We hope to attract native birds into the area. Presently there are only a few sparrows and some magpies. The design for the environmental area will involve the students in technology. Presently we are working with Tristan Jamieson an engineer from Montgomery Watson Harza NZ Ltd. He is a member of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand and has volunteered to work with our school as part of the Neighbourhood Engineers initiative. We are very lucky to have his guidance. The students will be looking at designing tracks, seating, and erosion stops. Attached is a sample of the leadership and teaching that is happening in regard to construction of steps and paths.

Guardianship of the Bush

Plantings of the hill and gully will be done over the next 5 – 6 years. We plan to plant approximately 200 trees a year. We feel that this is a manageable number for the students to water and care for. Selection of appropriate materials and trees are being researched by the students.

At the top of the hill there is flat area which will be used to conduct lessons from. It will look over the planting and the developing canopy. The four borders of the flat area will be planted with native endangered species of plants and it is here on the four corners that the Pou (carvings) will be sited. The Pou will reflect the Kaitiahitanga (guardianship by people, knowledge and practice associated with looking after the environment). The Manukau Technological Institute has a department where young people are instructed in the art of carving. Our students will be involved with the design process of the carvings and will work closely with carvers.

Clearing out the environmental classroom of the old trees no longer needed

The school is committed to principals of environmental education and the project identified. Due to the scale of the environmental classroom we have worked with:

• Auckland Regional Council in regard to facilitating the project, sourcing trees, native tree identification, planting advise and the removal of magpies.
• Manukau City Council for the clearing of the stream area of willows and possible help with materials for construction of the paths etc.
• Kaipatiki Ecological Restoration Project Inc for plants for riparian plantings (KERP has won awards for stewardship of the environment)
• Andrew Jenks from Waicare who is a facilitator for monitoring streams. We have a group of students who monitor the stream weekly and record their finding on the Waicare website.

The lead teachers work with the Auckland Regional Council Facilitator and Co-ordinator to facilitate students undertaking the following process.

1. Consult with students and staff

Find out the interest and involvement of students and staff to develop the gully area into a native bush that will attract birds and insects for study. At this point all levels of the school design features that they would like to see included in the area.

2. Conduct analysis of the site

Gather information by on: insect life, bird life, existing vegetation, sun/shade areas, soil, wind and water flows, Consider the activities that could happen once the project has begun

3. Produce a design plan

Students work in groups refining plans and making final decisions on what will be incorporated into the environmental classroom. Specific tasks are then allocated to different year levels to research and complete. The focus challenges are: design of seating and learning centres, plantings to attract birds and insects, preparing land and deciding on quotes for tree removal and mulching, community consultation, designing access in pathing and steps, placement for plantings.

4. Implementation of the kereru Project

Decide on the roles different people will take during the establishment of the area and what resources and skills are needed. Consideration of health and safety issues. Anticipatation of problems and the solutions.

5. Planting of trees/ construction of access/planting of teaching space

Planting of trees will take place through August/September. All trees will be mulched.

Construction of access when slope is dry enough for heavy machinery October /November 2002.

The initial planting of trees will not impact on the access.

6. Celebration of Achievement

Invitation to all involved and appropriate ceremony for the school and wider community.

Stream Watch

Every Wednesday lunchtime a group of Year5 students and Mrs Steel go down the back of our school to the stream.

We check for litter, then we test the water for it’s clarity. That means how can clean it is. We use this tube. We fill it with water and then use this magnetic wand to pull along a large metal object. When the object disappears from sight we call stop and read the markings on the tube. Three people do this then we average our results. We also collect macroinvertebrates from the stream bed. Macroinvertebrates are things like worms, mayflies, caddisfly and water snails. Next we identify what we have found and record our results.

We also check :
water temperature
air temperature
ph level
Nitrates, and
Nitrites
Up until a couple of weeks ago the stream was very healthy. But recently we have found dead Native Banded Kokopu. We have also noticed there are very few microinvertebrates left. Someone has polluted the stream with something that has killed most of the living things in our stream. We feel very sad about this. These are some of the dead fish. Around the stream is some erosion. We have planted flaxes and quick growing shrubs to stabilize the bank and slow down the water. We really enjoy our Wednesday lunchtimes and feel really good about helping keep the stream healthy. What we need to do now is educate people not to put things down their storm water drains. Storm water drains are only meant to drain rain.