Eco Schools News Welcome to the first Eco update of the new

school year. Many of the families who have

been with us throughout our Eco journey

have now moved on. We would like to thank

them for their support and welcome all

families and staff who are new to Chestnut

Lane. We have been an Eco School since 2007

achieving our first Green Flag in July 2008 and

our third flag in October 2013.

What is Eco Schools?

The Eco-Schools programme is focused on

nine key topics. These are:

Energy

Water

Biodiversity

School grounds

Healthy living

Transport

Litter

Waste

Global citizenship

As a Green flag school we work with the

children on all these areas.

Eco schools have an Eco Committee

Conduct Environmental Reviews

Develop an Action Plan

Several aspects of Eco Schools overlap with

UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Award.

Assessors in their recent report noted “ The

high profile of the Eco council and the school’s

emphasis on gardening and global issues such

as fair trade and food journeys, means pupils

have a heightened awareness of global

citizenship and the links with rights,

responsibilities and respect.”

This term this has been extended in year 2

through harvesting in the school garden, food

tasting and with their harvest assembly and

harvest café.

The children raised £225 for UNICEF.

Thank you to everyone who helped or

supported these events.

The Role of the Eco

Committee

The Eco Committee helps to ensure

that the whole school is aware of

the Eco Schools programme. They

take the lead in carrying out the

Environmental Review and developing

the Action Plan. It includes children,

senior managers, teachers, support

staff, Governors and parents.

Eco Schools News

Meet the children.

In September each class in Key Stage 1 held elections for their Eco Representatives. There was a lot of interest in this responsibility .

The children elected were:

Silver Class: Lucy Shekle wants to

grow vegetables.

William Rodman is interested in

recycling .

Orange Class: Kai Anderson and

Lottie Hodson are both interested in

saving electricity.

Green Class: Matilda Spencer

wants to look after plants.

Oliver Mowbray is interested in

growing plants and fruit.

Red Class : Claudia Smart is

interested in helping animals and

plants.

Ethan McCall wants to help animals

and stop litter being dropped.

Their photographs and area of responsibility is

displayed on the Eco Schools board in the

Entrance.

As the Early years children are just settling in

they are not yet part of the committee but later

in the year children who show an interest will

have a chance to come along and join in the

committee.

Getting involved

At Chestnut Lane Eco Schools is a

whole school activity. It is included in

lessons and extracurricular activities.

The children’s committee has

already met twice this term and

has talked to the other children in

assembly.

Children, if you have a good eco idea

why not put it in the “looking after

our world book” which is hanging on

the Eco Notice board?

Eco Schools News We do need help to support the

children in their activities.

Could you help?

If you are interested in joining the adult

committee or could offer help in any

other way we would be very pleased to

hear from you. Please let the office

know or speak to Mrs Tyler (Red

Class) who is acting as Eco

Coordinator in Mrs Phillips absence.

News Flash!

Chestnut Lane

Wins Prestigious

Gardening Award

Amersham Town Mayor and

representatives from Amersham Town

Council joined the whole school on

Friday 18th October to celebrate the

school being awarded the RHS Mark

Mattock School Challenge Cup for the

best school garden in the Thames and

Chilterns region of Britain in Bloom.

This is the second time the school has

received the award, winning previously

in 2009.It recognises the enthusiasm,

knowledge and skill of the children in

gardening and environmental issues

They also presented Nancy Heath

from Early Years with a prize for

growing the tallest sunflower in

Amersham.

Coming up in our next News

Letter:

Eco News from the classes

Preparing for Christmas: Buy

Environment Club recycled Christmas

postcards to send to your friends.