Eco School Events in Term 2 and 3

RSPB BIG SCHOOLS’ BIRD WATCH 2009

 

Primary 3-4 took part in the RSPB’s Big Schools’ Bird Watch 2009 this term.

The children worked with Mrs Harper and RSPB Loch Gruinart staff to survey the different species of birds visiting our school grounds.

Pupils made bird feeders from natural products such as apples and fir cones, with lashings of lard and bird seeds, to entice our feathered friends!

RSPB staff visited the school to share their expert knowledge with the children, and to answer their bird spotting questions prior to the bird watch.

The children’s bird feeders proved popular with local birds, with a number of species being spotted by pupils through their binoculars!

WILD GEESE LAND IN SCHOOL...

 

On Wednesday 25th February, pupils were visited by Professor Tony Fox, from Denmark, and Alyn Walsh site manager for Wexford Slobs in Ireland.

Alyn’s reserve is the other place – along with Islay – that has the largest overwintering populations of Greenland White Fronted geese.

Accompanied by James How, from RSPB Gruinart, both were visiting Islay to take part in a Greenland White Fronted Goose conference. They took time out of their busy schedule to visit our school to deliver a really interesting slide show to the children.

Among some very interesting facts was the astonishing statistic that each goose uses the equivalent energy contained in seventeen Mars bars to emigrate from Greenland to Islay!!!

Everyone found the Greenland White Fronted goose facts amazing!

PARENT POWER TRANSFORMS WILDLIFE GARDEN!

We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who gave their time and energies on Saturday to help tidy up the wildlife garden. The transformation was incredible! As well as weeding the beds (back breaking work!) volunteers also cut back our enthusiastic plant life and helped to lay stepping stones through the beds for the children to walk on.

We also have two fantastic footpaths courtesy of Mr. MacPherson and his digger! We now have a path from the playground to the wildlife garden. There is also a path from the Community Garden into the playground, with a spur to the Pre-5 gate. We’d like to say a big thank you to Mr. MacPherson for his efforts, and also to Dunlossit Estate for their donation of hardcore.

Reduced Litter Levels in Playground!

 

Primary 3-4 have continued with their ‘Litter Picker’ responsibilities this term.

Pupils patrol the playground after morning break to collect loose litter with their ‘litter pickers’.

They then record the total number of pieces on a chart. At the end of the week they report the litter results to everyone at assembly and encourage them to put their litter in the bin.

Pupils also display the weekly totals so far on a graph that is displayed on our Eco-News display board. This term’s graph is printed to the left!

PUPILS QUIZ SCOTTISH POWER OVER RENEWABLES PROJECT

Mr Morgan, from Scottish Power Re-newable Energy, and Mr Maxwell from Islay Energy Trust, visited Primary 5-6-7 recently to explain their ideas for renewable energy sources in the Sound of Islay.

After a very interesting presentation on how the project might be established and run, pupils asked some ‘in depth’ (!) questions about the tidal energy project...

ECO-EXECUTIVE APPLY FOR GREEN FLAG STATUS

Our Eco-Executive meet fortnightly with teachers and community members to review our eco actions and progress.

Members of the Eco-Exec have applied for our Green Flag visit from Eco-Schools Scotland.

Ms. P Love will visit us on 19th May to assess whether we have achieved Green Flag status. More news to follow next term!