Rechargeable batteries

We have just bought rechargeable batteries for our digital cameras. The UK generates more than 30000 tonnes of waste general purpose batteries each year of which only about 5% are recycled. Most batteries contain toxic chemicals which can leach into the soil when sent to landfill. We thought we'd do our bit to reduce this waste.

Kiriani School Chogoria

The money raised by staff, parents and pupils for Kiriani school in Chogoria has been put to good use as seen in the following email and photographs sent by Eric Melvin, former Head Teacher of the school who is currently teaching in Chogoria for a couple of months.

Hi Percy,

Greetings from a still pretty hot Chogoria. Just to report that Timothy took me to his old school this afternoon and I handed over 60000 kenyan shillings which is near enough 500 pounds. The school principal was most grateful. He's given me a receipt and did undertake to get in touch with you to say 'thank-you'. I toured the school and took some pictures for you. The school has improved since Alison was there. They've been able to extend their accommodation and their role is going up (c 180 students). They will present their first Form 4s for the national exam this session. Despite serving a very poor area, all the students were smartly dressed in school uniform.

As Timothy said Currie's generosity ''will change lives'' - so well done CCHS!

Take Care.

Eric

Kiriani School Chogoria

Eric and Timothy

A class in Kiriani School, Chogoria

Wet and Windy!

Despite high winds and driving rain the John Muir Award Group were out clearing up the quadrangle today. Hot chocolate and biccies all round methinks!

Eco Schools Conference 2011!

Four enthusiastic members of Currie's Eco Committee set out on a fun trip to the Scottish Parliament on Friday 28th January. Laura, Iain, Clara and Gemma were accompanied by Mrs Steel to the annual event which focused on the new Eco Schools topic 'Food and the Environment'!

We enjoyed interesting talks from charities such as SCIAF, learned about the importance of Fair Trade, the idiosyncrasies of Scottish agriculture and how to grow successful fruit orchards. We even milled our own flour and held some chickens! The tour of the parliament building itself was fascinating!

Clara, S4, took part in a panel discussion in front of a huge audience alongside MSPs and charity workers. She was confident and articulate and was one of only two school-aged panel members!

Time capsule buried in the Quad

The Quad group buried a time capsule in the Quadrangle this morning to mark the end of their John Muir Award. The time capsule has lots of information inside about what life is like now, such as a newspaper, today's school bulletin, current stamps and coins, as well as information about the people in the group, the John Muir Award and XL. Hopefully it will stay under ground for at least 20 years before being dug up again.



Some of the information going in to the capsule 



Burying the time capsule



.

Bird boxes!

The John Muir Award Group made two bird boxes for our feathered friends this afternoon, carefully sawing each piece out of a plank of wood and nailing them together. We'll put them up in Roley's Wood in our next session.

Drilling drainage holes in the base and
sanding down the sawn edges

The finished articles...

Thanks to Mr Wilson and Mr Hermiston of CDT for all their help!

The Eco Committee starts work on new Currieco posters

We come up with new, exciting ideas for our three Currieco posters. We also plan questions to ask at upcoming national Eco Schools Conference which is taking place on the January 28th...