Highlights from session 2007 – 2008

·       Kenny McCaskell, our MSP, raised the Eco Schools’ Green Flag at the ceremony in September 2007.

·       Pupils, staff and parents raised over £1700 for various charities including Sports Relief, Seeds for Africa and Water Aid.

·       Pupils entered a number of competitions including the Food Standards Agency poster competition, The Anti-bullying Campaign and poster competition, the Summer Safety competition, the Spanish Food competition and the RNLI SOS competition.  A number of pupils won prizes.

·       The Health Committee and Mrs Cherrie, the Health Co-ordinator, worked very hard to achieve level 1 accreditation for Health Promoting Schools.

·       All pupils from Nursery – P7 and staff participated in the Walk on Wednesday initiative.  Over 240 pupils walked to school each week.

·       The nursery won City of Edinburgh best Eco planter.  They were awarded the Dunecht cup which is on display in the school.

·       P5b ran a very successful Christmas card recycling campaign.  They collected an impressive 91kgs of Christmas cards for recycling.

·       The nursery entered a mini Eco planter in the Gardening Scotland Exhibition.

·       The school’s Travel Plan was completed with the support of Lorna Henderson, the Travel Co-ordinator.

·       The Travel Plan was launched at Parents’ Night with Eco, Health and Active Schools displays and activities in the hall.  Leith Cycles provided bike checks.

·       A Parksmart Campaign reduced parking at the school gates and encouraged pupils to walk to school.

·       All pupils from P1 – P6 took part in the Guiness Book of Records Walking Bus Event in June.

·       All P2 pupils completed Kerbcraft training and Cycling Proficiency training was successfully introduced in P6.

·       Recycling continued to be developed with the support of pupils, parents and staff.   Cardboard, plastic bottles, mobile phones and ink cartridges are all recycled.  After a survey carried out by the Eco and Health Committees, reusable plastic bottles are also sold.

·       The Eco Committee successfully completed Junior Waste Awareness Officers Training run by Changeworks.  They drew up an Action Plan and pupils completed a Hedge Pledge at home promising to try to help the environment by reducing waste.  Over 300 “promise” leaves were returned and displayed in school entrance hall.

·       The Eco Co. organised a very successful second hand book and uniform sale which raised money for school funds.

·       Healthy food tasting sessions took place each term and a local supermarket donated utensils and ingredients so that Infant classes could have a sandwich making session.

·       The Health Week was a great success especially the mobile climbing wall which came to the playground for P5 pupils.  Every pupil in the school from Nursery – P7 took part in a sponsored ‘Work out and Beat It’ session to raise funds for Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland.

·       Members of staff took part in the Great Scottish Walk Charity event in June 2008 to raise funds for Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland.

·       During the Health Week, all pupils took part in s Step Challenge.  They could have climbed Ben Nevis 11 times!

·       Active Playground Buddies were introduced to support play at lunchtimes with P3 pupils.

·       The school grounds continued to be improved.  The number of planters was increased in the Infant playground.  The Infant Gardening club started to grow vegetables and entered a potato growing competition.  Outside planting increased in the Nursery and a water butt was installed.