Page 26 - The Badger - Issue 8

THE BADGER Celebrating 125 Years of The Downs
Eco Team
This year, the Eco Team has continued to try and
increase environmental awareness at TDM.
The pupils have met weekly to organise events, create posters, as well as research and discuss current environmental issues facing today’s ever-changing
world. Always high on the agenda is the state of the world oceans and the colossal amount of plastic waste finding its way into the sea.
In June, we organised a TDM Earth Day, with the pupils wearing blue and green clothing for the day and raising money for Marine Conservation. There was also a whole school vegetarian lunch and Eco quiz, enjoyed by all. This year, we chose to celebrate at the end of the Summer Term, a little later than the globally acclaimed World Earth Day. Although the focus was mainly ocean pollution, the Eco Team also tried to raise awareness for the winter coat and boot collection, for the charity Teams4U, who we support every year with our filled Christmas boxes for children in Eastern Europe. We collected a significant number of items and are still open to donations back at school in September. So please do save any unwanted warm coats or boots, to add to our stock for deprived children in Romania. The children also introduced the new green, canvas TDM Tote bag, to promote a reduction of plastic bags around school. The stylish, canvas bags are still available from the school Stationery Shop at a cost of £5.00 per bag.
Thank you to the wonderful Eco Team for being a super group of environmental warriors and we very much hope that you will all volunteer to be part of the team again next year. Additional pupils wishing to be involved in the new academic year are warmly invited to our first Eco Team meeting in September. Any keen pupils looking for an extra challenge over the summer months, could research an environmental issue of their own choice and prepare a short presentation to show the team on their return to school.
Sarah McDonnell
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