Eco Committee
Our school Eco Committee is made up of two representatives from each class in KS1 & KS2, as well as three leaders from Year 6. The aim of our committee is to make our school more environmentally friendly, through small and sustainable steps. We look forward to sharing our sustainability actions through this page!
Earth Day at St John's
Our Catholic Social Teaching theme for Term One was 'Care for God's Creation'. To enhance our learning on the topic, we held an 'Earth Day', organised by Miss Bell and supported by our Eco Committee. Children spent the day participating in activities to get them thinking about our world, the impact we have on it, and how we can care for God's creation in our daily lives.
In EYFS, children used colourful scrap paper to decorate crowns for their teddy bear's tea party. They also had opportunities to create something from a variety of packaging materials, to show that we can make something new from old resources.
In KS1, children learnt about a local project in Bathampton which takes care of the Earth, bringing children and the community together to plant trees. Learning was linked to the English focus text of 'Tree' and the termly topic of the Vikings, for whom wood was an important resource. Children recognised that we still rely on trees for various reasons, and that it is important for us to protect these resources for future generations. To express their learning, children used scrap paper, collected throughout the term, to collage trees through the four seasons.
In Year 3/4, children enjoyed a day filled with creativity and discovery. In Maths, they explored exciting links between Mathematics and the environment, including spotting patterns in nature and using symmetry to inspire their nature artwork. During the afternoon, the classrooms were a hive of activity as children created origami hearts from recycled paper, writing thoughtful sustainability-themed promises inside.
In Year 5/6, children took part in a cross-curricular project focused on the reuse of materials. They were provided with old clothing, curtains and fabric scraps. Their task involved designing, measuring, cutting and sewing accurately, to either upcycle a piece of clothing or create a new item. By the end of the day, children had produced pouches, bags and many other items. We were lucky to have the opportunity to draw on the expertise of some of our lovely Grandfriends, alongside members of school staff, to help us with this project.
Thank you to everyone who supported us, and to those who provided their time, resources and knowledge to make it all possible. We have had a lot of positive feedback, as well as some ideas on how to improve any future Earth Day celebrations.
Christmas Crafts
Miss Bell set the committee a challenge: to make rag wreaths and cardboard garland decorations for our school Christmas dinner. They were provided with some inspiration, along with rags, metal hangers and cardboard shapes. The committee did such a fantastic job, creating such beautiful, and sustainable, decorations!
