The Long Eaton School Update

Potato GrowersA group of 10 pupils in year 8 planted 2 varieties of potato sent to us by the potato council as part of a greenfingers  gardening programme, incorporated into their science studies. They took soft and hardwood cuttings, planted potatoes and onions and learnt how to prune and weed flower borders in the school sensory garden. They also transplanted wildflower seedlings for the wildflower meadow.       The Long Eaton School receives Environmental Accolade Eco Interactors from the Long Eaton School were delighted to have successfully achieved the status of ‘Green Flag Ambassador 2012.’They are the first Secondary school in the Midlands to have achieved such an accolade.  ‘An Ambassador Eco-School is a flagship of the Eco-Schools programme that has completed in-depth work on all nine Eco-Schools topics and ensured sustainability is embedded into the curriculum, and are willing to support and share information and advice with other schools’. The Long Eaton School has recently hosted the International Plant-for- the-Planet Academy as well as a number of environmental workshops.  The school holds an annual Environmental Fun Day where over 350 visitors join with the school’s 1,300 to learn all about the latest environmental initiatives. The school has been a Green Flag school since 1999.The next Environmental Day will be on Wednesday 4 July, open to the public from 1pm.   Eco School Coordinator Barbara James said ‘We would like to thank all our partners, such as Alex McDonald, Derbyshire’s Eco-Schools Officer.  Groundwork Derby & Derbyshire, Erewash Borough Council and their Tree Wardens, DWT and the Rotary Club of Long Eaton, for their constant advice and support which has helped us to achieve this fantastic award.       The Long Eaton School hosts the Children’s Initiative Plant-for-the-Planet-Academy in its bid to train students to become ‘Climate Justice Ambassadors’Fifty five students from a variety of local schools learnt how to deal with the topics climate crisis, global citizenship and global justice and planted trees together on the Long Eaton School grounds. The event was free and is recommended and awarded by UNESCO.  The Long Eaton School’s own Eco-Interactors, Kate Williams, Luke McAuley, Edward Holland, Katie Breakwell and Rachel Cooper were trained to be Ambassadors and led the presentations ‘Now we children save the world!’ at the Academy.   During the day the Deputy Mayor of Erewash joined the Academy for the training and planting sessions then presented certificates to the new Climate Justice Ambassadors. Trees were donated by the Woodland Trust and staff from Groundwork Derby & Derbyshire prepared the ground and helped with the planting.   Eco School coordinator Barbara James said ‘We were delighted to have so many young people come along and be part of this wonderful International Project.  We need to let young people know what they can do as part of this project and help to plant a million trees in each country of the world. The help from the Woodland Trust, Erewash Borough Council, Groundwork Derby & Derbyshire and Derbyshire County Council was really appreciated’.       The Long Eaton School ‘Plant for the Planet’ and for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee!A valuable contribution to the tree canopy of Long Eaton was made this week as trees and shrubs were planted as part of a community project organised by the ECO-Interactors at the Long Eaton School.The Long Eaton School received funding and trees from partners, The Tree Council, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, The Woodland Trust and Erewash Borough Council.  Erewash Borough Council Tree Wardens and staff from Groundwork Derby & Derbyshire helped by students and staff planted 138 trees and shrubs, including a Royal Oak Sapling to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.Barbara James – ECO School and sustainability coordinator said “for some students, preparing the ground and planting trees is a whole new experience, a wonderful way to enjoy and appreciate the outdoors.  Trees can transform an area by providing shade and an attractive setting.  All the trees planted, will benefit the wildlife and biodiversity long after the current generation of children have grown up.”Students and staff at the school have received a certificate from the (UNEP) United Nations Environment Programme for their contribution to ‘Plant for the Planet’.       The Long Eaton School Students ‘Focus on a Crocus’ to help Eradicate Polio Students and staff from the Long Eaton School, working in partnership with The Rotary Club of Long Eaton, sold and planted 850 purple crocus bulbs.  Each bulb sold for 20p the cost of a vaccine for a baby or small child against polio.Barbara James Eco Interact coordinator said “on the day we had finished selling the bulbs it was announced that India had reached a major milestone in the history of polio eradication, a 12 month period without any case of polio. It was a great feeling to think that we had helped to play a small part in this wonderful achievement.”Molly Elliott, The Long Eaton School’s Interact President, presented a cheque for £170 to Past District Governor of Rotary International Dr Keith Hammond.  Keith then told The Eco-Interactors about his time spent in India actually helping to administer the vaccine to babies.Photo shows Molly Presenting the cheque to Keith Hammond also present members of The Rotary Club of Long Eaton and Eco Interactors from the Long Eaton School.