforcing the need for participatory decision-making in Enviroschools. -  Sustainable Communities  act in ways that nurture people and nature, now and in the future, to maintain the health and viability of our environment, society, culture and economy.

What a wonderful week we had celebrating Diwali! Enviroschools Principles in action here: -  Empowered Students   are enabled to participate in a meaningful way in the life of their early childhood centre or school. Their unique perspectives are valued for the knowledge and insight that they bring, and they are supported to take action for real change. -  Respect for the   Diversity of People and Cultures  acknowledges the unique gifts, contributions and perspectives of individuals and groups, reinforcing the need for participatory decision-making in Enviroschools. -  Sustainable Communities  act in ways that nurture people and nature, now and in the future, to maintain the health and viability of our environment, society, culture and economy.

Well done to Puāwaitanga for encouraging and supporting safe sustainable travel to school! Enviroschools Principles in action here: -  Empowered Students   are enabled to participate in a meaningful way in the life of their early childhood centre or school. Their unique perspectives are valued for the knowledge and insight that they bring, and they are supported to take action for real change. - The principle of  Learning for Sustainability  recognises the types of teaching and learning that foster student empowerment, decision-making, action and sustainable outcomes. -  Sustainable Communities  act in ways that nurture people and nature, now and in the future, to maintain the health and viability of our environment, society, culture and economy.

We have been enjoying the fruits of our labour in the  garden recently. The loquat tree has been extremely popular, with its  sweet and juicy yellow fruit drawing crowds during  break times. We have also been harvesting lettuce, spinach, celery, snow peas,  broccoli, cabbages, beetroots, kale, silverbeet and carrots to share  with some of our whanau. Labour weekend is the traditional time to plant tomatoes in New  Zealand, so Whakatōtanga and Tupuranga students have been busy  getting our cherry tomato plants into the ground and we can’t wait  for a delicious harvest when we get back to school after the summer holidays. It’s a great time of year for our students to be getting  outside and working in the garden! Enviroschools Principles in action here: -  Empowered Students   are enabled to participate in a meaningful way in the life of their early childhood centre or school. Their unique perspectives are valued for the...