What is Eco-Schools?
Eco-Schools is a global program that puts students at the heart of sustainability, starting in the classroom and extending to the whole school community—including teachers, staff, and parents. The goal is to raise awareness and empower people to make real, lasting changes within, and beyond, our school building.
We welcomed an external jury early in February who assessed our progres. The visit included student presentations, a school tour, and discussions with staff and parents about the impact of our sustainability efforts.
The jury was impressed by the students’ confidence, organisation, and passion for sustainability, and on Friday 15th February we heard the excellent news that we had been awarded the Green Flag.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Focusing on Litter and Waste, our Eco committees asked important questions: Where does our litter go? How can we create less waste? Are we recycling as effectively as possible?
From small everyday habits to larger structural changes, here are some of the ways we’ve made a difference:
- Teachers in Primary have improved printing efficiency and reduced laminating, cutting down on paper, plastic, ink, and electricity use.
- Recycling bins have been strategically placed around the school to encourage responsible waste disposal.
- A large recycling bin was installed at the front of the school, where Secondary students often have snacks and drinks while waiting for lifts.
- Our PTA introduced a ‘bring your own cup’ initiative at this year’s Halloween Trunk or Treat—anyone with their own cup got a free drink!
- Disposable plates were limited to one per person at our Winter Festival.
- All printed marketing materials are now on recycled paper.
- As much as possible, school printers use recycled paper.
- Reception forms were redesigned to maximise page use and are printed double-sided.
Our Primary Eco Committee took a behind-the-scenes tour of the school kitchen to learn how Chef Robert minimises food waste in our school restaurant.
The students were amazed to discover that Chef Robert carefully calculates exact portion sizes based on age, ensuring that food is only prepared as needed. They even got to see the special lift used to transport food and explore one of the walk-in fridges. The visit helped them to appreaciate how organisation plays a big role in waste reduction.
Spreading the Word
Awareness is everything. Thanks to our Primary Eco Committee, our Primary hallways now feature a fantastic collection of posters encouraging participation in the school's Lost Food Project collection.
The food collection box, located in the entrance lobby, is emptied every week—with some of our older Secondary students even volunteering with the charity. So far, we’ve rescued over 400 kilograms of food that would have otherwise gone to waste!
Our eco-conscious Primary students have also created a wonderful ‘globe’ suggestion box at Reception, where anyone can submit ideas for improving sustainability at school.
Motivating Sustainability
Of course, there is always more we can do. That’s why our Eco Committees meet every week to discuss, motivate and inspire one another in our quest to be as eco responsible as we can be and create proactive change for a greener future.
