Chocolate Challenge

To celebrate the new BBC nature documentary ‘Life’ the eco-group is running a weekly quiz on each episode – aired on Monday nights on BBC One 10:30PM or catch up on BBC iPlayer if too late. The first three winners with the most correct answers or selected at random will be presented with Fairtrade chocolate bars – any unclaimed chocolate bars will be devoured by E McVea – can’t really say fairer than that!

If possible guys write answers with your name and class details and place in the ecobox in the front foyer from Monday onwards.

Episode One – ‘Challenges of Life’
1: Approximately, how many plants and animals are supported in Earth?
2: Which animal was responsible for the “scars on the seabed” off the coast of Florida?
3: What have they invented?
4: What is Kenya famous for?
5: How many Cheetahs were present in the hunt?
6: Who has a projecting tongue, independent movement of eye and a changing camouflage?
7: What speed does its tongue shoot out at?
8: What do “Crab” eating seals eat?
9: How far can flying fish glide in order to avoid predators?
10: Who are responsible for the “strangely pitted rocks” in Boa Vista, central Brazil?
11: What protects the seeds of the nut palm?
12: Two triggers of the Venus fly trap must be hit within 10, 15, 20 or 25 seconds of each other to ensnare prey?
13: What wide eyed insect was filmed in this instance in Malaysia?
14: How many eggs was the Great Pacific Octopus carrying?
15: How long did it take to film the ‘Life’ series?

Red, Yellow, Green, Goooo

The Eco & Wildlife group kicks in again this Tuesday 6th October, and every Tuesday thereafter. It’s after school from 3:30 – 4:30pm meeting in Derek Bailey’s room. We have a range of activities planned over the year including the usual tree and bulb planting, bird box building, construction of our mini-beast hotel, environmentally theme movies such as Al Gore’s ‘Inconvenient Truth’ and ‘The 11th Hour’ narrated by Leonardo Di Caprio (he is in it for a bit, ladies), fair-trade chocolate tasting and other fair trade events as well as representatives from the Green party speaking in politics on issues such as human rights.

All of which go towards our effort for the Green Flag.

Go Nuts for Free

‘Red squirrel day at Tollymore Park’ Sunday 4th October from noon to 5pm.
It's National Red Squirrel week and as part of the Tollymore Squirrel Group’s and the Mourne Heritage Trust’s efforts to promote the conservation work undertaken in the park to conserve the threatened species Tollymore Park has laid on a wide range of activities in celebration. The day will give families an opportunity to take part in a fun filled day of activities including craft activities, mask making, and help in making a giant squirrel as well as two guided walks of squirrel woodland habitat (max 30 people) which take place at 2PM. Registration for the walks takes place at the Rangers Hut in Tollymore Park which is open from 10AM. People are asked to meet at the lower car park. Oh aye, it’s FREE!!!!

Boxes Go Leor

After claiming all the computer equipment for our Tesco vouchers, there were some left over. We used them up by claiming lots of eco products, such as bird boxes, insect hotels etc. They have all come in kit form. Any eco warriors ready to help assemble them, please see Stephen Hanna or leave your name with Ellen McVea

It's Gone

The composting toilet that is. It has gone off to Haughian House to be installed. Thanks a million to Pat Lenny and Martin McParland. Update soon.

It's come

Our composting toilet for Haughian House that is. If you spotted the 'Made in Canada' box in the front hall, that was it. It will be on its way to the Head Road very soon to be installed, and then HH will be open for business and we can start planning trips.

Clunking Relatives

I am now related to an Obama 'Cash for Clunkers' replacement car. My US nephew car, called Turtle, has been recycled, and he has been replaced by a brand new Scion, called Silver Cat. The Scion was funded by Mr Obama's rebate when you turn in a 'clunker', that is an ancient car which does fewer than 15 mpg. The real reason behind the scheme is to boost the car industry, and isn't really for eco reasons. The greenest option is to keep driving a car until it collapses, but I have to say poor old Turtle was nearing collapse and really needed to be replaced. The green gains are that the Scion is much more fuel efficient and Turtle's bits will be recycled.

Eco Cheesecake

I got a fabulous surprise on Tuesday - a plateful of delicious, organic, chocolate cheesecake confected by Stephen as a reward for our wonderful Eco group who have worked hard all year on bringing to life the plans for our grounds. Thank you so much.

We are a Gold Award School

A wonderful surprise today! A beautiful wooden plaque arrived from the Woodland Trust, conferring on us the honour of becoming one of their first Gold Award Schools for the tree planting our Wildlife Group and Eco Group have been doing throughout the year. thanks in particular to Derek Bailey, Stephen Hanna and to Jean Forbes of our Board of Governors, who drew up our grounds plan.

Bogs Away

After ages of trying to work out the logistics of installing Thunderboxes at Haughian House, we got an email from a much more normal supplier of composting toilets, and we are now going to get ourselves one of them.  The composting toilet will fit neatly into one of the wee outhouses joined onto the cottage, and will be convenient and easy to manage.  The scouting party heads out next Wednesday to measure up, and we hope to take delivery in July.  It would be really wonderful if we could have students out and using the cottage from September.  We'll also be putting up the solar lights and fitting the new water butt.  A team of Martin McParland, Pat Lenny and Robbie Mulholland at taking on the job.

Holiday Homes for Worms

Our two wormeries, who eat up the good bits of our food waste from the canteen, need a holiday home for two months.  They need to find families who will feed them regularly and look in on them to see that they are enjoying their holiday.  Advice and instructions are available about what they like and don't like.  Anyone able to offer them a placement should speak to Stephen Hanna or Ellen McVea.

Carbon Challenge

Years 9 and 10 took part in the Carbon Challenge, revisiting the carbon footprint of the college and working out what they could do to reduce it. One group worked on drama activities to draw attention to the issues; another group worked on the maths behind the issues; a third group worked on the science. There will be follow up, and Shimna will appear on a Carbon Challenge website where we can post the measures we take and our progress. Lots of the work we have done already for our Green Flag will fit the bill.

Matthew and Rebecca do us Proud

Matthew Rooney and Rebecca Boardman did us proud at the Down District Council speech making competition at Strangford Road.  Our two delivered an excellent account of all the eco work at Shimna.  We didn't win this time, but our speeches were based on a huge range of  eco work done by our students themselves, rather than suggestions as to what other people should do.  We are very happy to lead by example.

Minnesota Red Squirrels

I kept hearing from Minnesota natives that they had the occasional red squirrel.  Well, I now have evidence of my own to indicate that the red squirrels they mean are really grey ones with a bit of hair dye.  It's hard to explain, but when you see them in the flesh, it is very obvious that those auburn creatures are clearly related to greys and not our delicate wee reds.  Not that I wish them any harm of course!

The Goats are Coming

No, don't panic. They aren't really, but our new carpet is going to be made with 80% goat hair fibre bonded to 100% jute backing. Both of these raw materials are naturally renewable (rather than industrially recycled) and harvestable. No waste water is produced during its manufacture. Carpets manufactured from natural fibres acrively imiprove indoor air quality making school environments healthier for children and staff alike. Natural goat hair offers one of the highest insulation values of all natural fibres, so we can turn down our thermostat 1 degree and save 10% on our heating costs. We are very pleased with ourselves!

The Worms are Here

Here and installed. More news when they start eating things!

The Worms are Coming

Our wormery will arrive next week! So that sorts out their Mourne diet! Great excitment. volunteers to help with worm-minding please let me know. The worms will also be looking for holiday accommodation for the summer!

The Fife Diet

Did anybody notice the winners of the "Best Ethical Contribution" in the Observer Food Awards, publicised in this week's Observer Food Monthly?  I'm sure we should be doing this round here.  What could be better than the Mourne diet?  The Fife people challenged each other to eat local produce for a year and report back on what is possible.  The results are a Fife diet that consists about 80% of local produce, with items allowed which have no local seasonal equivalent such as: lemons; coffee; tea; chocolate (yo!); spices (and I would have to hope for bananas).  The theory is celebrating local goodness, not 'an exercise in self denial'.  The Fife group says that some of them 'dabble in gardening', so you don't have to commit to the Good Life.  The good news is that the group report almost halving their shopping bill, and the challenge is they report doubling time on food preparation.  Eating seasonally becomes essential, and the www.fifediet.co.uk allows the group to share their recipes in order to achieve this.  Could we do it?

Updating the Grounds Map

The Ulster Wildlife Trust, Jean Forbes, Stephen Hanna, Derek Bailey and the Wildlife Group all had a hand in this week's update of our grounds plan.  Jean reported back to the Board of Governors estates committee, and it was great to hear what has been achieved through thoughtful planting and the addition of bat boxes, bird boxes etc.  Even better to hear the new plans for future action.  All students were asked to consider joining up on a Tuesday afternoon and contributing some time for planting etc.

So they Were

EAGA sent back a message that our students were a tribute to to their parents and their school. We were presented with a beautifully wee crystal trophy which is now on display in our cabinet in the hall. Our group came back with application forms for next year, and also ideas for arts based additions to our grounds.

Off to EAGA

Four of our students will be travelling with volunteer staff member Jeanette Lovell to the EAGA celebration which had to be cancelled last month.  The students will be taking photos of the recycling bins we bought with the grant we won.  They will also be taking evidence of all our recent Eco work.  The purpose of the event is to celebrate the groups like ours which have already won a grant and to launch the grants scheme for 2009.  I'm sure our students will be inspirational.

The Eco House that Gerry Built

9B, with the help of Gerry and Carol, have built from kit an eco dollshouse,, complete with water butt, solar panels, recycling bins, wind turbine etc. The house has already provoked lots of comment. The building materials are quick growing rubberwood, which is easily replaced.

Going Green

• Co-chair of Green Party gives talk to our politics students – On Thursday 5th February Dr. John Barry (QUB) gave a presentation ‘Green politics in Northern Ireland and beyond.’ By all accounts it was enjoyed by both Paddy and the students – and with recent comments from current minister for the environment – let’s hope that seeds of change are allowed to continue to flourish

Good Editing

• A big thank you goes to Emily, Danas, Josh and Glenn from Derek Bailey’s year ten science group who prepared the ‘environmental science in the news’ display for open day. They sorted through four months of newspaper clippings and put together a brilliant piece of work for display in the science corridor along with presenting the work undertaken by those of the wildlife group. Emily deserves particular merit and watch out Piers Morgan – there is an editor in the making there, great work guys!

A Good Example

• Shawlands Academy, Glasgow – setting the standard to strive for. Read the story of how small really is beautiful illustrating some of the activities we can take part in helping Shimna become sustainable.

Click here

Caught in the Act

At a recent staff training day, three staff members were presented with a bar of Green and Black's for their eco habits. Derek Bailey was presented for spontaneous litter picking on his way up a corridor; Rose Murray was presented for telling 9b they should turn off the radiator rather than open the window when they said they were too hot; Gervaise Mullan was presented for telling 9b that he would proofread his reports online so that be using up paper making additional printouts. 9B hopes that they enjoy their chocolate and inspire others.

Sustainable V'Cenza

A level student V'Cenza Cirefice is in the middle of her work experience with Sustainable NI, and year 10 and 9B, the Eco Group and the Wildlife Group will be delighted to hear that everyone in V'Cenza's workplace has heard of the good Eco work going on at Shimna. Fame at last!

Look what Stephen Found

Stephen Hanna keeps a good eye out on eco sites and found this notice of our grant for the Haughian Cottage. We still have some planning to do to make sure that the composting toilets are installed in a way which will meet the approval of Mr Haughian himself. Watch this space....

Showing off to EAGA

Representatives of our Eco group are heading to Cookstown next week to show off our project to EAGA, and to explain what we have done with the money - bought our outdoor recycling bins.

Homes for Bats

The refurbishment of the bat boxes is complete and the bat boxes have been put up again. We hope those bats appreciate the concern for their comfort!

Spring Shoots

The Wildlife Group reports that the spring shoots are showing. All that good planting is coming to life.

Caught in the Act

On the last staff training day, 9B arranged to present Derek Bailey with a bar of Green and Black's in recognition of him picking up corridor litter as he went along, giving a very good example to the rest of us. On the next training day, two more staff members will be presented. Watch this space to see who and what for!

Bit of Broadcast Excitment

Hugh Curran, a student of Media Studies, heard about our red squirrel monitoring through the Environmental Link. He made contact with Jean Forbes of our Board of Governors, and both came in to record for broadcast. They interviewed Georgia Forde, Matthew Rooney, Nathan Allan and Timothy Annett, along with environmental bursary winner Stephen Hanna. In the event, the interview went way beyond squirrels and the group discussed our whole Green Flag bid and the experience of the students who all live in the countryside, three of them on farms. All of the Eco group in 9B were delighted to find somebody out there who was so interested in their environmental plans.

We're going Bats

Two bat boxes have arrived which will be going up in our grounds. The Wildlife Group will be keeping an eye on them for residents.