The meeting summarized Hamilton Grammar School's efforts to achieve Green Flag status for their eco-school program. They discussed completing an environmental review and action plan with specific targets. Volunteers agreed to lead initiatives like litter reduction, recycling, and improving the garden area. Subject areas would incorporate environmental themes. The group also covered displaying student work, updating their website and flag pole, and engaging other committees. Their next meeting would review progress and the evolving action plan.

1. Hamilton Grammar eco Group Ecoschools meeting 10/10/05

2. Ecoschools meeting 10/10/05 Ecoschools meeting 101005 Present : Apologies Mr Philip – Music Mrs Bonatti – Art Mrs McAuley – Health committee Mrs Henderson – Chemistry Mrs Aitcheson – Maths Mrs Morris – Guidance Mrs Weir - English Mr. Stewart – Headteacher Mr Dyer – Biology Mr O’Neill – RE Mrs Morton – Guidance Mr Lyon – Janitor Mrs McKay – Chemistry Miss Arnold - Geography Mrs Coutts – HE Mrs Bence - Parent Stuart Bence – Environmental club Dawn Swinfen – Environmental club Stuart Dunsmore – Environmental club Ewan Kerr – Environmental club Allison Szatkiewics– Environmental club Robyn Sempie– Environmental club

3. 1. Back ground – Mr Dyer gave a brief outline about some of the most important events since our last Green Flag inspection What we have been doing The environmental club has been working on the grounds and we have recently had a meeting involving Mrs Mulgrew ( schools modernisation team), Architect, Biodiversity Officer, Scottish Natural Heritage , Railtrack and Greenspace which agreed procedures for preserving the biodiversity during and after the school modernisation. 189 species have been identified and logged on our website www.geocities.com/hamiltonbiology . The environmental club also grows plants for sale, recycles organic waste from HE , works on the plant beds and produces displays for activities such as our trip to Braemar where 8 of the group achieved the John Muir Discovery award. Talks have given on using Biodiversity as a basis for learning (Scottish Natural Heritage in Perth) and as a way of combating anti-social behaviour in South Lanarkshire. We also monitor the weather and log data with NASA as part of the GLOBE initiative 2. Copies of the following were given out Environmental Review Criteria for Green Flag status

4. 3. The process of applying for Green Flag status has now started and we have six months to make sure that we fulfil the requirements for this award. What we still need to do. The process demands a number of actions to make sure that we qualify. Priorities at this stage include :- A detailed environmental review – this will be organised by Mr Stewart and Mr Lyons from the janitorial staff. A whole school action plan for 05 with methods of monitoring activities is needing to be produced. Each group involved should contribute with specific targets, named teachers to lead it with groups of pupils deciding how to achieve targets and method of monitoring and evaluating progress. A blank action plan has been placed on the RM ( Shared Documents/ECOSCHOOLS) and each team can add their targets as appropriate.

6. Other issues raised included The position of the Green Flag – Our original flag pole blew down and South Lanarkshire have a policy which makes putting up another flag pole difficult. Stuart Bence will try to identify the best site and liaise with Mr Stewart. It was felt that the Eco-schools committee should also include representatives from the citizenship and enterprise committees. Mrs Landells and Mrs Hampton will be asked if they are willing to attend future Eco-schools meetings Railtrack are to be contacted and asked about security, access to meadow , litter and the problem with invasive species. Mr Dyer will be responsible for coordinating this. Next meeting will beheld on 10/11/05 Review of progress – All group leaders to report on progress Action Plan – Evolving action plan to be discussed AOCB Minutes by Dawn Swinfen – S3