Page 15 - Herioter 2020

Actions not

words

At the UN summit Greta Thunberg
described how politicians request selfies
and ‘tell us they really, really admire what
we do yet have done nothing to address
the climate crisis’. Sustainable September
demonstrated the importance of action.
This is what the school did.
Pupils in Middle and Upper Primary were
introduced to the concept of sustainability
and why it matters. They discussed how
sustainability was already in action in the
Junior School, notably in the milk bottle top
recycling system. Milk monitors drop off
bottle tops in the bucket in the Greyfriars
corridor. The tops are then collected,
sorted, recycled and sold to raise money
for charity. microscope. Are ‘party bags’ damaging the
Pupils were then asked how much food environment? Is there a way you can make
they waste and the impact of packaging them more sustainable? Do children need
around that food, which led into or expect party treat bags after parties?
discussing ways to make our tech lives Do children actually value plastic single use
more climate-friendly. The aim was to toys?
personalise the environmental message. Coinciding with the sale of growth mindset
Parties and presents were put under the bottles to Junior School pupils, reuse
was also on the agenda, with children
encouraged to use libraries to borrow save electricity and water. In terms of
books instead of buying them and even travel, pupils were encouraged to think
considering using toy libraries. P6 classes of different ways of getting to and from
were charged with the job of collecting school.
donations for the Teddy Trust, a charity Meanwhile, in the Senior School,
that sends used teddies to children living in Professor Dave Reay from the University
warzones. In total, more than 150 teddies of Edinburgh spoke to pupils about
were posted; these will be sent to children climate change and practical ways to
suffering from the traumas of war in Syria. make a difference. Climate change offers
The attention moved onto the home opportunity, he explained: opportunity to
and transport later in the month, with adapt, innovate and start using resources in
pupils challenged to think about ways to more efficient ways.

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