WESSA Schools Programme Impact Report 2020

Pinelands High School

Pinelands, Western Cape

Established in 1952, Pinelands High School in Cape Town presently enrols around 950 learners. At the beginning of 2016, we joined the Eco-Schools programme. At that time, the school was sending 32 bins of solid waste to the landfill each week. Through the efforts of our first environmental action project, called ‘ Reduce Waste ’, we have been able to reduce the volume of waste sent to landfill by over 80%. This was achieved by increasing the number of recycling bins around the school and by also composting food waste coupled with a concerted drive to foster awareness around waste management. We currently send only six bins to landfill each week!

as placing posters in bathrooms and above sinks. The camp manager reported that water use during our camp was substantially lower than water use throughout the year. These two stories indicate how the Eco-message is moving powerfully throughout the school. A FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION It can be overwhelming to address ALL the environmental issues at the school. However, the Eco- Schools programme provides such a useful framework for ongoing environmental action that we are being able to tackle many issues and are also seeing many positive changes. It is wonderfully effective in raising awareness and encouraging behaviour change among staff and students. We are thankful to WESSA for facilitating the Eco-Schools programme in South Africa.

attention-grabbing posters placed strategically around the school. This has been achieved and further promoted through sharing resources such as videos, articles and learning activities. CHANGING ATTITUDES Outdoor education and leadership training have always been important at Pinelands High School. Two examples of these outdoor events are the annual Grade 10 field trip to the rocky shore at Granger Bay, and the annual Grade 10 camp at Glencairn. At the end of each rocky shore field trip, we encourage students to ‘pick up three for the sea’. In previous years most students had picked up litter rather reluctantly. However, in 2019 students eagerly picked up litter, saying it was “for the turtles”! In another breakthrough, during the September 2018 Grade 10 camp at Glencairn, we actively promoted water- Teachers across all subjects are encouraged to integrate environmental content into their teaching curricula and programmes.

Break time climate crisis awareness

GROWING STRONGER The Eco-club is a group of passionate and eager-to-learn students, who care deeply about the environment. Over the past four years, we have added Save Water, Grow Biodiversity and Be Climate Smart action projects to our environmental programme. Some campaigns and activities that we have introduced under these action projects, include a Balloon Busters Campaign and a Climate Action event. We have also planted a Biodiversity Garden in the school grounds. RAISING AWARENESS To raise awareness about the need to care for the environment through the rest of the school, we have made use of assembly presentations, various break time events and

Grade 11s learning about plant diversity in the Biodiversity Garden

saving through daily reminders as well

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