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Members of WGHS Enviro Club & representatives from WBHS at the Otago Enviroschools Hui in Dunedin, February. 
 
Photo by Waitaki Girls' High School

Enviroschool Update

Tilly King, Enviro Club —

Waitaki Girls High School has been an Enviroschool since 2018! Here’s an update on how things are developing and our plans for 2020!

Kia Ora Waitaki Girls High School Whānau

Enviroschools is a programme to support, encourage and develop sustainable actions within schools and early childhood centres around Aotearoa.  The Enviroschools Kaupapa is guided by five main principles: empowered students, learning for sustainability, Māori perspectives, respect for the diversity of people and cultures and sustainable communities.  Collaboration with our local community is one of our aims.  Last year we were involved in multiple tree plantings with Forest & Bird- its really awesome to see connections within our community, and see our actions spreading further than our school.

2020 started with a huge turnout in Enviro Club!  More than 40 members signed up!  We had a couple of really positive meetings with lots of plans for the future!  Representatives from the Enviro Club travelled down to Dunedin for the Otago Enviroschools Hui.  It was extremely inspiring; listening to speakers, meeting students from other Enviroschools, sharing ideas and planning for 2020.

Our 2020 focus is waste management within our school.  COVID19 has put a little delay on our plans, but we are hoping to spring into action very soon! We are planning a waste audit to figure out the proportions of waste, from there we will plan for compost bins and worm farms!  We are also hoping to encourage more recycling, and figure out ways to reduce waste going to landfill.  Look out for the return of the WGHS thrift shop and beach cleanups coming soon!