Caring for Our Environment

Last year DPS spent a week focusing on ways to look after our world. We focused on what we can do as individuals to reduce carbon emissions, recycle and reuse products. We looked at local, national and world themes Eg: protecting local wild life to endangered species worldwide. The curriculum focus for each year group that week was based on their Eco-Link Area as follows:YR – Healthy LivingY1- School GroundsY2 –Global CitizenshipY3- BiodiversityY4- EnergyY5- WaterY6- LitterAs part of that week we had visits from local volunteers, Bournemouth Water, the EXPLORER DOME, and even Exxon Mobil all doing presentations based on the theme of sustainability and looking after our world. This week was used as a starting point for including eco-themes into the school’s curriculum planning which was continued in the Summer term and into planning for 2017-18.

During the year we created a frog hotel, new woodlice habitats, made bird feeders and bird kebabs, contributed to the BTO national bird/bug survey, attempted to plant a wild flower hill, distributed home-made “bombs” full of seeds of bee friendly plants, supported Downton Horticultural Scoiety Flower Show, monitored our energy and water usage and of course recycled key materials.Since September 2017 once again we have been focusing as individuals on reducing our carbon footprint. Our Eco-worships are focusing on the theme of REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE. All used paper is recycled but classes now compete for the award for recycling least amount of paper.As well as recycling plastic, we are also trying to reduce the amount of plastic used in school by changing the way we buy milk for younger children, and ensuring that apart from buying local produce, where possible we buy foods for the school kitchen wrapped in as little plastic as possible. Once again we are trying to reduce our use of electricity and water. We have had another “switch it off day” to remind us about the impact on our carbon footprint of leaving electronic devices on stand by and we are working on reducing the number of disposable water bottles used at school.In the pond garden Year 1 are going to have another attempt at creating a bee friendly wild flower hill and put up some more bird feeders. Once again Year 3 are collecting data on the birds and invertebrates to be found in our school grounds. This information forms part of a national survey investigating invertebrate distribution and numbers providing scientifically valuable information about the effect of climate upon invertebrates. In our Adventure Garden this year Year 5 and Year 2 plan to plant beans and potatoes.These will be used in the school kitchen as will the herbs when we restore our herb garden which was destroyed during the building our new eco-friendly extension at school.   As we are lucky enough to have a new set of toilets Year 5 are going to raise funds to provide twin toilets for less advantaged children in another school.Through our link with Alan Roper our Polar Ambassador we have been learning about the wildlife that lives in the Polar regions and the negative impact of climate change on their habitat. Year R and Year 4 have created flags that have been placed in Antarctica to remind us that this area is important to the world even if we are a long way away and that our actions however small can impact on places a long way away.

All of these actions are carried out or led by different year groups but shared via our school newsletter, Eco-council members, Eco-worships and Eco-council section of the school website.