S2 STEM Project Success

Congratulations to the twenty S2 pupils who completed a two day intensive investigation into carbon capture and storage (CCS) by doing hands-on experiments. 

Lots of countries are actively researching and investing in CCS as a way to reduce their impact on the environment and address issues surrounding climate change so it was great to see the pupils really involved in this task. The group also researched and debated issues surrounding climate change.  This was an interdisciplinary project created by the Science and Geography departments to challenge the pupils and raise awareness of STEM careers. Thanks also to Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer from Heriot Watt university who gave a great talk on her team's CCS research. 

The winners with the best final poster and presentation were Becky Anderson, Adam Cooper, Beth Mollison  and Josh Brock. The prize for the best contribution to the climate change debate went to Benedict Tan. All 20 pupils will be awarded a Bronze Crest Award for their outstanding contribution and work on this project.

S2 pupils involved: Becky Anderson, Armina Berber, Lara Byers, Rowan Foulner, Jodie McDonald, Amy  McGaff, Beth Mollison, Jodi Robertson,  Rebecca Russell, Kirsten Sanders, Josh Brock, Adam Cooper, Anthony Housego, Michael Li, Cameron Littlejohn, Andrew Overstone, Andrew Skinner,  Fraser Smith, Benedict Tan,  Fraser Angus

Great work by all! 

Earth Hour 2015 at CCHS

This year the Eco-committee wanted to mark Earth Hour in a special way. WWF came up with an idea to create bunting to help us remember the things we appreciate most about our natural world. The brief asked us to use the phrase ‘For the love of…’ and complete the sentence about your favourite place, animal and anything that is special to you in our precious planet. WWF encouraged over 4500 schools across the UK to make the bunting in an attempt break a world record. 

Currie High School approached this challenge and the Eco-committee meetings were spent cutting out bunting out of recycled fabric to be transformed into wonderful bunting. Pupils in Art and SDE classes helped to create the design on the bunting. We are displaying our part of the bunting in school before the end of term and then it will be shipped to London to be put together with the bunting from other schools in a huge display.  We also plan to have all lights off in school P1 on Friday 27 March, before the global Earth Hour on Saturday 28 March.

By taking part in this challenge we are hoping to raise awareness of climate change and other environmental issues in our school; as well as to help support WWF raise awareness of climate change globally. We also celebrated all things eco at the One World Show on 26 March which showcased eco art, drama, music, poetry, dance and design.

By Sophie McVinnie and Abigail Odetayo, Eco Committee

The Eco Committee ripping up our donated old bedsheets

and cutting up the flags

to be decorated beautifully!

Our foyer looks great!

New Climate Change Display

The Eco Committee have been working hard over the last few weeks on a new climate change display on our Eco board in the main foyer.  They want to raise awareness of climate change amongst staff, pupils and visitors to the school: what it is, why its important and what we can all do about it.

 



Climate Change

When we burn fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas, we release carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere that has been locked underground for millions of years.  The CO₂ acts like a layer of glass in a greenhouse, trapping more of the sun’s energy and heating up our planet.  

In November 2014 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published new findings from nearly 1000 scientists from around the world. The report shows that climate warming is definitely happening, and it is very clear that human activities are the main cause.  Climate change will affect everywhere, but the poorest people in the world will be affected most.  The IPCC report says we need significant action in the next 10 years to reduce the amount of CO₂ and other greenhouses gases we emit into the atmosphere.

What the school is doing

We are trying to reduce the carbon footprint of the school. We have:

·         30kW solar thermal panels on our sports hall roof that help heat the water in the swimming pool
·         Over 2000 energy-efficient light bulbs
·         Made sure doors and windows close properly so less heat is lost
·         We are trying to get our 11kW wind turbine back up and running!
·         We learn about climate change and energy issues in different departments

 What can you do? 

We can all help to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and protect our planet

·         Think about switching to a 100% renewable electricity supplier

·         Turn the heating down a few degrees – put on an extra jumper!

·         Walk, cycle or get public transport when you can instead of taking a car

·         Buy food grown locally not flown in from the other side of the world

·         Unplug your gadgets – even leaving chargers plugged in wastes energy

·         Contact your MSP or MP and ask them to support tough action on climate change in the UK and at the UN Climate Conference in 2015

Earth Hour this Saturday

WWF’s Earth Hour is this Saturday at 8.30pm. It’s a chance to show your care for our beautiful planet by joining millions of people all across the world in turning lights off for one hour. We’ll be having our own school Earth Hour Period 2 on Friday to show our support.

Eco Committee pupils from Currie at last year's launch of Earth Hour at Edinburgh Castle

Earth Hour 2013 at Edinburgh Castle

Pupils from our Eco Committee helped WWF Scotland launch Earth Hour 2013 at Edinburgh Castle. We also held our own 'lights off' event at school.
All photos (c) Callum Bennetts - Maverick Photo Agency.

 

More photos on the WWF Scotland facebook page!

 

CCHS celebrates Earth Hour

Currie High will be marking WWF's Earth Hour P1 tomorrow to show our support for renewable energy and action on climate change. All non-essential lights and electronic equipment will be off for the whole hour.  

Pupils from our Eco Committee participated in a photoshoot on Edinburgh Castle last night and their photos should be in all the papers this weekend for the launch of Earth Hour Scotland 2013. Currie High pupils also feature in the Earth Hour video on this link WWF Scotland Earth Hour  (making a big candle sculpture in front of Edinburgh Castle before the lights went out!)

Why don't you join millions of people in over 150 countries worldwide and turn your lights off at 8.30pm for one hour on Saturday to join in!

SDE

Our S1s are now doing an hour per week of Sustainable Development Edcuation throughout the year.

They recently finished the Climate Change unit of the course. After gaining an understanding of the causes and impacts of climate change, pupils did a role play of the Copenhagen Climate Conference that was held in 2009.   Each pupil took the part of a country and had to decide how they would negotiate for tougher or easier carbon targets.

The S1 classes are now studying Biodiversity, from an SDE perspective. We investigated the biodiversity in the school grounds and Roley's Wood, looking at how former and current pupils in the school created different habitats. After this we'll be moving on to looking at bees and the importance of bee conservation in more depth.

Two big spiders found on shrubs in Roley's Wood

Some of the different tree leaves found in Roley's Wood

Currie pupils in Earth Hour launch

A group of Eco Committee pupils participated in the Scottish launch of WWF's Earth Hour at Edinburgh Castle on 31st March. It was a great event to be part of, as these photos show!