Haddon Dene Preparatory School has received a Green School Award in recognition of its numerous eco-friendly projects.
The school have championed action to help and improve the environment through several initiatives including a green Tie award where children are selected for any commendable actions which have helped to improve the school or wider environment and presented with a green tie to wear for the week.
Every class is also timetabled to complete one beach clean a month. All beaches across Thanet are targeted. So far, they have cleaned Margate beach, Botany Bay, Stone Bay, Viking Bay Louisa Bay and Kingsgate Bay. During this time, they have collected 15 black bin bags of rubbish.
The school has four Eco-Warriors across years 5 and 6. They champion change and develop projects to conserve energy and recycle materials. They recently organised a half term challenge where children had to create a rocket ship made from recycled materials. They organised the fundraising to purchase school litter picking equipment.
In science, the children have learned how to make their own bio-plastics. In English, they have written to Tesco Head Office to campaign about the need to reduce plastic packaging and in art they have created a huge masterpiece entitled ‘Eye on Pollution’ which took weeks to create using hundreds of bottle tops.
Work is due to start at the beginning of April to develop a Forest School type learning space. Manor House were consulted on the design and layout of the area. Nursery teacher Mrs McBrideis Forest School trained and will use the space to run holiday club activities.
It will be used to grow vegetables and plants which attract butterflies and insects. Bee and bug hotels will be installed. Benches and climbing frames will be built from recycled materials. The aim is that teachers can use the space to deliver lessons such as science, literacy and art. A wellbeing area is being built as well as a secret fairy garden.
Head teacher Joanna Parpworth said: “Our children have a strong moral compass. They understand the catastrophic scale of the destruction caused to our environment and what they must do to reverse this. Our children thoroughly deserve this award in recognition of their efforts. I feel reassured that we have nurtured proactive, future guardians of our environment.”