Celebrating 10 years as a green-gold Enviroschool
Environment Canterbury media release: 22nd October 2024
Tihiraki North Loburn School recently celebrated ten years as a high achieving Enviroschool with a special day of nature-focused activities.
Ākonga/ students from year one to year eight participated in activities to learn about wool, bees, weaving harakeke/ flax, and identifying native manu/ birds from their calls. They also created ephemeral art with clay faces displayed on trees around the kura.
Kaiako/ teachers split the kids into mixed-year groups and noted that the older ākonga, some of who are Enviroschools leaders, embraced their role of teaching and assisting the younger students and the chance to increase their leadership skills.
Anna Webb is assistant principal of North Loburn School and said “my favourite part of the day was seeing the students buzzing as they came from activities, and working and learning together.
“It was great to be able to recognise and celebrate many years of mahi,” she said.
Anna said the school’s vision is to nurture well-rounded citizens of the future with a lifelong passion for learning.
“The Enviroschools kaupapa/ purpose - especially empowering students to take positive action - ties with this really beautifully. The gentle expertise that Enviroschools offer is key to embedding the kaupapa across our school.”
Ākonga were presented with mānuka seedlings by Waimakariri Enviroschools facilitator Siobhán Culhane and Enviroschools regional coordinator Andrea Taylor. A total of 85 seedlings were gifted – one for each family unit. Former Waimakariri Enviroschools facilitator Toni Watts was also invited along to enjoy the festivities.
“It’s important that we celebrate this milestone because it shows the strong commitment and perseverance North Loburn School has to maintaining a high level of sustainability through a whole-school approach,” said Siobhán.
Find out more about the Enviroschools programme in Canterbury which is coordinated locally by Environment Canterbury and delivered in partnership with Councils.
North Loburn School has been an Enviroschool for 20 years - quickly working its way up the ranks.
