How We Got Started

CTMS became an Enviroschool in 2003 and has since achieved a Bronze & Silver Enviroschool Award. Between 2000-2005 CTMS saw a huge focus on our school environment and biodiversity and initiaited such projects as our school vege garden, a Bank Restoration project, organic compost bins, worm bins, native tree recognition and healthy eating plans.

Environmental Education has long since been embedded into our school curriculum. In recent years we have introduced a zero-waste agreement, the use of Zing Bokashi composting system and many more initiatives.

Our A’GREEN’ment Process

In 2017 the students and teachers reviewed our sustainable practices and checked that our environmental agreement reflected the way they wanted to be in our relationship with the environment.

First, the students learnt about the environment and gained some understanding of the issues around how we, as humans, are impacting upon it. Next, they discussed what they could do to help the environment and then they turned these actions into overarching statements of intent.

The students followed up with looking at symbols and slogans that would best represent our environmental agreement. They then created their own symbols and slogans. These were voted on to choose the best fit.

In their class groups the students presented their statements. Kauri presented their statements in colourful illustrated poster form, Kowhai presented their statements in a powerful powerpoint, and Kahikatea students presented short skits, acting out the actions of each statement. The Enviro Lead Team took these ideas and turned them into the statements of the A’GREEN’ment. These statements and the winning design were then amalgamated and published.