This year as part of our school's journey towards achieving a Bronze award for Enviroschools, learners opt into Kaitiaki experiences, creating powerful connections and purposeful learning. 

On Monday 18th September the second opportunity for these experiences (field trips) occurred.  Learners attended empowering experiences with other students from within their school house group. Teachers from across the school attended each experience. Strong links were made to the importance of our learners understanding their impact on the world beyond their classrooms, our school. 

Knowledge was acquired and success was experienced by all through the below opportunities:

• Kahungunu House (Yellow) visited Fish and Game in Napier. The group participated in a scavenger hunt to learn about the birds, plants and animals we see locally in our environment. They fed the eels, examined the water from the  lake to establish if it was healthy or not by checking for insect life and transplanted seedlings from under trees to take to their onsite nursery to grow bigger.

• Tukituki House (Blue) visited Te Mata Park and planted native trees to help support the trust, replanting plants in an area affected by the Cyclone. Learners also weeded around plants and smashed snails (pest control). The vision of the park is to allow young people to become kaitiaki of their local whenua by creating opportunities for them to connect with the natural world. 

• Takitimu House (Orange) were based at school and learnt about sustainable and renewable power sources in conjunction with Meridian Energy. Aaron Ogilvie (Agribusiness & Business Account Manager) shared information around renewable energy and how as a school we will partner with Meridian Energy moving forward. They donated native trees and scrubs to our school, which were planted along our field/back fence - where the Year 6 Pou will be placed later this year. It was great to hear Aaron's thoughts after leaving Te Mata School, “what a great day, one of my best days ever, thank you for the memory. We will make some new ones in February 2024.”

• Rongokako House (Green) visited Peka Peka Wetland, they learnt about the positive environmental impact wetlands have on our local area. Learners also saw amazing birdlife, insects and lovely native plantings. Peka Peka was used as a dumping ground after the 1931 Napier Earthquake but in the 90’s the wetlands was the focus of a major restoration project, improving the wetlands capacity to regulate flood waters and increase the natural biodiversity. 

What is Enviroschools? 

• “Enviroschools is an environmental action based programme where young people are empowered to design and lead sustainability projects in their schools, neighbourhoods and country”. (Enviroschools Website)

Earlier this year the Kaitiaki group (learners from across the school) identified that they would like to reduce plastic, clean waterways, create litter free environments, recycle more and learn about carbon impacts on our environment. Actions that have occurred since have been amazing, we have made an impact at school and within our greater community. 

 

 

 

 

Article added: Friday 22 September 2023