St. Vincent’s Green Team ensure that the school are taking care of the environment, such as how to save electricity at school to highlighting issues around the world and fundraising for them. Every child from year 1 to year 6 is given the opportunity to put themselves forward to become a Green Team representative for their class. Candidates write a manifesto and give election speeches to their class before formal voting takes place, similar to a real election.
We meet once a week to discuss environmental issues and carry out tasks. Our projects in and around the school include half termly litter picks and an environmental audit where we call ourselves The Green Police. This involves us walking around the school checking on recycling bins, use of energy and seeing if there is anything we need to focus on to remain a Green Flag school.
We are very proud that St. Vincent’s has been awarded the Eco Schools Green Flag twice and this is displayed outside our school.
The Green Team members are responsible for the upkeep of the growing and garden areas of the school.
We also work very closely with the local community, for example planting crocus bulbs in Paddington Street Gardens with the local Rotary Club. We have also undertaken local air quality surveys, buried a time capsule and even attended a special ceremony in Paddington Street Gardens to unveil a special plaque that has been erected next to a beautiful tree to mark the occasion of the Queens Platinum Jubilee! We’re very busy!
The Green Team carry out a half termly audit: checking that both staff and children alike are following our Green Charter (we fondly call ourselves The Green Police!) One of our most important, and rewarding , jobs is for Green Team to plan, prepare and carry out at least one charitable event throughout the year. The main focus is on the promotion of saving energy, cutting green house gases, recycling and making sure we remain a healthy school. Green Team look at the issues of the day and work towards changing them.
We work on different projects throughout the school year. In the past these have included making videos concerning recycling throughout the year and particularly at Christmas time, taken surveys to see how many people idle their cars on drop off, and writing and carrying out environmentally based whole school assemblies. Our main event each year, something we get very excited about, is to organise an event for our chosen charity. These have been a Dance-a-thon, Sing-a-thon, Pyjama Day, Wear it Wild and many more.
Green Team members are happy to give up their own time for something so important. We will keep you up to date with our news of our work on the website.