Omanu School and Gwen Rogers Kindergarten go for gold

GREEN KIDS: Tom McKinley, 4, from Gwen Rogers Kindergarten with Milla Horton, 8, and Emi Craig, 10, from Omanu School. PHOTO/RUTH KEBER

Omanu School and Gwen Rogers Kindergarten have, together, joined four other Bay schools to receive the Enviroschools Green Gold Award last night.

The Green Gold Award is the highest level of achievement recognised by the national Enviroschools Programme which supports children and young people to be active citizens, contributing to ecological regeneration and the creation of healthy, resilient and sustainable communities.

Papamoa Coast Kindergarten, Papamoa Free Kindergarten, Katikati Free Kindergarten and Pongakawa School have all received the award previously.

Gwen Rogers Kindergarten head teacher Carolyn O'Connor said they had been working towards the award for the last four years.

"It's a long-term project but we work with the children to teach them different practices and different values around education for sustainability and learning to care for their environment."

Ms O'Connor said when the kindergarten found out Omanu School were also going for their Green Gold award they worked together to achieve the goal.

"It's great because our children are taking those practices and values to a school environment which has the same sort of messages as we do. The children from the school, who are in the Enviro group, also come back and teach the children here.

"The projects which helped teach children sustainability included clean-ups, spinifex planting, growing vegetables and gardening, conserving water and learning about water bore systems."

Ms O'Connor said the children loved being part of the projects.

Omanu Primary School principal Rex Allott said there had been an awesome effort by the school and the Enviro team to receive the award.