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.

Third Green Flag for Sciennes Primary’s Eco Work!

We are grateful for the invitation to contribute to City of Edinburgh Council' Bright Futures website:

Posted on 22 April 2015 by Children & Families

Miss Kirsty Gallagher with pupil Eco Reps in the Eco Garden

Sciennes Primary School Eco Team was thrilled to be awarded their third Green Flag award from Eco Schools Scotland recently.

Lucy Gallagher, Depute Headteacher of Sciennes Primary School, tells us the full story.

Alastair Davidson and Briony McLaughin from Eco Schools (part of the Keep Scotland Beautiful charity) met with Sciennes pupil eco reps on Tuesday 25 January to assess the eco work of the school over the last two years.

The children were absolutely superb and made an obvious impression, showing their knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, all the various eco projects in and around school.
Alastair gave us some very helpful feedback and advice for taking developments forward, including establishing air-quality monitoring on Sciennes Road, and also had a very positive and encouraging manner with the children.

A very special thank you to P5 class teacher Mr Iain Kearton for all his enthusiasm and drive with eco – our reps from last year were particularly animated in relaying all their achievements with him. Miss Kirsty Gallagher, P3 class teacher, is doing an amazing job of leading the new and old reps this year and brings so much experience of eco from Prestonfield Primary; where she also secured a Green Flag for the school.

Third Green Flag!

The award is also a recognition of all the hard work of P1 class teacher Miss Alison Mackintosh, as well as Mr Kearton, over the last two years and of the whole team effort in supporting eco throughout the school, with

• head teacher Mrs Alison Noble
• business manager Ms Angela Christie
• depute head teacher (DHT) Ms Carolyn Anstruther
• Service Support Officers Mr Neil Scott and Mr John Reid

and the rest of the staff carrying on the great work done by class teacher Ms Emma Kidd in securing our first Green Flag and class teachers Ms Claire Phillips and Ms Mel Ross in securing our second.
Thanks to parent council members Corrine Kirk and Phoebe Cochrane, who have provided such sterling support to the school over many years with the wildlife garden, planting and harvesting vegetables for P3 to make soup, as well as helping pupils create our fantastic eco display board. It was wonderful to have Corrine attend the inspection visit.

Alastair commented favourably on the great work in Food Focus Fortnight by principal teacher Miss Shona Pearmain and thought DHT Ms Carloyn Anstruther’s sensory room was an exciting, innovative resource. Mr Mark McKenna’s science provision in P3-P7 was also credited during the inspection.

Alastair was enthusiastic about plans to focus on the School Grounds and Transport eco topics over the next two years, as we head towards achieving our fourth Green Flag. He acknowledged that our fourth Green Flag would recognise the tremendous existing achievements in cycling and the ambitious, whole school community plans for the playground already in place.

Great team effort from pupils, staff and parents. Well done, Team Sciennes!

P4-7 Eco Green Flag Celebration Assembly

 

To celebrate the success of receiving our third Green Flag from Eco Schools Scotland we held a special Eco Assembly on Friday 30th January. Representing last year's Eco Reps (who worked with Mr Kearton), Jessica from P7C ably took us through our Eco journey since joining Eco Schools in 2008 (when Jessica was in Primary One).

Sahaj from P7B, representing this year's Eco Reps, was confident and comprehensive in explaining our current Eco initiatives and how we have already begun, capably led by P3 Class Teacher Miss Gallagher, to aim for our fourth Green Flag by 2016. Thank you also to Theo from P7A who supported Jessica and Sahaj in preparing their presentation.

Well done all!

http://sciennespseco.blogspot.co.uk

http://sciennespseco.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/p7-eco-rap-tributes-to-isaac.html

Third Eco Schools Green Flag!

Wonderful news today that Sciennes received our third Eco Schools Green Flag!

Alastair Davidson and Briony McLaughin from Eco Schools (part of the Keep Scotland Beautiful charity) met with pupil Eco Reps on Tuesday 25th January to assess the Eco work of the school over the last two years. The children were absolutely superb and made an obvious impression, showing their knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, all the various Eco projects in and around school. Alastair gave us some very helpful feedback and advice for taking developments forward, including establishing air quality monitoring in Sciennes Road, and had a very positive and encouraging manner with the children.

A very special thank you to Mr Kearton for all his enthusiasm and drive with Eco - our reps from last year were particularly animated in relaying all their achievements with him. Miss Kirsty Gallagher, P3 Class Teacher, is doing an amazing job of leading the new and old reps this year and brings so much experience of Eco from Prestonfield (where she also secured a Green Flag for the school). The award is also in recognition of all the hard work of Miss Alison Mackintosh as well as Mr Kearton over the last two years and of the whole team efforts in supporting Eco throughout the school - Ms Christie, Mrs Noble, Ms Anstruther, Mr Scott and Mr Reid, with the entire staff, carrying on the great work done by Ms Emma Kidd in securing our first Green Flag and Ms Claire Phillips and Ms Mel Ross in securing our Second. Grateful thanks to Parent Council members Corrine and Phoebe who have provided such sterling support to the school over many years with the Wildlife Garden, planting and harvesting vegetables for P3 soup making, as well as helping pupils create our fantastic Eco Display board. It was wonderful to have Corrine attend the inspection visit. Alastair commented favourably on the great work in Food Focus Fortnight by Miss Shona Pearmain and thought Ms Anstruther's Sensory Room is an exciting, innovative resource. Mr McKenna's Science provision in P3-P7 was also credited during the inspection. Alastair was enthusiastic about plans to focus on 'School Grounds' and 'Transport' Eco topics over the next two years, recognising the tremendous existing achievements in Cycling and the ambitious plans for the Playground already in place. Great team effort - pupils, staff and parents.

Well done, everyone!

Eco Reps conducted a tour for our visitors and all were very articulate and passionate about sharing all their efforts with Eco:

When	Where	What	Who
10am	Gate	Meet Visitors Meet Team Overview on iPads	P4 Reps; Miss Gallagher Miss Gallagher; Ms Gallagher; All Reps; Corrine P7 reps: Sahaj and Theo. P4 reps return to class
10.10am	Ms Gallagher’s Room
10.10am	P7C Classroom	Eco Rap videos; Classroom recycling; ChangeWorks; technology	P7 reps: Jessica and Alexander (P7C early break 10.25am)
10.20am	P5 Classroom - Isaac	Winner of Eco Pledge competition; Rainforest	P5 reps
10.25am	New Kitchen	Food Focus; Smoothie Bike	P5 reps (then return to class)
10.30am	Eco Display board	Phoebe and Corinne parent helpers helped create display; Litter, Waste and Energy; Eco Pledge; City Chambers presentation; Lauriston Castle	P6 reps: Rose, Ava ; Corrine
10.35am	Science Base	Learning about the environment through Science	Sahaj; Mr McKenna
10.40am	P1 Classroom	Daily fruit; fruit on a Friday; fruit waste bins; water cooler; P7 flood workshops	Theo
10.45am	Basement and Boiler Room	Recycling bins Thermal image camera	Theo, Sahaj, Jessica, Mr Reid
10.50am	ICT Suite	Default double sided/black and white printing. Fewer printers. Automatic switch off of computers at 5pm	Ava, Peigidh
	Bike pods	For staff	Ava, Peigidh
10.55am	Eco Garden	Sowing, maintaining and harvesting vegetables for P3 Soup; greenhouse	P3 pupils from Miss Gallagher’s class; Rose, Sophie, Jane; Corrine
11.05am	Dining Hall	Food waste reduced – stickers for finishing meal. Food waste bins	Esther, Peigidh
11.10am	Sensory Room	Health and Wellbeing improvements	Esther; Ms Anstruther
11.15am	Playground	Plans, Wildlife Garden; bamboo, hedge, herb garden, litter bins; food waster	Laiba, Ava, Sahaj; ; Ms Christie
	Playground	Cycle Training P1-P6, Cycle Friendly School Award, Cycle to School Days, bike sheds, loan bikes and helmets; Cycle Adventures; Bike Club	P6 reps– Sophie, Rose, Peigidh, Jane, Esther; Ms Christie
11.30-12pm	Ms Gallagher’s Room	Review documentation, question and answer with staff	Miss Gallagher, Ms Christie, Ms Gallagher

P4 Lucy, Alice, Calum
P5 Seamus, Eric, Ryan, Evelyn, Sarah, Layla 
P6 Peigidh, Jane, Esther, Rose, Sophie, Laiba 
P7 Theo, Sahaj, Alexander, Jessica, Ava