The student driven Sustainability Executive and Action Groups meet at 1pm on Fridays Week B in X11 (Photography Room upstairs in the Art Department). All welcome.

In Term 2 we will be working on the following:

• Applying for funding to allow us to meet required energy needs onsite using our compostable and recycling.
  
• Applying for the International Green Flag Environmental School status through WWF.
  
• Designing screens for outdoor bin stations and new weatherproof signage to help identify what goes in Reuse (Blue) Compost (Green) Recycling (Yellow) and Landfill (Red).
  
• The Sustainability Council will be creating learning opportunities to increase awareness around the importance of minimalizing waste and separating it at source. A particular focus will be on our Reuse Station where Nespresso capsules, all oral care products (tooth brushes, toothpaste, dental floss), The Collective Company packaging, Zip lock bags earn us two cents each, which we donate directly Cool Earth to protect rainforests. These contributions helped us offset our carbon emissions in 2017 allowing Rangi Ruru to become a carbon neutral school in 2017. We also collect mobile phones (for Coastlines NZ), bras and medical braces (for the Pacific Islands), books, stationery, clan gear and soft plastics for reuse. The collection is in the revamped container to the left of the Dining Room. The roller door slides up and is always unlocked.
  
• In the Dining Room we continue to show a high level of social conscience. Our plates, bowls and cutlery are biodegradable, eggs are free range, egg cartons and milk bottles are returned to local suppliers, Mondays lunches produced onsite at are meatless, (helping to reduce the school carbon footprint) and we continually look to find ways to reduce packaging. As a Fairtrade School we also use a range of fair trade products. We are joining millions worldwide in the World Fairtrade Challenge on Friday 11 May. There will be lots of ethical, healthy and delicious food on offer. There may even be some fairtrade Rangi fudge!
  
• Encouraging BYO water bottle and proposing the installation of three more water stations with filtered, cool water. This helps to reduce single use plastics.
  
• Establishing a vegetable garden onsite, further planting of fruit trees and natives with labelling to identify these in English and Maori.
  
• Lead the international Bye Bye Pastic Bag project in our wider community.
  
• Encourage students to enter Sustainability competitions and attend Environmental hui.
  
• Set up Sustainability Exec. website to be linked to Rangi Life to ensure the community is kept informed and up to date with initiatives at Rangi and beyond, such as local tree planting at Drayton Reserve, river clean-ups and climate change lectures.
  

Environment Club

The Environment Club will have a speaker present on issues we can get involved in on the last Tuesday of each month at lunch time in X11. All welcome.

We encourage students to become involved in initiatives. We also appreciate support and input from whanau with ideas or expertise in any areas relating to Sustainability. Please email k.rivers@rangiruru.school.nz

I would like to acknowledge the passion and enthusiasm of the young and dynamic Sustainability Executive. These girls exemplify our Rangi values. I would also like to thank Lucy and her Sustainability Council for their vision.