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Eco-schools minutes 19-05-05
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Minutes of Stafford Borough Eco-Schools Network Meeting
Held on 19th May 2005 at Weston Road High School
1. Welcome and Introductions:
Sam Pickles - Stafford Borough Council, Local Agenda 21 Team
Margaret Corp - St. Leonard's Primary School, Dunston
Margaret Prince - St. Peter's Primary School, Hixon
Alan Watson - Walton Hall Special School - Working Farm
Maggie Whitehouse - Weston Road High School
Wendy Roslowe - Weston Road High School
Carol Steptoe - Silkmore Primary School
Julie Smith - St. Michael's Primary School, Stone
Brian Heathcote - Face and Countryside Education
2. Farm Visits 2005:
A complete 'Field to Plate' experience was discussed at the last meeting, involving visiting a farm and then taking grain to Shugborough to make bread. However this option will not be possible due to time and financial constraints.
Two farmers have agreed to host visits this year: Ian Bebb of Lapley Wood farm (who hosted last year) and Ray Bower of Lower Drayton farm. Visits will take place during the first two weeks of July and will take a similar form to last year. Farming and Countryside Education will be helping to arrange the activities.
In order to improve on last years success there will be an information session held prior to the visits. This will enable teachers to familiarise themselves with the activities that they will be leading on the day. It will also provide an opportunity to ensure tailor activities to the curriculum areas they are currently covering. There will also be a chance for teachers to look at the Farm School Link Education Pack and decide on suitable lessons to teach before and after the visits. It will be best if this can be a twilight session after school hours.
SP will carry out risk assessments prior to each visit, if schools are happy to delegate this responsibility. Representatives from each school will be welcome to join the risk assessment site visits.
SP to seek funding from Staffordshire Partnership to cover the cost of the coaches. If this is not possible schools will be responsible for arranging their own transport.
Staffordshire Partnerships are running two farm-training days for teachers aimed at enabling teachers to make the most of visits. There will be one in June for secondary teachers and one in September for primary teachers.
3. Governor Training:
SP asked whether Network members think it would be useful to provide a series of training sessions for governors, giving an outline of the Eco-Schools programme, the Network and his role:
Generally the feeling is that it could be useful. However governors may not want to attend a specific session. Governor Boards for each school meet once each term, it may be possible to use one of these meetings as a platform. Individual governors have specific responsibility for particular curriculum subjects, so targeting them may also be appropriate. The next step would be to write to boards of governors.
4. Summary from Sam:
SP distributed the new edition of Eco-Watch, which focuses on green travel. Class sets will be distributed to schools next week.
The next Eco-Action Day is due to be held at Staffordshire Wildlife Trusts' Wolseley Centre on the autumnal equinox - 22nd September.
SP to invoice those schools that have agreed to contribute to the running costs of the Network and the support officer post.
5. Feedback from Schools:
· Weston Road: Year 8 will be using their 'out of curriculum day' to do some practical work on Doxey Marshes with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. MW has found some useful teaching resources on www.teachingtrees.org
· St. Leonard's: Progress with the wind turbine: The County Planning Officer has been to visit and will shortly be letting MC know if planning permission is required. There is now a new version of the turbine available from Windsave. It won't provide all the schools electricity needs, but it will make a very significant contribution. The next step is to carry out a consultation exercise with the villagers.
Windsave contact: Graham Reed, W: www.windsave.com, T: 0141 353 6841, E: graham@windsave.com
The Eco-Committee went on a visit to Riverway Nursery where they planted up hanging baskets to take back to school.
· St Peter's: The leeks grown by year 6 have been harvested and the class will be using them to make a pasta dish.
The Eco-Committee has made £20 from aluminium can recycling and £106 from newspaper recycling.
· St. Michael's: The poly-tunnel will be erected this week and plans have been made to grow food for use in the school kitchens.
6. Any Other Business:
Date of Next Meeting:
Thurs 15th September 2005, 4:15pm, Weston Road High School
For more information on Eco-schools contact Sam Pickles Tel: 01785 619686
Previous Minutes 17-03-05 | 20-01-05 | 11-11-04 | 16-09-04 | 20-05-04 | 25-03-04 |
| 27-11-03 | 24-09-03 | 08-07-03 | 21-05-03 | 02-04-03|