Enviroschools / science is an area of major importance for Fairlie Primary School. For children and young people Enviroschools can be a lifelong journey from early childhood, primary, intermediate, secondary and beyond. For schools and centres we support long-term participation; lasting changes can take many years to become embedded but every step is a change in itself. Every Enviroschool follows a unique journey that:
Develops from small beginnings and gathers strength and breadth along the way
Empowers tamariki and students
Builds sustainable communities
Integrates into the curriculum; both Te Whāriki and the New Zealand Curriculum
Is grounded in Māori Perspectives
Embraces cultural diversity
Engages in the physical, social, cultural and political aspects of the environment
Builds towards being a whole-school/ centre approach.
At the end of 2019 the students, teachers and community worked hard to achieve the Enviroschool Bronze Award. This was an amazing achievement and we welcomed our judges with our Mackenzie Haka and the Mackenzie Pipe Band.
We were also the recipients of the Hurdley Shield presented by the Timaru Horticultural Society. The shield is awarded every year to a school within the Rangitata and Waitaki river boundaries that have been shown to take pride in their school vegetable garden. The children worked hard, looking after the vegetable garden through planting and maintaining the garden with the help of Mr Tonkin. The vegetables are then used in cooking and shared with the community. At the end of last year the enviroschools team took the Timaru Horticulture Society on a tour of the grounds and pointed out what they had done and what they intend to do in the future. At the beginning of this year they announced that Fairlie Primary School were the 2019 Hurdley Shield Winners.
The Hurdley Shield has a rich history and has been awarded for over 100 years. This award was originally started by John Hurdley in 1917 as he wanted to see more gardens in schools and to see children take pride in their place of education.
