Meet the Soccer Fans

Now that year 9s has finished checking up that teachers are finding it easy to follow the guidelines about an eco-friendly end to the school day, some volunteers are checking the soccer fixtures for Newcastle Football Club on our pitch. The idea is to draw the attention of spectators to the problem of plastic bottles throughout the grounds, even though other kinds of littering have been much improved. Our volunteers will encourage the fans to use the bins, and will tell them about our plans to try to fund proper recycling bins for outside. Just as we have been finding even more bottles at the end of lunchtime now that the weather is better, we bet we find more at the summer season matches.

He's arrived

Dr Matthew Martin of St. Mary's College, Queen's University has arrived to work with our year 9 eco warriors. He is attending every class catching up with all the research already completed and the plans laid, and the class are learning from him how to use writing to get something done about the issues their research is turning up. Watch out for: blogs; letters to the press; letters to politicians; scripts for assembly; notes to staff; notices for form classes; posters in classrooms and all sorts of other pieces of writing.

9 Donard are watching you.

Volunteers from 9 Donard set up an eco patrol at 4.00pm today, the time at which the electricity tarif goes up. They have the data which reveals who left their room in eco-friendly fashion, and who forgot!

Wee Bin Hoke

We completed a very minor bin hoke compared to last year's marathon. We examined all the blue bins and grey bins for contamination and for recyclable items headed for landfill by mistake. 9Donard found that most blue bins were being used properly and that very few were contaminated. A much greater problem was that in many cases grey bins contained plastic drinks bottles which could have been recyled if they had gone into the right bin. 9Donard is now setting about channelling messages to all students and all teachers with reminders about the use of the bins. The next big job is to see how we can get ourselves recycling bins for outside and for the canteen.

Eco Progress

Year 9 are going great guns with their work for their Silver Award. Iana and Karen staffed a stall on Open Day, raising awareness with leaflets, and testing people on their quiz. They displayed products made with recycled materials: schoolbags, pencils, rulers, pencil cases, pens and also bio friendly washing powder. The classes have audited taps for drips, switches for wasted electricity, bins for contaminated litter, food for excess food miles etc. One class has decided to focus on challenging local fast food restaurants which use plastic bags and polystyrene boxes. One class has decided to try to support teachers in being eco-friendly at the end of a school day. One class has decided to focus on closing the recycling gap and encouraging local shops to stock products made from recycled materials. They might even take to selling stationery products themselves.

Steps Forward

We completed our work for the Bronze Eco Award two years ago, and now we are working for the Silver Award. In that two years there has been a huge change in the number of students reporting that their parents/guardians either have already got a wind turbine or solar panels, or have looked into it or are planning to get one or other. Even larger numbers have instituted family policies of turning off the tap while you brush your teeth, changing to low energy light bulbs, replacing car journeys with share lifts, bus trips or walking. Everyone seems to be working at improving their recycling habits and some are composting. One thing that we thought might have changed is the number of people cycling more. People report that they don't yet understand how the cycle lanes in Newcastle will work when the roadworks are finished. We are also horrified that the glass and cardboard recycling in Newcastle may have to stop at Easter. Of course, all this is hearsay so far. Just wait until we complete our surverys and audits!

Another Year, Another Push

the big news for 2008 is that year 9 are going to take forward our Eco Schools agenda by applying for our Silver Award. Every single student in year 9 is working away on lists of ideas leading to a focused action plan. We will be digging up the results of all the surveys from our successful Bronze Award. The Silver Award requirements ask us to move the focus beyond the school and into the community, so you can expect to be interviewed and monitored at home!