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

More Eco news from last term

Mr Sharpe's National 4 English class read the Carbon Diaries 2015, a novel about a young person's life in the UK in 2015 after drastic carbon rationing to combat runaway climate change. They then independently researched alternative fuels as a critical skills challenge.  Pupils presented the fruits of their research to staff and pupils from other classes in a 'Alternative Fuels Expo'. Nuclear fuels were voted best presentational stand - well done them!

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this year's Blythswood Shoe Box Appeal. Mrs Mackenzie and Mrs Reid were overwhelmed by the support shown by pupils during lunchtimes, wrapping, sorting and packing the boxes. We were able to send off 70 boxes to help bring some hope this Christmas.

Last term, S3 drama classes were invited to collaborate in a project with P1 at Currie Primary School to recreate Fairy Land in Roley's Wood. The P1s were studying a project in which Fairy Land has been destroyed due to the reduction in people believing in fairy tales and not reading enough. On Monday 28 October, the fairy tale characters landed in Roley's Wood and met the Primary 1 pupils. The Primary 1s met the fairy tale characters, found out about the predicaments they were in and helped to support their journey back to Fairy Land - by promising to read lots and continue to believe in Fairy Land.  This was a great opportuity for S3 pupils to experience Promenade theatre and Theatre in Education and they really enjoyed meeting with three classes of P1 pupils.

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!

Eco Banners Up!

Four silk eco-banners designed and painted by Art & Design students at Currie were hung in the entrance to the Sports Hall over the mid-term break and look beautiful!  The banners celebrate biodiversity, our natural environment, conserving our precious resources and a healthy, active lifestyle. The banners really brighten the entrance area, and all the materials were paid for with prize money from our Ashden Energy Award. Many thanks go to Mrs MacCulloch, Mrs Steel and all the pupils involved. Don't they look great!

Earthship Energy Fair

On Saturday 6 October Currie hosted the Earthship Energy Fair, held to celebrate workshops provided by Sustainable Communities Initiatives for P6 classes in our associated primary schools.

The Fair was opened by Alistair Darling MP and included stalls showcasing the work of pupils at Currie High School.

Alistair Darling and Johanna Carrie of Transition Edinburgh Pentlands

Stalls from the Earthship Energy Fair

Advanced Higher Art & Design: Eco Architecture!

Our Advanced Higher Art & Design candidates have recently completed their folios to be sent to the SQA. These designers focused on Architecture as their specialist discipline for the year and created these wonderful final outcomes.

Students chose themes relating to nature. They were required to consider site, materials, sustainability, solar power, landscaping, glazing etc.

A functional and attractive Golf club and Pro-shop inspired by Scottish wildlife!

 A beautiful glasshouse for the Botanic Gardens inspired by plant life and flora!

 A contemporary music venue to revive a deprived area in Edinburgh. 

Solar panelling and eco glazing considered.

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!

Earth Hour 2012

Earth Hour 2012, 8.30pm on Saturday 31 March

Turn off the lights for one hour to show you care,

Currie pupils from the Eco Committee and Energy Group are taking part in the high profile launch of Earth Hour 2012 at Edinburgh Castle. We’re also turning all the lights off at school Periods 1&2 on Friday 30^th and having a ‘Wear It Bright’ Dress Down Day.  Earth Hour is a simple idea that has turned into a global phenomenon - hundreds of millions of people turning off their lights for one hour, on the same night, all across the planet. It’s about appreciating the brilliant world we all share – and how we need to protect it. Not just for an hour a year, but every day. You can get involved easily – just visit www.wwf.org.uk/earthhour

S1 SDE Successes!

This year has been the first for our revised Sustainable Development Education course for S1s. As part of this course, the pupils work in groups to plan, implement and evaluate a project of their own choosing to increase the sustainability of the school.   The first rotation of S1s have recently completed their projects and there have been some real success stories.

In 1L1 for example, Ben, Jack, Ross and Scott did a school-wide survey of ‘turn off’ stickers on light switches. They then designed a new label to go on all the light switches and put them up in every classroom in the school. 

Kristen, Rebecca, Emma and Kayleigh cared for the Green Garden for the 9 week project, doing regular litter picks, filling the bird feeders with seed and monitoring which birds were using the feeders.  Charlie, Fiona and Milo organised a competition for all S1s to design a new logo to go on the school rubbish bins.  Their chosen winner, Jonathan McVinnie of 1E/1L2 did a fantastic design encouraging pupils not to drop litter. His new design will go onto professionally produced stickers on all the school bins when they are refurbished later in the year. 

Eco Banner Painting!

Mrs MacCulloch and some senior pupils are enjoying silk painting four huge banners for the long corridor between the PE block and the Assembly Hall. The banners were designed last year by a group of S3/4 pupils - they designed one on the theme of Sport & Fitness, one the Natural Environment, one Climate change and one about Our Carbon Footprint. They should be finished some time next session along with two textured wall hangings ...

Earth Hour

The lights go out in the foyer...

This Saturday 26 March 128 countries around the world will be celebrating Earth Hour - turning all lights off for one hour from 8.30pm, local time, to show we care about tackling climate change.
At Currie we joined more than 450 other schools in Scotland in marking the event this Friday 25th. The Energy Group asked all staff and pupils to turn their lights off Periods 1 & 2 (where safe) to mark Earth Hour 2011.Lots of other electrical equipment was switched off during this time.
The Energy Group also requested that all group tutors show a 3 minute video of Earth Hour during the extended registration.

Energy Group meeting

Our Energy Group met today to talk about how to get the results of our school energy audit out to pupils and staff.  We also discussed our plan of work for the next year and how to raise awareness about the need to save energy, and water.

Currie wins Ashden Award

http://www.ashdenawards.org/UK_schools
Currie Community High School won an Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy in 2009. To find out more visit the link above and check out the Ashden Awards Blog http://ashdenawards.blogspot.com/

Carbon saving is an important and enjoyable part of life for pupils at Currie Community High School which has a long-standing commitment to the environment. Pupils track energy use and make pledges to save energy at home. Simple energy efficiency steps taken over the last 10 years are helping the school save around 70 tonnes of CO2 a year. In 2008 an 11 kW wind turbine was installed to supply electricity along with a 30 kW solar thermal array to heat the swimming pool.