On 29th January we had a visit from Terry Donovan from ALi Energy. P6/7 were able to show her how much they had learned about energy and they really enjoyed all the games that she brought. Some of their previous topic work was put on display at the Renewables Day in Bowmore Hall on the 30th January. Terry also talked with the Pre-5 children about composting and the wormery, and to P2/3 about the weather.
PRESENT
Lucy, Rachael, Rachel, Carlie, Kayleigh, Charlotte, Ewan, Liam, Fraser, Jason, Keith, Alasdair, Alicia, Danny, Scott, Eilidh, Anna, Robbie, Liam, Calum, Chris, Alice, Eilidh, Emily, Helen, Bailey, Mrs Clark, Aileas, Erin, Mrs Onions, Miss Farqharson, Miss MacRae
APOLOGIES
Mrs Cusworth, Mr Gairns, Katie, Adam, Mr Onions, Mrs Harrison, Mrs Macfarlane, Mrs MacIntyre
MINUTES
Approved Charlotte, Seconded Robbie
ACTION PLAN
All groups worked together to develop their area of responsibilty
1. HEALTHY EATING GROUP
TIME OUT
We need time from teachers once a month to collate snack charts and organise certificates.
Make a life size healthy/unhealthy person poster to tell people why we should eat healthy food.
HEALTHY FRUIT TUCK
Organise daily fruit to buy. Need to:
Organise survey
Work out cost
Trial for a term
Also do once week healthy tuck, yummy things that contain fruit and veg to encourage to try.
Give out points for every piece of fruit eaten.
RAISED BEDS
DO a seed survey
Buy Seeds
Tell teachers and plant beds
Plant Orchard
2. HEALTH & WELLBEING/PLAYGROUND BUDDIES
Football training at breaks
Playground buddies – talking to people who are upset, playing games, building a peaceful area where you can read/draw, get every class playing with each other, get new/exciting games, check games that are being played
3. BIODIVERSITY GROUP
Fix pond
Roundhouse – log seating, roof
Kayleigh has designed an observation station
4. ENERGY GROUP
Start the energy police
Lights turned off at break
Eco monitors doing jobs
Energy saving inventions
5. TRANSPORT GROUP
Encourage parents not to park on yellow lines
Junior traffic wardens
Campaign for fluorescent vests
Money to buy vests for wee people
Continue WOW
6. WASTE GROUP
Redo signs for bins if needed
Make sign for printer – check if you need to print
7. WATER GROUP
Start up certificates
Repromote drinking water – celebrity needed ? Alasdair’s dad
Thanks to everyone for their hard work. Input from the last two meetings will be used to draft the new BB Action Plan.
Date for next meeting Monday 8th February @3.30pm
Whilst we waited for people to arrive Jason showed us his eco pencil case invention, which was judged by all to be excellent. Mrs Macdonald ordered one on the spot!
APOLOGIES: Mrs MacIntyre, Mrs MacFarlane, Mrs Onions, Alicia, Danni, Liam, Christopher, Adam, Helen, Calum, Mrs C MacIntyre, Carlie, Mrs Dennis
PRESENT: Miss MacRae, Mrs Harrison, Mrs Clark, Mrs Macdonald, Mr Gairns, Jason, Ewan, Liam C, Emily, Bailey, Rachel, Lucy, Keith, Robbie, Scott, Charlotte, Rachael, Megan S, Eilidh, Anna, Eilidh, Katie, Aileas, Ellen, Calum,Fraser, Kayleigh,
SECRETARY’S REPORT
We have an outline of last years report as there was a technical hitch out-with our control.
a) Welcome, Apologies
b) Election of new office bearers: Chairperson Mrs Macdonald,
Secretary Mrs Onions, Treasurer Mrs Harrison
c) Chairs report outlined the years developments with regards to the action plan and activities.
d) Treasurers report: Although we ran at a loss we still had a very healthy bank balance. The books were done by Mr MacRae.
e) Slideshow of events in the school grounds.
CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT
Years Events: Another busy and successful year. We have seen changes of personnel, Mrs Onions retired and Miss MacRae took over as secretary. Children have been given more responsibility in that they have their own groups for different aspects of the action plan. This has been motivational and will be developed further with groups being responsible for their own budgets. These groups of children have successfully together and reported back to the rest of the committee and the whole school at assemblies. The future developments within the action plan have been determined by this system.
Our pre5 unit have successfully managed our composting and wormery. They even sent some worms overseas to Jura. They are confident to report progress at assemblies.
Initiatives like WOW and 2 hours of PE are going well, however P1,2 are monitoring progress in each class of WOW. Children from pre 5 to P3 now have Zoot Suits and this gives them more opportunities to take a turn outdoors. We had 8 out of 10 children successful in their cycling proficiency test.
Port Ellen prides itself on being at level 3 health promoting school. We have the healthy water bottle and snack charts running and have healthy tuck once a term. This started last session and was very successful. We continue to foster good relationships with partners within the local and wider community. Mr Currie has again provided resources which helped us extend the raised beds. We continue to have beach cleans and monitor litter throughout our grounds.
P2,3 have made an excellent display of their findings. The classes have been looking at the bigger picture with regards to factors affecting climate change. P4,5 through their farming topic creating a menu which used local produce, which showed parents meals can be made with low food miles. It was thought provoking and the message portrayed successfully. P6,7 have been working on energy with their class teacher and Wildwood Wisdom. This topic will take time to devlop and will continue through the session.
We achieved third green flag status in October, a first for Islay. Our feedback was very positive. It is clear that eco schools is very much enbedded in the life of the school. It is commendable that the teachers are always looking for opportunities to make learning active and meaningful. On the back of our feedback we have decided to develop the projects we already have before embarking on anything new, and have a long way to go with some. Our success is down to the hard work of the children, parents, staff and committee and I would like to tke this opportunity to thank everyone for helping make this a good year at Port Ellen Primary School.
Maureen Macdonald, Chair
TREASURER’S REPORT
Year accounts July 2008-July 2009.
MONEY IN: £1368 in fundraising activities.
£1477 Donations from Lord Robertson, Diageo and Lagavulin.
TOTAL MONEY IN: £2931.88
MONEY SPENT: £6755 to A&B for the pitch.
£788 money spent on gardening supplies.
TOTAL MONEY OUT £7686
We have made a loss of £4754
Closing bank balance £5928
Treasurer Mrs Harrison
Mrs Macdonald suggested that we should write a thankyou card to Karen Schloss for auditing the books.
RESIGNATION OFFICE BEARERS All resigned, Mrs Macdonald not looking to be re elected.
ELECTION OFFICE BEARERS: Mrs Harrison Treasurer, Miss MacRae Chair, Mrs Clark Secretary
Nominated and seconded by Mrs Harrison, Mrs Macdonald, Miss MacRae, Mr Gairns,
Vote of thanks for Mrs Macdonald standing down as chair, offered by Mrs C, seconded by Robbie
CHILD OFFICE BEARERS: Nominated as chair, Katie, by Charlotte seconded by Anna.
Nominated as treasurer,Charlotte and Robbie, by Katie and Liam, seconded by Lucy and Emily.
Nominated as Secretary Bailey, by Fraser, seconded by Keith.
AOB: Mr Gairns wondered why we have real tree when not ideal for the environment. Mrs C suggested that if we planted replacement trees it would offset our carbon footprint. Mrs Macdonald to pick up 16 trees next week to plant in school grounds for habitat creation.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Monday 18th January
NEXT AGM NOVEMBER 2010
CHEESE AND WINE
Apologies: Mrs MacIntyre, Mrs MacFarlane, Mr Gairns, Mrs Macdonald, Alicia, Danni, Alice, Adam, Helen, Calum, Rachael, Mrs Goudie, Mrs C MacIntyre
Present: Miss MacRae, Mrs Harrison, Mrs Clark, Mrs Onions, Jason, Ewan, Liam C, Emily, Calum, Bailey, Alister, Rachel, Lucy, Keith, Christopher, Robbie, Liam L, Adam, Scott, Charlotte, Helen, Ewan, Rachael, Emily, Megan S, Eilidh, Anna, Carlie, Eilidh, Katie, Aileas, Ellen
Minutes: Approved Anna and Eilidh
WOOOOHHHHH!!!!! WE HAVE OUR THIRD GREEN FLAG!!!!!!
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM GREEN FLAG ASSESSMENT:
ACTION PLAN: In their respective groups children reviewed the action plan as it stands and took off areas we have already covered. Then wrote new actions to be undertaken in light of the review.
ENERGY: Taking readings wind turbine, energy monitor, measure carbon footprint, home energy audit, water from barrels.
WATER: Bottles better, giving out certificates.
BIODIVERSITY: Continue to feed birds, redo pond, organise plants, make homes for animals, reroof roundhouse, finish green house, make observation stations, plant an orchard, Make wood piles,
HEALTHY EATING: Certificates to go out,
WASTE: Laminate posters for bins still needs doing, P2,3 encouraged to be litter police,
PLAYGROUND BUDDIES: Add a talking area to playground for quiet time, so suipporting mental as well as physical health. Have packed lunches outside in the summer.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING: P1,2 to be encouraged to play on pitch, build a stage, buy new toys.
TRANSPORT: Tell parents about parking properly in front of school, start up JRSOs, encourage children to wear reflective vests to school.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: AGM 30th November 7.00pm.
On Wednesday 28th of October Miss Love from Eco Schools Scotland came to Port Ellen Primary School for our third green flag assessment. The eco committee took her around the school grounds. We showed her our pond and our plan of what we are going to do with it next year. We also showed her the roundhouse, which was a bit flooded since it had been pouring with rain. We had made a fantastic display of all the work we had been doing in school – P6/7 had been learning about energy and had built models of different renewable energy sources while P4/5 had a brilliant display of all their work on farming and food miles. The Pre-5 unit had made sure that the wormery had a new notice about what to go in it. P2/3 had illustrated our litter policy and P1/2 had made green flags and posters about their learning outside. We also told her about our eco-code. At lunchtime she left ……and at three we heard that we had achieved our THIRD GREEN FLAG! We are really proud of our achievement, so thanks to everyone who has helped us over the years.
Rachel McKim and Keith Kinloch
On Wednesday the children in Primary 4,5 presented 34 of their parents and friends with a farmer’s feast for their lunch. This term the children have been learning about where their food comes from, farming on Islay and around the world and food miles. They decided to prepare a meal for their parents that was as low in food miles as possible, a Food Miles Feast.
As parents arrived they were able to peruse the very descriptive menu, written by the children, and watch a presentation on farming whilst being served local crab canapes. The starter of creamy vegetable soup was sourced form the schools own garden and Bridgend community garden. Herb rolls were made by the children from UK flour and chives from the school garden.
The main course of Islay beef and ale pie was accompanied by home grown mashed potatoes and spiced red cabbage and went down a treat. The children were asked for the recipe for the red cabbage! The desert was local Islay blackberry and apple crumble, the blackberries picked in the school grounds, the apples from local trees. The only non local food additive was sugar, but that was fairtrade.
Finally the children presented facts and figures they had learnt about food miles to parents, to encourage them to buy locally. A great time was had by all, and P4,5 would like to thank Mrs Holyoake, Mrs Leask and Mrs Macmillan for all their help in the kitchen, Messers Baker and Jamieson for the crab, Mrs MacIntyre for the apples, Bridgend community garden for the vegetables and Islay Ales for the beer.
Well Done Everyone.
Apologies: None
Present: Miss MacRae, Mrs Macdonald, Mrs Harrison, Mrs Clark, Mrs MacIntyre Jason, Alicia, Ewan, Liam C, Danni, Emily, Calum, Bailey, Alister, Rachel, Lucy, Keith, Christopher, Robbie, Liam L, Adam, Alice, Scott, Charlotte, Helen, Ewan, Rachael, Emily, Megan S, Eilidh, Anna, Carlie, Eilidh, Katie, Aileas, Ellen
Playground Buddies; Completed playground games survey, displayed, games for today. New pitch rota, Wednesday football training day, Friday playground games day wth whole school. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday class pitch days.
Healthy Eating: Made certificate for class that has most healthy tuck. AP: Make sure healthy charts are up in class, Also made action plan for healthy eating: Make sure check charts weekly, encourage people to eat fruit, Certificates.
Waste: Made posters telling people to put rubbish in bins. Printed photos of bins and made labels to put on bins.
Energy: Information about wind turbine on wall, AP: make more of Jason’s heaters and test, close doors, switch off lights. Begun Green audit.
Biodiversity: Found out facts about bat boxes and put on board, will write letter to SNH about getting bat boxes. Planned monitoring stations and spoke to Mr G who will put in when not so wet. Completed their action plan.
Transport; Chart and certificates completed, WOW cards completed, need handing out.
Water: Made posters, made water bottle charts, Water facts, made water bottle certificate.
Mrs MacIntyre has appropriated 2 baths. Suggested uses by committee were raised bed, sandpit, fish tank! Decided on sandpit for wee ones, and raised bed for the other. Check on school heating, after whole school vote it was decided to bring down the heating by 5 degrees to save energy. Boiler man in and it has been done.
Tomorrow green flag assessment. Good luck and thankyou for all your hard work.
NEXT MEETING: Thursday 12th November 3.30-4.30
The staffroom has just got a new compost bin so that we can compost all our used tea bags and fruit peelings. Mrs MacDonald and Mrs Clark also brought two recycling bins back from Glasgow when they went to the Learning Festival so that we can now easily recylce paper/card and tins/plastic/bottles.
We had another Eco day on Friday 9th of October
Every Class were doing different things.
P1/2 were making a chart of the ways people came to school They were doing a banner on Walk On Wednesdays,talking about how important the green flag is and they even made their own green flags.
P2/3 were drawing posters for the litter policy and making charts on the types of litter. I think they have been busy by looking in all the bins!!.
P4/5 have been drawing pictures of how they come to school and doing some things on their topic.
P6/7 have been busy making pie charts on what we found at the beach clean, making posters and doing loads of stuff for the Brilliant Beginnings blog.
At break p4/5 were doing a Welly Wanging competition to see who could get it the furthest. This was part of a Farm Africa day because they had been learning about farming around the world. The winner was Bailey Freeman with 28m.90 – we think this is a new world record for his age. Well Done Bailey!.
In the afternoon we had an assembly and everyone showed each other the work they done.
I hope everyone had a good day!
By Carlie Campbell.
Alice, Anna, Rachel and Kayleigh have been making a Bug Hotel by cutting out a metre of plastic garden fencing. They went outside and got leaves and sticks,they put the sticks through it so the leaves can sit on top of it and they will just keep puting leaves into it until its full. Alice thought it looked like a game of Kerplunk but we hope it will be a good place for minibeasts to hibernate in over the winter.
