GEORGE NEWS - Three Garden Route schools have achieved international Eco-School Awards. 

This international environmental education programme is implemented in South Africa by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa). 

Schools in 69 countries are currently registered. South Africa was the leader in linking the Eco-Schools programme to the school curriculum.

Awards
Wessa congratulates Holy Cross Primary and Glenwood House on achieving their Gold Decade Award and Oakhill School on their Diamond Decade. 

Holy Cross Primary and Glenwood House in George, and Oakhill School in Knysna have all been part of the Eco-Schools programme for more than 10 years. 

The aims of the programme are to create awareness and action around social and environmental sustainability in schools and to support education for sustainable development in the national curriculum. 

Holy Cross Primary, Glenwood House and Oakhill School continue to do so.

Practicing what they preach
During their journey with the Eco-Schools programme, school grounds have been transformed with an emphasis on planting with indigenous Southern Cape plants. 

Glenwood House has a well-established forest, fynbos and wetland section. 

Holy Cross Primary has a small wetland and Oakhill School planted water-wise gardens. The school grounds are frequently used as outdoor classrooms. 

Food gardens and medicinal plants are popular for supporting learning in the classroom. 

Waste management and minimisation have resulted in financially beneficial rewards for the schools as well as reducing waste to landfill and litter issues. 

Teachers used the drought situation to work with the learners investigating ways of reducing water consumption and looking at the water footprint in foods as well as the carbon footprint. 

Over the years, the tuck shops have moved to providing healthy choices of locally grown and produced food.

All three schools are involved in community outreach projects which have resulted in long-standing relationships with crèches and schools and communities in need. 

Oakhill School lost their staff room during the Knysna fires. Glenwood House Enviro Society members prepared meals for firemen and those who lost their homes. 

These schools have also worked with and fund-raised for animal shelters and been involved in research.

For further information about the Eco-Schools programme, contact Lorraine McGibbon on 021 701 1397 or lorraine@wessa.co.za.

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