ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Linton Camp Students explore all things water

Linton Camp School have been learning all things water and wanted to learn more about the Manawatu River.

The entire School took part in classroom session to learn about catchments and identify different types of runoff pollution from both urban and rural areas using the Enviroscapes model. They came up with some ideas on ways to help mitigate pollution to help keep our waterways healthy.

They followed this up with a visit to their local awa the Kahuterawa Stream, part of the Manawatū Catchment.

Students ran some tests at the stream including checking the temperature, pH, flow, and clarity, as well as taking a deeper look at what lives in the awa.

Students found a wide range of macroinvertebrates living here including some large mayflies, stoneflies, dobsonflies and they even found bullies and multiple kōura, which are all positive indicators of stream health. We look forward to seeing you monitoring and taking further action to keep this stream healthy.

Schools involved in predator Free Feilding

Predator Free Feilding has been gaining momentum over the past year being driven by the local Rotary Lions.

Two schools, Manchester Street School and St Josephs School have been doing their bit to rid the Feilding area of pest animals. St Josephs School has a trapoline at Almadale Reserve where they hold their forest school sessions and have removed over 100 pest.

Both schools have also been holding working bees to make trap boxes for the community. Manchester Street School’s Ngā Kaitiaki Taiao (the guardians of the earth) envro-group built 43 trap boxes at one of their whole school enviro-action days which can be used in the community who want a trap for their homes.

This is a great way to encourage families to get involved. If you’re keen to get involved in this initiative, whether you’re part of a local school or an Feilding resident, then connect with the Predator Free Feilding group on Facebook.

Science Extravaganza at Shannon School

Shannon School has spent the past two terms focussing on science. The school houses the Horowhenua kits from the House of Science and their facilitators have been working with classes, as well as using the Horizons environmental education kits on biodiversity and biosecurity.

The Science Extravaganza in September was the culmination of this learning. The event involved sharing their science learnings with whānau and the wider community, including hosting some local schools.

The day began with an assembly where students and Principal Nick Julian demonstrated some science experiments, such as the human electricity energy stick circuit experiment which turns the human body into a conductor of electricity, the physics and the transfer of energy using basketballs and tennis balls, and lastly a student built hover craft which was displayed and used by members of the audience.

The rest of day was filled with activities were set up in three spaces around the school and guests visited each in a series of rotations. Some of the projects included making kawakawa balm, stream health and water testing, exploding coke cans and making rēwena (potato) bread. Students shared their work in presentations and interactive activities.

ENVIROSCHOOLS

Congratulations to......

We had a massive term four for reflections.

Well done to Clifton School, Papanui Junction School, Whanganui East Kindergarten and St Joseph’s School who all reflected at Bronze.

Country Educare, Tararua Educare, Riverdale, First Years, and Whanganui Girls’ College who all reflected at Silver.

Brunswick School who reflected at Green Gold.

Tino pai 💚

New Enviroschools

A warm welcome to Koputaroa School who joined the Enviroschools Programme at the end of 2024. 💚

New reflection process with Opiki School

How do you measure change in sustainability practices in an Enviroschool? With a change in the holistic reflections process which has moved away from schools/centres being labelled as Bronze, Silver, Green Gold, we talked to Opiki School at their reflection about what changes they have seen in the students, teachers, and school from being part of the programme. Read all about it here

IDEAS & RESOURCES

Funding Opportunities

Don't forget to check out our funding opportunities for 2025.

• Horizons Environmental Education Grant
• Horizons Environmental Education Transport Fund