Eco Schools
Eco-Schools is an international initiative designed to encourage whole-school community action on Learning for Sustainability. It is an environmental management tool, a learning resource and a recognised award scheme which empowers children and young people to take action towards an economically, socially and environmentally just world.
The initiative provides a framework for learning and action which affords a wealth of opportunities for linking sustainable development education, global citizenship and outdoor learning. Eco-Schools weaves these elements together through the everyday curricular work undertaken by schools and encourages closer links between schools and the communities around them.
Day of Action
23rd May 2016.
After meeting Karen McKelvie from the RSPB, during the Erasmus trip to Shetland, Mid Yell Junior High School agreed to become a "Nature Loving School" thanks to Ms Gear and her Top Primary class. We held a Day of Action on the 23rd May. With the help of the RSPB, the Shetland Amenity Trust, parents, staff and pupils, we built a den, got our garden ready for planting, planted lots to seeds, set up a slide, made a pound, created a path, painted tyres' planters, planted wild flowers and trees. Since then pupils have made great use of the school outdoor space at break times. They have also used the path to run for Fit 15 everyday during Term 1.
Big Schools' Birdwatch
March 2016
We had Karen McKelvie from the RSPB to visit again, and she helped us take part in the Big Schools' Birdwatch, which is part of a national survey. We have been involved in this for a number of years now. This year we had 23 birds, from 10 different species, landing in our school grounds during the hour of the survey.
Then we did soil sampling, looking at the type and PH of the soil in different bits of our school grounds, and counted the invertebrates, which were mostly worms. This is also part of a national survey, conducted by The Pod.
WASTE MINIMISATION - Composting Event
15th of May 2015
The School Grounds Committee has secured funding from “Climate Challenge Fund” to help develop the areas around the school. As part of this initiative we have taken on to have a community composting scheme based near the polytunnel.This involves people throughout the community collecting biodegradable waste and adding it to the collective compost, which will then be used to improve the soil in our garden areas.
On the 15th May 2015 we invited parents and the public along to the school to launch our community composting scheme.
Brydon Sinclair, the Shetland Islands Council’s waste prevention officer came along, and spoke about which items are suitable for composting, as well as organising fun activities for the younger children.
Householders were invited to take a small compost caddy, which they fill up at home, then add the contents to our big compost bins at the back of the school. We then use the compost to improve our soil for growing crops and flowers.
Before the launch the primary pupils baked “fancies” so people could have tea and cakes, and a gardening themed raffle was held, including bedding plants which we had brought on in the polytunnel.
ENERGY - Nova Innovation Elective
April May June 2015
Our Physics teacher with input from Patrick Ross Smith of Nova Innovation run an elective based around using the power of water to produce electricity. It took place between April and June 2015. Six pupils chose this elective. After a presentation and explanations from Patrick Ross Smith, pupils divided up into 2 teams to make a prototype using recycled materials. One team made use of a baby pram and the other an old bike.
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BIODIVERSITY - Existing fauna and flora within the school grounds (2014-2015)
April-June 2015
Annette Gear and our Top Primary class started an audit of the existing fauna and flora within the school grounds. Annette and Logan one of our S3 pupils were key in developing a huge interest in bird watching during Golden Time but also break times throughout the Spring and Summer months.
Logan was one of the winners of the Shetland Environmental Awards 2015 He received The Alan Inkster’s Award “an award given for an outstanding voluntary contribution and commitment to Shetland’s environment.
ENERGY - Electricity readings
2014-2015
Richard our janitor has been taking regular readings of our Energy consumption throughout the year 2014-2015. This will provide a basis from which to judge the impact of future campaigns to reduce our energy consumption.
WASTE MINIMISATION - Briquettes making
May June 2014
During Term 4 of 2014 pupils volunteered during Electives to make briquettes using some of our shredded paper. A number of houses in Yell have open fires and briquettes are ideal to get a fire going. They are messy but great fun to make!
WASTE MINIMISATION - Rag Bag
2013-2015
We collect textile, shoes and accessories for the recycling scheme Rag Bag.
Our Textile container is weatherproof and accessible anytime just outside the main entrance of the school. Members of our Eco Schools committee regularly empty the Rag Bag container and sort out the collection into bags provided by the scheme. Since starting at the end of 2013, we have collected 610 kg of textiles and raised £244 for the school thanks to our community’s regular donations and our volunteers’ willingness to work with them.
HEALTH AND WELL BEING - Swimming around Yell Challenge
March June 2012
Mid Yell JHS set themselves a challenge back in March 2012 to swim the distance around the Island of Yell (52 miles). They then threw down the gauntlet to pupils and asked them to try to complete the challenge first.
Staff were sponsored per mile and raised the magnificent total of £700 which will go towards a polytunnel and nature garden for the school. BP has kindly donated a further £250.
Although the pupils sprang to an early lead, the dogged determination of the staff completed the required 6656 lengths of the pool by early May.
The whole event has been a great success and both staff and pupils are getting fitter whilst developing their swimming skills.
Yell Leisure Centre Manager David Gear said that the pool usage figures for March were up by 105%. Thanks to all who took part, gave donations or sponsored participants.
HEALTH AND WELL BEING - School grown produce
2012-2015
We first took part in the British Patato Council "Grown Your Own Patatoes" in 2007. Every year since then we have grown more varieties inclucing the Shetland Black. In 2011 and 2012 the school also got involved in "Crofting Connections" and we planted a variety of local crops including Shetland kale, onions, swedes and carrots. Thanks to our polytunnel we now have increased the range of fruit and veg we can grow. Our canteen staff and Home Economics teacher use those produce when they become available. Some are also prepared for pupils for snack.
WASTE MINIMISATION - Batteries recycling
2012-2016
In the entrance of the school we have a batteries recycling box which was provided by the Infrastructure Services in Shetland. The school but also members of the community use it. Once a year we take the content to the Gremista Waste Management Facility and Recycling Centre in Lerwick.
THE SCHOOL GROUNDS
2011-2015
2011-2012
We moved to the new Mid Yell Junior High School in October 2011. The green areas of the new school were a blank canvas. That first year, the trees we had received from the Woodland Trust in 2010 were planted. Mr Scott built a greenhouse out of plastic bottles with pupils next to our new fenced garden. In 2011 we only grew patatoes, some of them provided by the British Patato Council.
2012-2013
The School Grounds Committee was formed in 2012 after an Eco Schools meeting with the specific remit of developing the school grounds. The committee is made up of staff parents and pupils. The Chairperson is Mrs Jennifer Nisbet, Mrs Gear is the secretary and Mr Mouat is the treasurer. James Smith is the pupil representative. The committee decided to develop the outdoor aresas around the school, including putting up a polytunnel and making a themed garden over at the Leisure Centre.
2013-2014
A lot of time and effort went into building the polytunnel. Local businesses and members of the community helped to make it happen. Members of the committee led pupils and members of the community in constructing the polytunnel. Upper Primary helped put earth into the planting spaces before planting could start. Jennifer Nisbet organised a rota of volunteers to water the polytunnel over the summer months.
2014- 2015
The committee worked on improving the disable access to the polytunnel. The raised bed area was improved. We collected record amounts of produce in our poytunnel which was used in the canteen and for snack. In Summer 2015 the committee put in fencing around the school grounds to protect it from sheep.
2015-2016
The committee purchased a second polytunnel for more community involvment. The school will be holding a Day of Action on the 23rd of May as part of the RSPB Nature Friendly School programme. The aim is to improve the biodiversity and make play more creative and active. Ideas were suggested by pupils themselves.
WASTE MINIMISATION - The School canteen
2011-2015
To minimise food waste our cooks re-use leftovers whenever they can, a bit like what would do at home. For example they regularly turn leftover baked potatoes into delicious wedges, leftover grilled sausages into sausage stew, leftover pasta into a variety of cold salads. Our cooks are very imaginative !
WASTE MINIMISATION - Plastic recycling
2008-2015
Around the school : at the entrance, in the staffroom and in most classrooms yellow boxes can be found. Plastic bottles are gathered in those and regularly collected by a group of volunteers on a rota basis. Members of staff, whenever they can, take the bags of recycled plastic to the Gremista Waste Management Facility and Recycling Centre in Lerwick.
WASTE MINIMISATION - Re-using paper & Shredded paper
2008-2016
In our school, each classroom has a tray where paper only written or printed on one side is stored to be re-used. Once both sides of the paper have been used it is gathered in another tray ready for shredding. Groups of pupils and staff volunteers regularly shred paper during their break times and lunchtimes.
Bags of shredded paper are given away to people who will use it as bedding for their animals.
