Page 89 - Herioter 2021

Rights Meet the Green

agenda Team!

scores gold This year, the P5 Rights Respecting Schools
group created the ‘Green Team’.
We created superheroes who fight climate
hattrick change and show the planet needs saving.
Each superhero represents a different part
of the environment and has to combat
a different villain to save the earth. For
example, we have Recycle Ranger and Plastic Switch-off Sally, one of the Green Team
Heriot’s has been a Unicef Rights Respecting Pete. would try to help tackle climate change in
School since 2011 and was the first independent We also sort out the recycling from different ways.
school in the UK to be awarded the Gold level classrooms, like felt pens and glue sticks. We We are all villains, but by doing our bit we
of the award in 2015. We were re-accredited create plays and films to share with different can become heroes.
with Gold in 2018, and in May 2021 two Unicef age groups in the Junior School to raise GO GREEN!
assessors completed a virtual reaccreditation visit awareness.
which involved spending a morning talking to We hope that if everyone in the school Daragh Lennon, Gia Vinu, Cora Medero
pupils, staff, parents and governors to learn about knows what is happening to our planet, and Goussetis, Maisie Coulson and Esmée Scott
our ongoing work to promote children’s rights. how bad it is, at least a quarter of the school (P5)
We were delighted that Heriot’s was once
again awarded the Gold level award. The
assessors’ feedback noted that we have ensured
that our work to promote rights is ‘deeper, richer
and fresher’, and commended our pupils’ wide
knowledge of rights. They were interested in The RRS
our plans to develop our diversity and inclusion
policies and education, and encouraged us to Steering Group
consider ways we can also campaign for greater
equality globally. This has given us further ideas – what it
to develop our rights work and we look forward to
doing that next session. Our pupils have reflected
on this success below. means to us
Mrs Gemma Hay and Mrs Katherine Duncan We joined because:

When I met the Unicef RRS assessors I felt very Junior School pupils took part in Poverty Awareness Week Everyone is kind and respectful.
proud and overall it was an amazing experience! and collected an array of foodbank items
Sanna Ronan (P5) Everyone works together to fulfil their
tasks.
Being part of RRS is a really rewarding experience
as it enables me to widen my understanding of Everyone is positive and never gives up!
the world, and actively work to make a positive
change. We are overjoyed when we do RRS
because we feel like we are doing
Charlotte Black (S4) something to help and support people in
need or in poverty.
Talking to the assessors was the perfect way for
each of us to reflect on everything that we’ve At RRS, we learn about the rights we
achieved in such a short space of time, and have and we think of ways to help people
reminded us how much of an impact the work of without them.
the Rights Respecting School group can make.
Members of the RRS Group spoke to all S1 and S2
Jade Adedokun (S4) Citizenship classes in Term 1 to ensure pupils have It makes us feel good as we know we
an understanding of rights are helping out and making the world a
When talking to the assessors it was lovely to better place!
hear about all the different things that have been
going on involving many different people and We think that with all of these rights in
groups, inside and outside of the rights group, place, that if we sustain them, one day
and helped us realise how ingrained rights is for we may be able to prevent poverty from
everyone in the Heriot’s community. getting any worse and to make everyone
have these rights apply to them!
Lucy Anderson (S4)
Josh Buchanan, Neve MacDonald and
The images highlight some of the work of the Rosie Hendrie (P7)
Rights Respecting Group this session. The Junior School RRS Steering Group jumping for joy at
the news that the UNCRC Incorporation Bill was passed in
Scotland
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