Sciennes Primary ECO 2016-2017: 2016-17

PLANT YOURSELF Amazing Parent Led P1-S1 Planting Project

Runner beans grown from seed and planted in tyres

"The idea is the p7's to grow some at Sciennes to be a happy welcome for the new P1's starting, and to have some planted in the high schools to welcome the new S1's as they get rooted in their new schools."

Kirstin Unger, Parent ECO Group

Parent Kirstin Unger has successfully led an extraordinary and ambitious project enabling all our 655 pupils to plant throughout the year.

Kirstin Unger, Parent Council ECO Group

Sciennes' Parent ECO Group is a dedicated subgroup of our Parent Council which supports pupils, staff and our Pupil ECO Group, in close liaison with Business Manager Angela Christie.

An ambitious whole school aim this year to provide an opportunity for each of our 655 pupils (22 classes from P1-P7) to experience planting and tending for plants throughout their school year has been realised, thanks to the tireless dedication and efforts of our Parent Council ECO Group and most particularly parent Kirstin Unger. Kirstin has in fact also managed to extend the project to S1, by passing on sunflowers grown by P7 from seed to James Gillespie's High School, putting down roots to help them establish themselves as S1s in August.

For several years our Parent Council ECO Group has supported a project whereby each of our new P1 pupils has an opportunity to plant something soon after they arrive, to 'make their mark' on the school and feel an immediate sense of belonging. This year the Parent Council ECO Group has managed to extend this to all our pupils as part of a planned, seasonal programme, to build a school career long love of and interest in the environment and to improve our school grounds. A main theme has been 'Giving Nature a Home' and P6 pupils recently planted some of the sunflowers P7s grew from seed to encourage more bees and birds into our school grounds. In January, Kirstin kindly spoke at our Assemblies to promote participation in RSPB' s Big Garden Birdwatch which stimulated a great deal of interest in our pupils.

Raised beds have already been introduced as well as pallets for our school grounds with inbuilt watering facilities which allow pupils to tend plants in school time and to maintain plants in the summer holidays.

The Parent Council ECO Group also work throughout the year with our Primary Three pupils in a programme of planting, tending and harvesting. Produce from the ECO Garden is harvested by pupils and used within curriculum healthy eating and cooking lessons. This year has also seen potato chitting and cultivation in the Meadows by P2s and P3s.

We are extremely grateful for the ongoing support of Kirsin and our fantastic Parent ECO Group, who continue to enhance pupils' practical experience and environment at Sciennes.

P6s and some of their parents helped plant strawberries in pallets

P5A planted this lovely display

Lavendar tree planted in Quiet Area by P5A

Growing from seed

P2 potato chitting

Planting in the Meadows

P3 planting in the ECO Garden at the rear of the school

P3 potato planting with parent Laura Bird

Thank you parent Cath McCormack and all the other parents who have supported the Parent Council ECO Group with an extraordinary amount of planting!

This visitor also enjoyed the ECO Garden!

We also thank parent Colin Sim for submitting a successful bid for funding and Gus and his team from Earth Calling for planting fabulous willow structures

Thank you very much, wonderful Kirstin, for all your time and efforts!

Feel Good Factor from Volunteering to Litter Pick

What a great way to end Mental Health Week on Friday 12th May with members of our ECO Group and P6 pupils, led by Mr Hutchison, volunteering to make a difference to our School Grounds and local area with an Eco Schools Clean Up Scotland litter picking session, sponsored by Keep Scotland Beautiful and Greggs.

Togged up, litter pickers at the ready, briefed and ready to go!

The team was very pleased to note that there was actually hardly any litter at all in our school playground so we had to look further afield in the surrounding area. P6 and P7 efforts can contribute to their Junior Award Scheme for Schools (JASS) awards in 'Me and my World.' Well done, all, and thank you very much for taking the time to make a difference!

Mrs Noble gave everyone a Headteacher's Award sticker

After tidying up and handwashing it was time for some yummy treats, courtesy of Greggs.

Thank you, Mr Hutchison, for organising and leading the event.

Fourth Eco-Schools Green Flag!

Fourth Green ECO Schools Green Flag! Well done Team Sciennes!

PUPIL ECO TEAM
P4 Bethan, Catie, Isla
P5 Jim, Nina, Sophie
P6 Michael. Faye, Ali
P7 Evelyn, Caitlin, Laura
JRSOs Amelia, Josh and Declan

Sciennes Earth Day Green Flag Assembly 21.4.17 from Sciennes Primary School

On Friday 21st April at the P4-7 Assembly we reflected on 'Earth Day' (22nd April) and watched a video "Man Vs Earth" to help us think about issues affecting the planet and how we can work together to make a difference.

We looked back at our ECO Schools journey since 2008 and what pupils, staff and parents have achieved together. Addressing issues facing the planet is not just the responsibility of the ECO Pupil and Parent Groups and our JRSOs. Each of us has a responsibility, individually and as part of the school community.

In the last few years we have been working towards our Fourth Green Flag, focusing on Litter, School Grounds and Active Travel. We were delighted to be able to announce today that Sciennes has just been awarded our Fourth Eco Schools Green Flag which Mr Hutchison unfurled ceremoniously during Assembly. Miss Gallagher, Mr Hutchison and Mrs Dickson have led the Pupil ECO Team extremely well throughout the year. We congratulated and thanked everyone throughout school who has contributed to Sciennes receiving this prestigious award. Well done Team Sciennes! Particular thanks to Phoebe Cochrane, Kirstin Unger, Laura Bird, Corinne Kirk and all the parents who support the ECO work of the school and commendation to the indomitable spirit and relentless enthusiasm of our wonderful Business Manager, Angela Christie, always a key driver in all things ECO.

We have already begun to plan how we can achieve our Fifth Green Flag, taking on two new ECO topics + Litter and continuing our focus on the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Global Goals.

Caspar, Jay and Henry spoke about their fundraising plans for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Appeal for Yemen and we reminded everyone about Pedal on Parliament, taking place on Earth Day, Saturday 22nd April.

Tremendous achievement and we thank Stephen Harland, Education Support Officer Keep Scotland Beautiful -Eco-Schools Scotland, Kerr McConnell, Education and Learning Co-oridinator and all at Eco-Schools for their support and encouragement. Read their kindly positive report below:

Article 29

You have the right to education which develops your personality, respect for others’ rights and the environment.

ECO Reps

Our Eco Reps were elected by their classmates in October and again this year P3 pupils have been working together on a separate Eco project throughout the year, so only P4-P7 Eco Reps participate in the Eco meetings. They are joined by our three P6 Junior Road Safety Officers when we focus on Active Travel.

Miss Gallagher, P1 Class Teacher, Mr Hutchison, P6 Class Teacher and Mrs Dickson, P2 Class Teacher have led meetings, supported by Ms Christie, Ms Gallagher and Sciennes' Parent Kirstin Unger (Parent Council ECO Group).

Reps 2016-2017
P4 Bethan, Catie, Isla
P5 Jim, Nina, Sophie
P6 Michael. Faye, Ali
P7 Evelyn, Caitlin, Laura

P6 Junior Road Safety Officers (JRSOs)
Josh, Amelia, Declan

Reps from 2015-2016
P4 Manow, Dylan, JoJo
P5 Catherine, Chiara, Hamza
P6 Ben, Rachel, Molly
P7 Evie, Isabella, Liza

Spring has Sprung

Lovely display by P5A. Huge thanks to Kirstin and Hugo for organising and running this planting bonanza.

Greening our Streets meeting - Friday 25th February

The community group " greening our street" is having a planning meeting this Friday to discuss the organisation of the community garden and orchard in the meadows. All welcome

Greening our Street planning meeting

24 Feb 7.30pm in Lauriston Hall, the small hall, EH3 9DJ

Agenda

Welcome

Brief introduction to Greening our Street