The document summarizes information about the Eco Group Eco schools committee at a school. It describes that the committee is made up of teachers from various departments and student representatives. It meets about four times per year and is responsible for developing the school's environmental action plan. It oversees work related to healthy eating, environmental issues, and embedding environmental topics across the curriculum. The whole school is informed of Eco-school activities through assemblies, notices, and newsletters. Students are involved in related work in various classes and there is an after school environmental club. The school has made various community contacts regarding their environmental initiatives.

1. Eco Group Eco schools application questions 2006

2. Who sits on Ecoschools committee, how does it operate and how often does it meet? Who sits on committee? Mr. Stewart – Headteacher Mr Dyer – Biology Mr O’Neill – RE Mr Philip – Music Mrs Bonatti – Art Mrs McAuley – Health committee representative Mrs Weir - English Mrs Morton – Guidance Mr Lyon – Janitor Mrs McKay – Chemistry Miss Arnold - Geography Mrs Coutts – HE Mrs Bence – Parent representative Stuart Bence – Environmental club Jamie Fraser – Environmental club Dawn Swinfen – Environmental club Stuart Dunsmore – Environmental club Ewan Kerr – Environmental club Allison Szatkiewics– Environmental club Robyn Sempie – Environmental club. CDU representative Grant Garrett – Environmental club Jamie Hendry – Environmental club Nicole Sweeney – Environmental club Kim Lees – Environmental club Susan Douglas – Environmental club Martin jameson – Environmental club

3. How does it operate – At present we have about four meetings a year with minutes being copied and given to members of the committee. The main committee has teachers and pupils who work together on different aspects of the curriculum. This is detailed on our action plan Healthy eating issues – Mrs. McAuley Environmental issues – Mr. Dyer Guidance – M Morton Creative writing involving environmental issues - R Weir wit Newletter Subjects – embedding environmental issues into curriculum. See action plan Four times a year. Once per term How did you undertake your environmental review? This time a complete review was carried out by Colin Stewart ( Headteacher) and I Lyon ( Janitor ) who liaised with all parties concerned. The results of this were used to inform our action plan The targets for the action plan were decided at our Ecoschools meetings and involved representation from the environment group, health group and senior management team

4. Almost all targets have been achieved or exceeded – see action plan 2005-2006 How do we monitor actions and evaluate progress? This has been carried out through achievement of outcomes – see action plan. Specific data is being generated for the following priority areas Litter – Monitoring of volume and pattern of litter is being carried out by Ian Lyon. Data will be available on request Invasive Plant Species – A detailed plant life survey is being carried out with Suzanne Cooper. This will focus on Rhododendrons and possibly Japanese Knotweed. Data generated will be available on request. Climate – The daily monitoring of temperatures, humidity, cloud cover and rainfall is being carried out as part of the GLOBE initiative. Data generated is being used as the basis for lessons in Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Geography How many pupils are involved in curricular work related to Eco-schools? This is difficult to give a specific figure for but pupils are involved in issues related to Eco-schools in a number of key areas Biology Department – Intermediate 1 pupils work in gardens area during ‘ Growing Plants’ unit and all standard grade pupils use the area for sampling during the ‘Biosphere’ unit. Science department – All S1 pupils now use the grounds during the unit ‘ Interactions between living things and the environment’ unit. This has been written with our facilities specifically in mind Guidance – The PSE course has been revised for S1/2 with environmental issues being discussed during this time Chemistry – topics are covered during curriculum from S3-S5 Geography Department – Involved strongly with Environmental issues being covered as a specific unit in S1 course. Vaious topics also covered in Standard Grade and Higher. Home Economics Department – Now recycles organic waste Technical Department – Used for building winter projects e.g. bird boxes Art Department - involved in production of bulletin Health group – This group have been heavily involved with the new healthy eating initiative and have worked with the canteen staff to help produce a revised menu Environmental group – A core group of pupils have been involved in a wide range of activities and have become a self sustaining, self regulating group who plan and deliver a range of targets each year ( see environmental fund)

5. How is whole school informed of, and involved in, all aspects of Eco-schools programme? School informed of Eco-schools progress/targets in variety of ways Year Group assemblies Large Eco-school notice board in school foyer Eco-code in all classes School bulletin School news letter to parents Whole school is involved in initiative Discussion during Senior Management meetings Inclusion in whole school development plan After school environmental club – open to all pupils Recycling of organic waste Recycling of paper – this is now coordinated by SLC Describe contacts made – Daily Record – Finalist of ‘Young Scot’ presented to Stuart Bence for work on environment. Stuart has now been asked by Jack McConnell to be representative on environmental committee at the Scottish Parliament. SLC Green Team – representatives from the school ( S Dyer, S Bence and D Swinfen) Regular contact with Greenspace Bid submitted to ‘Pride of Place’ for support for woodland walk Regular discussions with Railtrack regarding litter clean up campaign Discussion with Richard Whitney of ‘Solar and Wind technology’ about possible use of solar panels and installation of windmill. Discussions with Graham Campbell from SLC about energy audit and possible use of solar panels and installation of windmill. Ranger service – a number of rangers Suzanne Cooper, Tom MacGregor and Karen Dobbins have been involved in giving presentations and practical activities with environment club Talks given by S Dyer, M Philip an to student during the recent Scottish National Heritage conference in Perth. Hollandbush nursery school - a green team are to be sent to Hollandbush this session to help support their environmental work. Christian Aid – A variety of activities have been used to raise money for initiatives supporting the poorest people on the planet. We have purchased two flocks of goats, peahens and a village tap and are now funding the re-building of a school in Africa

6. Draft Eco-code drawn up by school co-ordinator, discussed and agreed at Eco-schools meetings and at Senior Management meetings Future plans For immediate priorities see document enclosed ( priorities 2005-6) Continue through discussion at Ecoschool meetings to identify targets which embed initiative into fabric of school Work towards better communication of values and activities of Ecoschools through the publication of quarterly bulletin. This will involve pupils for articles, Mrs. Weir from English department for proof reading, Art group for design and RE group lead by Mr. O’Neill for publication. See number 5 above Any additional information This concepts and values inherent in the Ecoschools initiative are gradually becoming embedded into the life of the school. It is important to us that this initiative is continued and extended.