Eco Committee
It is a great honour to be only one of a very few schools to have been retained the
Eco-Schools
Green Flag
We are hugely proud of this achievement and commitment to ensuring we look after our world properly. Congratulations to the children of The New Forest School
At The New Forest School we believe it is vital to take responsibility for our planet. Each class has two Eco Councillors who have been elected by their class. At KS2 there is also a weekly Eco Club which is attended by the KS2 Eco Councillors and other interested children. The Eco Club members make up the Eco Committee who, led by Mrs Barnes, work throughout the year to raise awareness of their initiatives throughout the school. The members of the Eco Committee are:
Eco Councillor KS1 Eco Councillor KS2 Eco Club KS2
Toby and Darcey (Yr R) Mala and Alex (Y3) Adam, Mala, Wilbur, Sid, Alex and George (Y3)
Nina and Charlie (Y1) Elliot and Edie (Y4) Jacob (Y4)
Hugh and Evelyn (Y2) Thomas and Indi (Y5) Scarlett, Pippa, Elodie, Lochlan, Molly (Y5)
and Elsie-Louise.
Elspeth and Aimee (Y6) Austin (Y6)
We follow the Eco-Schools model to ensure that standards are high and that we are covering all areas. Below can be found the School Environmental Review, carried out by the Eco Committee in September, and their resulting Action Plan for the year. This year's focus will be Energy, Travel and Waste; however we will continue to work in all areas of the award.
Completed so far this academic year:
One Energy-Free Day
Each class across the school completed the day's work without using electrical devices such as laptops and the SmartBoard. Lessons were adapted accordingly. Many of the classes spent the day with the lights turned off!
Weekly Energy Spy Drop-Ins
Each week, members of our Eco Club check the empty classrooms at random times to check that the SmartBoard and lights have been turned off. Weekly updates are given in assembly on Friday. So far this year they have awarded 140 Energy-Saver Dojo points across KS2 as a result. Each class has consistently had the board and lights turned off for the last two months so the Eco-Committee have decided to change the checks. They will now be keeping a record of which classes remember to send across their paper recycling for shredding. The shredded paper is added to the composter.
Crisp Packet Collection
So far this year our school has collected and recycled 1231 crisp packets and soft plastic which can be recycled at larger stores. Weekly updates are given in assembly on a Friday.
Governor Report
Scarlett and Indi from the Eco-Committee presented to a governors meeting about the work and impact of the Eco-Committee in the Autumn Term. They produced an extremely informative presentation and spoke with confidence.
Cedarwood Flowerbeds
Our lovely D. of E. volunteer, Orynn, has cleared our flowerbeds in front of the Cedarwood classrooms. Year 5 and 6 have planted wild flower seeds and bulbs in pots in response to a guided reading text as part of a Forest Friday. Year 3 and 4 are growing vegetables and herbs as part of their topic work.
Hot Composter
The Hot Composters donated by the parish council last year have now been built and installed in positions where the children can put in compostable waste from their breaktime snacks. The Eco Committee wrote and presented an excellent assembly on how and why we need to use the Hot Composters to both KS1 and KS2. All food and paper waste from both sites is now composted. The kitchen staff have re-organised the disposal of the lunchtime waste collection to support the work of the Eco-Committee, who ensure the food waste makes it's way to the Hot Composter each day. Paper is shredded weekly as part of the Eco-Club activities.
Eco-Poetry Competition
Children across the school took part in an MLP poetry-writing competition with an eco theme. The winners were:
Year R - Toby Year 1 - Esme Year 2 - Rowan
Year 3 - Katherine Year 4 - Ailsa Year 5 - Els Year 6 - Larry
The winner from each class has been put forward to an MLP academy final.
Bee Musical production
Year 3 and 4 chose a production with an ecological theme - the Bee Musical. Performed brilliantly, it has spread the message of looking after our nectar-loving friends further in a fun and musical way.
Bikeability
Year 6 have undertaken Bikeability training to ensure they are safe to cycle on the roads. They will be encouraged to cycle to school where it is safe and possible to do so,
Eco-Club Work In The Community
A group of children in Year 5 have been inspired by the Eco-Committe work to set up suggested activities for how to improve our local environment. Please see Thomas in Y5 for further information.
Should Plastics Be Banned?
Year 5 and 6 have researched and written balanced arguments about whether plastic should be banned as part of their English curriculum.