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Spire Primary School |
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Newsletter Principal's Message Dear parents, I write to you this week to introduce a new idea for us all to think about. 'Oh, no!' I hear you say, 'She's got another idea!' It is true that I often suggest new ideas, especially in areas that affect your children's future, such as the preservation of our planet. We are the only local school that has a 'Walk or Pedal to School Day' once a week, rather than once a month or even once a term! We have four different bins for our waste products, not just three! But I think we at Spire can do more. We are responsible for the future of our world. I have become increasingly concerned about the amount of unnecessary packaging in our everyday lives. If we don't do something about this now, the damage to the environment will be enormous. Last week I walked around the grounds at recess time, talking as I often do with any student who wanted to chat - many did, I am glad to say. I kept seeing your children holding little plastic packets with a few biscuits in one side and some cheese spread in the other. When the children had eaten, the little packets became waste material! I found myself wondering why those biscuits could not have been spread with cheese at home and brought to school in a re-usable container. Other children were drinking juice from cardboard boxes. Why not a washable plastic bottle? At our canteen I saw a child buy a sushi roll and apply soy sauce from a cute little plastic fish. That fish ended up on the ground until I asked the student to put it in the bin - more rubbish! Why not use a large bottle from which the sauce could be shared? (For that matter, how awful are those little tomato sauce containers given with meat pies – very dangerous if flicked into your eye!) I know how busy your lives are but you and I need to give children the same message about unnecessary packaging. How many nights a week do you eat takeaway? Plastic boxes of beef in black bean sauce, plastic bags of lettuce with the paper bag of spring rolls, little plastic containers of sauces. All these things increase the amount of waste. I am told you can buy carrots that are already peeled, washed and sliced - in another plastic bag - but why not prepare your own vegetables for the lunch boxes? I know reducing packaging will be a challenge at school and at home but it is one we must confront. I will be introducing a curriculum unit to teach about sustainability. As usual, your comments are welcome. Denise Walker, Principal |
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Comments (1) Denise, you need to reconsider. It is a great pity if we don't enjoy the benefits of 21st century living because of an unclear idea about what's good for the environment. My partner and I have always supported your green ideas about the environment. Our kids walk to school every day! They put their rubbish in the correct bins. But mornings are already chaotic in our house. How much worse would it be if we had to spread cheese on biscuits (and won't they go soft)? You wouldn't believe how many plastic bottles we have lost during our time at the school. And filling them - another task taking time in the morning. Both of us parents have to get to work as well. Finally, why shouldn't parents have the occasional night without cooking? Takeaway food is often a great help to busy people. Louise |
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