Pinetown eco school turns 45
Award winning Birches Pre-Primary School was established by the Department of Education in January 1976 and was originally housed on a balcony in the Paradise Valley Complex in Sarnia.
PINETOWN award winning eco school, Birches Pre-Primary School turns 45 and this milestone will be celebrated by children, parents and former learners throughout the year.
The school kicked off the celebrations on Friday, 5 March with a happy birthday song by the learners and educators.
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Birches was established by the Department of Education in January 1976 and was opened by the Mayor of Pinetown in March.
Principal, Scilla Edmonds said the school was originally housed on a balcony in the Paradise Valley Complex in Sarnia.
“In 1993 the school moved onto its present premises across the road from Sarnia Primary.”
Over the years the school has become an award winning ‘Green’ school and their campus was recently honoured by the One Planet Global Search for Sustainable Schools.
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The school boasts a map for sustainable living demonstrating its own recycling centre, fruit forest, herb spirals, vegetable tunnel, free range hens, nursery, water conservation and permaculture ethos.
Numeracy, literacy and life-skills have been driven through Green Business and Entrepreneurship. In 2020 their Business Buddies were awarded
the Gold Level in the international School Enterprise Challenge for their business called ‘Sustainably Yours’.
“This year a brand new project involving every child in the school is about to be launched. The Sustainability Centre is going to be upgraded and a new Growing tunnel will ensure that every class in the school will be involved in growing food.
“Dreams over the last 30 years to teach children to encourage their families to also become self-sustainable are being realised,” said a proud Edmonds.
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As the school turns 45, former learners have come forward this year to share their success in their adult lives.
Alumni like Jethren Barr who plays for Maritzburg United still supports the school and buys eggs “We have children bringing their children to school now – and our governing body chairperson, Nikki Brown is a former pupil of the school,” said Edmonds.
