Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Enviroschools’ pilot to target pre-schoolers

MEDIA RELEASE
0800 002 004 | www.nrc.govt.nz Putting Northland first

Date: 23 February, 2012


Enviroschools’ pilot to target pre-schoolers

The popular Enviroschools programme is to trial a new year-long pilot initiative targeting Northland pre-schoolers.

Enviroschools is a whole-school approach to sustainability and the Northland Regional Council played a key role in bringing the programme North in 2003.

Susan Karels, the council’s Enviroschools Regional Co-ordinator, says more than a third of the region’s schools (primary and secondary) are currently in the programme and she is now planning to trial a 12-month pilot specifically aimed at preschoolers.

Dubbed ‘Enviroschools in the Early Years’, Mrs Karels says the programme is customised for very young children (aged two to six years), their families and wider community.

“It’s designed to foster a connection with nature and a sense of belonging to the environment and community.”

Mrs Karels says while the Early Years programme started elsewhere in New Zealand in 2004 and now runs successfully in nine other regions, the upcoming trial – with Matarau’s (Whangarei-based) Comrie Park Kindergarten – will be a first for Northland.

The new kindergarten – which opened in August last year and currently has 42 students – had approached the council about the programme several months ago and as a new facility which is still being developed, is seen as an ideal candidate.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“The pilot could potentially have been run with any one of a number of the awesome early childhood centres we have in Northland, but Comrie Park was basically in the right place at the right time,” Mrs Karels says.

She says the ‘Early Years pilot will include a lot of enjoyable hands-on activity, with exploration and discovery key components.

Aspects of the pilot programme will be showcased at Enviroschools Northland’s ‘Me in My Environment’ Expo to be hosted at Comrie Park Kindergarten on Thursday 08 March.

Mrs Karels says the half-day expo will look at the work of the wider Enviroschools programme in Northland and associated sustainable practises.

About 60 children, their teachers and members of their families are expected to attend, including about 20 new entrants from nearby Matarau School.

Expo participants will be involved in a range of activities from earth building and papermaking to worm farming and puppetry.

Mrs Karels says further information about the Enviroschools programme is available via the regional council’s website www.nrc.govt.nz/enviroschools


ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.