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Presentation to Governors

July 1, 2012 By Ashley 5 Comments

On Thursday 28th July five presentations were made to the school Chair of Governors, the business manager and the bursar. The five carbon enquiry groups presented their three observations from their time in Chamonix, their proposal for change at our school, and finally their proposal for change at their secondary schools. The three guest were impressed by both the quality of the presentations and the ideas and proposal made. Following some questions, all of the guests were happy with the proposals and felt they will have a positive impact on our school. In the afternoon, each group met to organise how they would implement these changes within the next three weeks. Meetings were arranged with adults and groups and time scales were drawn up. The groups will record their progress on this blog over the next weeks.

The Proposals:

Water = To use Eco Driver to measure our school’s water consumption. To remove troughs for unwanted water from the lunch hall so that no water is wasted. At secondary school, to raise awareness of how precious water is by speaking to their peers and staff at school.

Energy = To introduce our 100 Club to the community. Local shops will be asked to sign up to our energy challenge so they start to measure and reduce their energy. The group will present to a member of the leadership team at four secondary schools, informing them of the value of measuring energy and proposing the installation of energy measuring software and equipment.

Waste = To remind parents of the importance of preparing packed lunches will little to no packaging . To ask the school eco council to monitor packaging and waste at lunch times and weigh waste on specific days. At secondary school, the children will speak to the head of year 7 and the catering team about reducing packaging and waste.

Transport = To set up a monthly Green Boot Challenge. This challenge will monitor each class’ mode of transport to school. The class with the most eco friendly results will win ‘Green Time’ – a period of time off the curriculum where the class can enjoy their passions. At secondary school, the group will ask to put up a video on the school websites encouraging their peers to travel to school by non polluting transportation.

Food = To speak with the kitchen staff and ensure that the lunch menu is designed to support the needs of pupils, with high energy food on offer for days where lots of sport will take place. At secondary school, they will suggest a portion control whereby children will inform kitchen staff if they are ‘normal’, ‘hungry’ or ‘starving’. This will ensure that children receive an appropriate portion for their needs.

Filed Under: Ashley, Uncategorized

Return home, but the journey has only started

June 22, 2012 By Ashley Leave a Comment

The day started with a final reflection outside in the shadow of the mountains. The whole group formed a circle down by the lake and each person stepped forward and presented their three pledges. Each person was followed by a chorus of, “We support you,” from the group. That is the message. We are all in this together. Final thoughts in the circle realised all the elders’ hopes. The children have, as Jack said, “Come as Year 6′s and are going home as leaders.”

We then spent 30 minutes in the coach to visit the water purification plant. Despite the odours, this was another valuable opportunity to appreciate one of the many cycles in life. In this case, man pollutes the water, which in turn, man then treats and cleans, releasing it back into nature. Whilst humans may be polluting our world, there are people out there who are not lying down and are developing technologies to fight these effects.

After a few delays, we touched down in London and collected our bags. We stood in our final circle of the week holding hands. Our New Leaders in Sustainability then walked alone from the elders who have supported them over the week, greeting their families, ready to tell them all about their week and how they have changed and what they plan to do.

The key message here is that the journey has just begun. On Thursday the five groups will present to our school governors and propose changes to Ashley. Changes that will impact our community for years to come. They must also hold true to their pledges and not give up if they face adversity.

We all expect great things from an exceptional group of leaders. Make sure you check this website for updates on their progress!

Filed Under: Ashley

Mountain Reflections

June 22, 2012 By peterbaily 2 Comments

I reflected on how the earth was feeling – whether anger was there. I realised when I asked that it is the Earth that is resting peacefully within itself. It is us and our behaviour that brings interruption and busy-ness to that peace. By Antonia

The scenery up in the mountains was stunning but the question I want to ask myself is how can I make a difference? By Luke S

I thought how long and how much effort it would take to stop the Global Warming problems. By Chloe

I am so lucky. Make the most of this. How can I contribute more? By Dan

Why is it taking so long for the world to listen to the world? By Jo

How did man let this happen? By Jacob

We arrived at the cable car station after a long hike, we were all overjoyed to finally be going up. Some of us hate cable cars but we all made it safely. When right atop the Aiguille du Midi I finally realised the true beauty of the valley. We got out of the cable car and walked towards a small bridge leading to an ice balcony. When standing on the balcony, I realised over one million years of formation rolling in one hundred years of human invention. By Evan

Do dragons still live on the mountains? How bad can climate change be? The glaciers are retreating yet we can’t see as far as the eye can see. Can the mountains ever recover damage again? Will the mountains ever fall? We can’t give up on Climate Change and put our backs to the walls. Will nature disappear soon? Will our situation be so critical we will need to retreat? We need to forget the future and not let Climate Change make us beat? will our future be dark or bright? The main question is….will we be alright? By Aaron

At the top of the mountain, I was wondering how hard it was to breathe at the top of Mt Blanc. It was amazing how wonderful the view was. I hope I can climb a mountain like the Aiguille du Midi again. By Sam S

What have these rocks been through? Imagine if they had feelings. By Seraphina

Up the mountains, I drew a picture of a mountain, sun, snow and a waterfall. On my picture I wrote a couple of sentences. Brightly the sun shines down on the wonderful world. Colossal mountains towers over me like a giant making me feel small. Quickly the water gushes between the rocks trailing down the mountain. By Tabby

Don’t take our world for granted. By Cliff

This is not our world. This is mother nature. By Matthew

Up in the mountains, I drew a picture which was the amazing view of the wonderful mountains. My question was is nature going to get more beautiful? By Jasmine

Chamonix is peaceful like adove floating in the sky.

Happy environment, everyone plays,

Amazing sounds fill the air

Many happy memories that we remember at this time

On this day, we hiked the mountains saying we can do it

Never give up anybody, think of what you can do

Inside the ice glaciers we experience

Xzilarating mountains are surrounding us all. By Grace

Wow, we are finally here. I was so scared at first but now I am excited. It is a once-in-a-lifetime trip. At the moment, a cloud is rushing towards me, giving a shot of chilly wind. I feel welcome. By Jack

So peaceful. Will it still be peaceful in the future or not? By Sam T

I think I need to act fast about these mountains and the glaciers as they are slowly melting away. By Nancy

Laura
The sounds of rocks crashing down the mountains
The cold wind blowing across my face
The waterfalls flowing down the mountain and crashing on the rocks
My friends scribbling quickly like a leopard running

Amelia
Why does the glacier have to be melting it is beautiful
Only five years ago it was about a few 100ms higher.
I need to be better

Sophie
Wow. Words cannot capture how I am feeling.
Above the clouds is a kingdom of beauty. Sitting here, on a giant rock, peering at a view that will never escape the memory of my eyes
I am sitting at the top of a mountain.
My legs dangle off the rock, relieved for the freedom to rest.
A clump of junerosque mountains crowd and stare me in the face. Their summits impossible to see behind the mysterious and misty clouds. Periodically, the clouds run to stampede in front of different mountains revealing the rigid tips, towering proudly

Hannah
Impossible beauty – dying by the bare hands of human…

Phoebe T
At the moment I am sitting quietly on the top platform of the viewing point for Mt Blanc watching the clouds – that are surrounding us – pass by. I feel breathless quite literally because of the altitude. But as the sun beats down on us I realise how beautiful the scenery is. This is the best experience ever!

Ayden
Do the dragons still live here or have they migrated to a different glacier?
What have we done?
Will all the snow melt soon, ruining the beautiful sight?
We were standing tall and proud and now we have been overtaken

Laura
Why is the glacier melting?
Because humans have been warming up our planet and as you know if you heat ice it melts.
Why is it snowy on the mountain?
It’s snowy because when you get up high it’s very cold.
Is there a dragon in the mountains?
I don’t think there is.
If there were one do you think it would be angry?
I would say yes but different people say different things.
Man only wants what they don’t have and don’t respect what they do have until it’s too late

Samantha
Up in the mountains I rote a paragraph about the world isn’t ours

Jessica C
They’re going, they’re going
Soon they’ll be gone,
What can we do, what can be done?

We can save energy, turn off the lights,
Don’t waste water or use much oil, gas or coal
It can save the mountains and our world

They’re shrivelling away
Closer every day,
Our lives have cost our mountains

Will
I thought of one word up in the mountains…
…Astonished. Because it is astonishing how wonderful the scenery and mountains are. Also it is astonishing (in a bad way) how the glacier has melted so much recently since man has been here in the last 100 years.

Filed Under: 2012, Ashley, Uncategorized Tagged With: Ashley C-of-E Primary School, Mountain reflections

Desiderata

June 22, 2012 By hughmoss Leave a Comment

Max Ehrmann c1920

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in

silence.

As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Our final circle

June 22, 2012 By hughmoss Leave a Comment

This morning we gathered in the shade of the trees beside the spring fed lac des Gaillands for our final circle.

All stepped forward to share their three pledges for individual, team/community and world wellbeing. These will be published in the school section of the site on Monday.

Jack shared a thought:

“We came as year six; we go home as Leaders in Sustainability”

After other closing comments and appreciation of the shared journey Antonia read Desiderata to bring our time together to a close.

Every closure marks new beginning, a ripple of positive, sustainable change and peace in the world.

Filed Under: 2012, Ashley

Why should any of this die?

June 22, 2012 By hughmoss 6 Comments

by Ben

Mountains colossal beasts which rule the sky
The melting glaciers but why?
Raging waterfalls fall from on high
Why should any of this die?

The angry dragon which roams the land
Grabbing rock faces with its hand
Hears your angry solemnful cry
Why should any of this die?

The glacier, which moves up high
Melts rapidly with a painful cry
You think as you look to the cloud filled sky
Why should any of this die?

Yet the destroyer of this amazing land
Has started to kill it by bare hand
The destroyer kills it by even dropping a can
The destroyer is man!

But we as a group, a team can make a change
And stop man’s horrible ways
So this very day I speak for all of you
We Will Try
Because Chamonix will not die

Filed Under: 2012, Ashley

Day 4 – Global Wellbeing

June 21, 2012 By hughmoss 3 Comments

Filed Under: 2012, Ashley

Global Well-being

June 21, 2012 By Ashley 1 Comment

In the background is the refuge where we stayed last night.

As you can see the weather this morning was beautiful as we sat in our outdoor classroom and thought about what global well-being means and how we can live in harmony with our world.

We thought about what we would do as Mayor of Chamonix to make the valley more sustainable in five key areas; energy, water, food, waste and transport. Everyone sat overlooking the valley and reflected on these areas before sharing their ideas in groups.

Each group then presented their Mayor of Chamonix three key ideas to us.

The children had lots of creative ideas from making Chamonix the first eco ski resort to installing wind turbines in the rivers and streams to placing solar panels on the south side of the valley that track the sun to establishing zero-waste recycling programmes to providing free public transport on Sundays to get people out of their cars.

Then we headed up to the Aguille du Midi right up at the top of the Alps.