ENVIRONMENTAL KAITIAKITANGA POLICY

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RATIONALE

At Geraldine Preschool we recognise the importance of kaitiakitanga, protection and care for the environment of the natural and living world. Through tamariki, whānau and kaiako being immersed and involved in small steps of sustainable choices they develop a sense of commitment to contributing to becoming global citizens and become adaptive, creative and resilient.

TE WHĀRIKI

Belonging/Mana atua Goal 2: Tamariki and their whānau experience an environment where they know they have a place.

Exploration/Mana aotūroa Goal 4: Tamariki experience an environment where they develop working theories for making sense of the natural, social, physical and material worlds.

PROCEDURES

• Kaiako will enable tamariki to participate in a genuine way to form their own unique and

creative perspectives in environmental projects.

• Learning for sustainability is integrated across the preschool’s curriculum, which works alongside the Enviroschool Guiding Principles of Learning for Sustainabily, Māori Perspective, Empowered students, Respect for the Diversity of People and Cultures and Sustainable Communities.

• Our curriculum will be responsive to the diverse cultures that make up our preschool whānau.  Tamaiti will be empowered to understand that their mana and voice can make a positive difference.

• The Preschool environment includes vegetable gardens, Puna Ora (orchard), flower gardens. Tamariki, whānau and kaiako are involved in contributing, tending and harvesting from these areas and through this valuable learning is achieved.

• Preschool has created a forest classroom Te Ngahere which is open to all tamariki, kaiako, whānau and Geraldine community members to use.  Regular excursions to our Te Ngahere give tamariki and kaiako a place to experience and explore the forest setting and use this as a place of learning, with the intention of deepening children’s understandings and working theories around the natural and living worlds, the elements, and respect for the gifts of Papatūānuku.

• Preschool is dedicated to positive waste management and environmental education within our centre. We minimise unnecessary printed material for whānau and centre visitors. We use our website, Discover childcare management, online journals through Educa and electronic newsletters.

• Kaiako and tamariki share responsibility for categorising and depositing their waste in the appropriate bins. We aim to recycle to the highest standard possible in South Canterbury, recycling plastics, cans, cartons, paper and cardboard. Preschool will strive to limit waste where is it possible. Any red waste that comes in tamariki lunches boxes will be returned home with the tamariki.

• Scraps, paper towels etc will be composted or used in our worm farm or given to our chickens.

• To reduce paper waste, we will employ strategies such as reusing non-confidential office paper for art purposes, shred paper for fire blocks and/or to make our own recycled paper and accept donations of paper/cardboard to reuse.

• We will support whānau in all nappy choices.

• As much as possible we bulk-buy products to reduce packaging and carbon footprint, eco-friendly cleaning products, local business products and made-in-NZ equipment and educational materials where possible. When purchasing new resources, we will look for those which support our environmental and sustainable practices. Kaiako and staff will investigate the ethical values of resources and take this into consideration before purchasing is made.

• Information about our environmental practices will be shared with whānau through display boards, emails, Educa and through daily conversations.

• When excursions are planned outside the Preschool grounds the most sustainable and efficient transport options will be researched and best option selected. Carpooling is encouraged whenever possible when kaiako are planning transportation to joint professional development or meetings.  A space for prams and strollers is available within the foyer to encourage whānau who live nearby to walk to and from Geraldine Preschool. A bike rack is available for  whānau to use when they bike or scooter to Preschool.

• There is a space provided for kaiako, whānau and the community to share and swap produce and excess items to donate to others.

Date approved: August 2022

Review date: August 2023