Inverness Schools Get Involved

Carol and Kate have been busy in Inverness working with Merkinch PS, Central PS, Crown PS and Inverness High School.  Each school is showing a keen interest in trying to reduce the amount of waste they produce.

Merkinch PS has conducted their first waste audit and uncovered areas where they could improve what they do in order to help reduce their waste.  They are now recycling their cardboard and have a campaign trying to raise awareness about using both sides of paper before recycling it.  They have also introduced lunch time monitors from the eco-committee and their job is to encourage their classmates to try and eat all of their lunch.  They are doing a great job raising awareness about the amount of food waste created by the school.  Following the waste audit, the eco-committee presented the results at an assembly for the whole school.  This really helped to highlight to their classmates just how much food is being thrown away.

Central PS decided to take a different route as they had already done a waste audit.  Instead, working with Carol and Kate, surveys were produced and conducted to help identify potential reasons why kids aren't eating their lunches.  An observational survey was done as kids were entering the school gates to keep track of what was being eaten as they arrived at school.  Then the eco-committee was split into teams and they headed out to each classroom to ask each student a few questions about what and when they eat during that school day.  A group survey was also conducted in each classroom to see what students were bringing in for their play piece.  Finally, another observational survey was conducted at lunch time to see how much of their lunch was eaten.  With the results tallied, Central's eco-committee is going to be working with RoWAN to create an information board in the gym to help raise awareness on food waste, food journeys, healthy choices and waste free snack ideas.  Parents will have a chance to see this and speak with RoWAN at the upcoming parents' nights.

Crown PS conducted their first waste audit and will also be coming up with a long term plan on how they can tackle some of their waste issues.  The eco-committee did an excellent job both at the waste audit and at the assembly, sharing what they found with their classmates.  The amount of paper they are recycling really stacks up!

Inverness High School is going to be doing a waste audit with RoWAN in March.  They are planning on involving the geography and maths department to help make connections to where our food comes from and the costs involved with getting the food to and from our plates.  The eco-committee is also going to be doing an eco-fashion show at the Smart Living Event in May.  We're really looking forward to working with them!