Sustainability Awards Given to Wellington Schools

Five Wellington City schools were presented with awards last week as part of the Enviroschools end of year celebration.


Childspace Ngaio was given a Bronze level award for the establishment of a worm farm and an increased use of cloth nappies; Box Hill Kids in Khandallah received a Bronze level award for their worm farm, compost bin, garden and paper recycling; Thorndon School also received a Bronze level award for a range of activities including planting and managing waste; and Holy Cross in Miramar was awarded the same for their envirogroup's operational practices. One early childhood centre, Tawa Montessori School, received a Silver award for their dedication to sustainability.

Enviroschools is run by the Enviroschools Foundation with the help of a number of national and regional organisations, including Wellington City Council and Victoria University.

The Enviroschools scheme recognises the effort that individual schools put in to become sustainable communities. The four sustainability areas are Environmental, Economic, Educational, and Social and Community, and the scheme comprises Bronze, Silver and Green-Gold levels. The school students are also encouraged to apply these practices to home and everyday life.

The scheme began as a small community partnership in Hamilton and is now active in around 479 schools (19 percent of New Zealand schools) and grows every year.

23 schools from the Wellington region attended the celebration and awards, which took place on Tuesday 4 December. For more information, go to www.enviroschools.org.nz