[ Environmental Policy ] [ Green News ] [ Community Green Directory ]
At Michael Oak we celebrate the abundance, beauty , diversity and wonder of the natural world of which we are part. As a community we strive to:
- Encourage a culture of reverence, wonder and love and for nature and the Earth
- Foster the growth of an environmentally-aware and responsible school community which will live carefully and wisely with nature, and so preserve its benefits for present and future generations
- To integrate environmental awareness and action in our curriculum and the way we structure and run our school
- To engage in environmental issues and action inside and outside the school community
As a school community we believe in:
- The conservation of the natural environment and beauty around us
- Advocating the rights of all life on Earth and the caring treatment of animals
- Educating ourselves and our local community on environmental issues
- Participating in environmental action in pursuit of our aims
Waldorf Schools have a proud history of involvement with raising environmental awareness and green consciousness. The Waldorf curriculum is designed to include a real reverence for life and to show the children the connections between human beings and all the kingdoms of nature – imbuing them with a sense of responsibility for their actions on the environment around them. One of the key elements of this, as shown in other areas of the curriculum, is practical experience: for example, organic gardening has always been a part of our school curriculum. Rudolf Steiner, who founded the first Waldorf School back in 1918, also created Biodynamic Organic Agriculture, long before organic became a buzzword! This specialised form of organic farming, which incorporates a greater awareness of the cycles of nature than regular organic farming, is becoming increasingly popular around the world. Many of our sister schools have long been at the forefront of green thinking in their communities, including natural building, local currencies and green finance, and organic markets as practical steps to improve their environments. Below you will find the school’s current environmental policy statement (which is under discussion – suggestions for improvements should be sent to the Chair of the school Green Group, Simric Yarrow, at simric1@gmail.com).
Here you will also find a news section, and a directory of green expertise, goods and services provided by the parents and friends of the school. This is our community resource: if you’re a parent or friend of the school and have a skill others should know about then contact the Green Group (or even better, join the e-mail list for it – contact Simric).
MICHAEL OAK WALDORF SCHOOL
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
MISSION STATEMENT
Aims
At Michael Oak we celebrate the abundance, beauty , diversity and wonder of the natural world of which we are part. As a community we strive to:
- Encourage a culture of reverence, wonder and love and for nature and the Earth
- Foster the growth of an environmentally-aware and responsible school community which will live carefully and wisely with nature, and so preserve its benefits for present and future generations
- To integrate environmental awareness and action in our curriculum and the way we structure and run our school
- To engage in environmental issues and action inside and outside the school community
Values
As a school community we believe in:
- The conservation of the natural environment and beauty around us
- Advocating the rights of all life on Earth and the caring treatment of animals
- Educating ourselves and our local community on environmental issues
- Participating in environmental action in pursuit of our aims
POLICY AREAS
Curriculum and Extra-mural Activities
Every action of caring and respect towards our natural world makes a difference. We aim to:
- Provide experiences of adventure, discovery and challenge that develop a love of and a sense of responsibility for the environment in which we live and learn.
- Create a broader environmental context for learning.
- Bring to life our environmental policy by involving teachers, parents and pupils in its action plan.
Energy
Understanding that energy use has a major impact on climate, air quality, pollution sources and other areas, we aim to:
- Reduce the use of fossil-based and nuclear fuels in all areas of consumption.
- Increase the use of renewable energy wherever possible.
- Maintain monitoring and evaluation of energy consumption.
- Raise awareness and share responsibility for reducing energy consumption.
Recycling
Recycling serves many roles such as sustainable waste management, consumption, education, environmental awareness-raising, fundraising and community-building.
The school aims to:
- Minimize the generation of all waste produced on the school grounds
- Maximize recycling at the school and its surrounding community
- Increase the awareness of and need to adapt consumption patterns
Water
In a relatively dry country like ours, with increasing population and limited dam storage capacity, the school aims to:
- Conserve water and achieve efficient usage in all indoor and outdoor areas.
- Monitor and evaluate water consumption for conservation management
School Purchases
Environmentally-preferable purchasing not only integrates values with action, it also sends a message to producers and retailers that customers are buying with the environment in mind. As part of our commitment to sustainable consumption,
the school aims to:
- Purchase products and services which have minimal impact on the environment in their extraction, processing, use and disposal
- Support businesses that can demonstrate environmental responsibility, policies or action.
Communications
Good communication is essential to participatory decision-making.
As a ‘cross-cutting’ function, it also improves overall process management.
The school aims to:
- Compile and distribute information about the policy and implementation milestones as the process unfolds.
- Provide a platform for a wide variety of views on environmental issues and action.
GREEN NEWS
[School News] [Community Events]
[National & International, including Green Calendar]
School News
[eco-schools news etc. to come soon...]
Community Events
Build your own wind turbine! Peter Bekker is running a course on successive Tuesday evenings, starting July 21 st here in the southern suburbs. Full details from www.windpower.org.za
National & International
Green Calendar
September:
| Sat, 5 Sep | 08:30 am : Conscious Living Brunch - Cost: R150pp. The morning includes speakers around all aspects of conscious product choices and a range of products you may not have thought of for switching to a sustainable lifestyle! Mel's Village Kitchen, Klipfontein Road, Rondebosch info@consciouslivingevents.co.za http://www.consciouslivingevents.co.za |
| Sept 1-7 | is National Arbour Week |
| Sept 14-19 | is National Clean-Up Week, culminating with International Coastal Clean-Up Day on Saturday 19th |
| Wed Sept 16 | is International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer |
October:
| Sun Oct 4th | is World Animal Day |
| Mon Oct 5th | is World Habitat Day |
| Oct 5-9 | is Weedbuster Week |
| Oct 12-16 | is National Marine Week |
| Fri Oct 16th | is World Food Day |
GREEN DIRECTORY
[Organic Food & Farming] [Green Energy & Water] [Recycling Services]
[Green Buildings & DIY ]
[Green Tourism & Leisure] [Natural & Organic Fabrics & Clothes]
[Green Business & Finance] [Environmental Law & Administration] [Green Transport] [Habitat & Resource Conservation] [Green Home Products]
Organic Food & Farming
|
Leigh Brown : founder of award-winning permaculture education group, SEED. The organisation works with 18 schools nationally, training teachers to grow permaculture gardens and ultimately providing ongoing food security and employment for the community the schools are placed in. Website: www.seed.org.za, |
|
Rob Small : director of Abalimi Bezekhaya, which assists urban township farmers to produce organic food for themselves and for sale (under the Harvest for Hope banner, which provides organic veggie boxes to markets at many southern suburb schools and UCT. Rob also organises tours of the community gardens and farms, leaving from the Rosmead Avenue BP on Tuesday mornings. Website: www.abalimi.org.za Veggie boxes from Abalimi - harvestofhope@abalimi.org.za or 021 371 1653. |
Green Energy & Water
Recycling Services
Green Buildings & DIY
Green Tourism & Leisure
Natural & Organic Fabrics & Clothes
|
Vicki Penfold : runs Bio-Baba Nappies, an award-winning South African company specialising in convenient but natural all-in-one washable nappies. Disposable nappies are the world’s 3 rd biggest waste contributor behind newspapers and food packaging, and they don’t biodegrade. They also cost families around R13,000 per baby. So to save money for yourself, suit your baby without the schlep of traditional cloth nappies, and protect the environment, it’s great to know new parents have another option Website: www.biobaba.co.za |
Green Business & Finance
|
Hugh Tyrrell : runs Green Edge, a company that assists businesses who want to go green and provides marketing support to promote greener products and services. More and more people want to spend money in an environmentally-preferable way even in the downturn. GreenEdge both facilitates the business greening process and gives experienced marketing support including strategy, branding, creative direction and product innovation. Website: www.greenedge.co.za |
Environmental Law & Administration
|
Cormac Cullinan, father of Benji in class 5, is an attorney and the founder of EnAct, a legal team focusing on environmental law and governance. Cormac has drafted laws, policies and strategies and advised on legal and institutional reforms concerning green issues in 20 countries. He has drafted several international treaties as well as national, provincial and municipal legislation. Internationally he is best known for pioneering the emerging field of Earth jurisprudence through his book "Wild Law." This led to his inclusion in the 2008 book “Planet Savers: 301 Extraordinary Environmentalists” which profiles environmental champions throughout history. Website: www.enact-international.com or www.cullinans.co.za |
Green Transport
Habitat & Resource Conservation
Green Home Products