Yellowwood Park Primary tackles Eco-Schools award

Yellowwood Park Primary School was awarded an Eco-Schools bronze award on Thursday, 13 February.

The award is the first step of a year three-year bid to achieve an Eco-Schools green flag. The school’s first theme was nature and biodiversity and as their chosen project, they focused on Red Bishop Pond. Pupils raised money to buy plants for the pond, which is adjacent to the school. As part of Spring Day celebrations, pupils showed off their green fingers as they planted the plants.
The next goal is to achieve a silver award. In order to accomplish it, Yellowwood Park Primary School needs to have two projects running simultaneously. The school has to continue with last year’s project at the Red Bishop Pond as well as initiate a new project. This year’s theme is healthy living, which will see the school plant vegetable gardens.

The school hopes to one day achieve the Eco-Schools international award. To achieve the award, Yellowwood Park Primary School will have to complete five themes, namely nature and biodiversity, healthy living, local and global issues, resource use and community and heritage.

“We are excited to have achieved such an amazing award. The aim of Eco-Schools is to create environmental awareness in children. The pupils are enthusiastic about learning more about the environment and making a difference. We hope they will pass this awareness on to coming generations,” said grade 3 teacher, Samantha Vermaak, who co-ordinated the award with deputy principal, Sheryl Reid.

Along with the bronze award, the school was awarded a High Five award for a succinct portfolio for its first year’s work. The theme of environmental awareness is embodied in the school’s culture through its involvement in community projects and recycling efforts.