Ringwood School

There have been many whole-school ‘people’ projects, such as support for a school in the Gambia, and there is huge overlap with projects described earlier, but here some more specific Roots & Shoots initiatives of the summer term are described.

A COMMUNITY EVENT – OUR DIAMOND JUBILEE LUNCH

Our Jubilee Lunch, served to staff and visitors, was a celebration of the very best of local food, from trout from the River Avon, to venison in Ringwood ale, crab with sea samphire from the coast, local strawberries, Ringwood eggs in meringues and very much more! The raspberry and blueberry cake that formed the centrepiece was created by Roots and Shoots students, Katy and Sam, The meal, served the day before the Queen’s Jubilee …

Read all of YOU’RE NEVER TOO SMALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE:PEOPLE and COMMUNITY

Nothing is environment alone, as is evidenced by the story of our bee campaign and mini wildflower meadow, but this section describes other environmental projects of our summer term.

DOWN TO THE WOODS!

When our students worked with teachers from nearby village schools in October, they met James White of Bushcraft.

Do you know 8 different ways of making fire when out in the wild? We didn’t! We were finally able to invite him to our school. He knows how to survive in the wild, how to forage and to manage woodland sustainably, so shared some of his practices with students.  Under the cover of our summer gazebos, put up to protect from yet more pouring rain, students learnt a little about survival …

Read all of YOU’RE NEVER TOO SMALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE: ENVIRONMENT

WHAT’S GOING ON IN RINGWOOD SCHOOL’S BACKYARD? 

Food chains underpin all life whether in Ringwood or Africa, and we cannot neglect wildife in our own backyard. We invited Jason Bridges of Liberty’s Reptiles and Raptors into school. He brought in three birds of prey for the second time this year and by examining the contents of birds’ dissected pellets, students considered whether our habitats will sustain the ecosystems that these birds depend upon. In some cases, students were able to pice together whole skeletons! Jason, of course, gave a fabulous talk to students and we are really grateful to him.  The photos show students examining the contents of the pellets!

PROTECTING …

Read all of YOU’RE NEVER TOO SMALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE: ANIMALS

INTRODUCTION TO SUMMER TERM 2012 
YOU’RE NEVER TOO SMALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. 

This account, written by Agent H and a number of Chrono-bots illustrates some of the small measures we have taken during the summer term to increase students’ understanding of animals, people and the environment. We know we only have one planet and we know that most of us live as if we had at least three. We know that small changes add up, and we have therefore called this year’s project ‘You’re never too small to make a difference’

A DAY OF FUN

We will begin our description of summer term events, actions and activities with something that straddles the ‘community’, ‘animals’ and ‘envrionment’ divide; a day of …

Read all of Ringwood School Summer Update

This account, written by Agent H and a number of Chrono-bots illustrates some of the small measures we have taken during the spring term to increase students’ understanding of animals, people and the environment. We know we only have one planet and we know that most of us live as if we had at least three. We know that small changes add up, and we have therefore called this project ‘You’re never too small to make a difference’.

ANIMALS

We have a generous conception of ‘animals’ and are happy to include pets and wild animals, both vertebrates and invertebrates under this one heading! We think all animals enrich life and that it is really important for children to be able to engage …

Read all of YOU’RE NEVER TOO SMALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Some projects cannot be confined to one school term. Furthermore, several straddle the people, animals and environment divide! PEP TALK, our campaign for the eradication of non-recyclable yogurt pots is an example of both. Running throughout the year, the campaign was inspired by graphic images of marine animals destroyed by plastic in the Pacific. We have seen similar evidence on our coast in southern England:  One World indeed.  This simple campaign from a school has had real resonance in business, with Yeo Valley lending massive support and producing their new four pack yoghurts in PET. We have been lucky enough to visit their inspiring headquarters overlooking Blagdon Water twice this summer. We would encourage all Roots and Shoots Schools to …

Read all of Ringwood School Update – Environment

Many of our projects are not confined to one school term. And several straddle the people, animals and environment divide! PEP TALK, our campaign for the eradication of non-recyclable yogurt pots is an example of both. Running and building throughout the year, it was inspired by graphic images of marine life wrecked by plastic in the Pacific. This simple idea from a school has had real resonance in business with Yeo Valley who have lent massive support and producing their new four pack yoghurts in PET. Students have talked to many groups, such as WRAP, individuals and groups such as Laverstoke Park about the campaign. The path has been, and continues to be challenging, but images of the animals endure, …

Read all of Ringwood School Update – People

A ONE PLANET FUTURE
This account, written by Agent H and a number of Chrono-bots gives details of the small measures we have taken during the summer term to increase students’ understanding of animals, people and the environment. We measure every student’s carbon footprint at the end of Year 7 and cannot claim that many of us could live on the resources of less than three plants. We have therefore called this project ‘A One Planet Future’
ANIMALS
Although this is an account of our summer term activities, we will start by saying that in January, we adopted two chimpanzees through the Jane Goodall Institute. We have also adopted an orphan orangutan, a Galapagos tortoise, a blue footed booby and a coral atoll! …

Read all of ‘A ONE PLANET FUTURE’ Project – Ringwood School

As Ringwood’s work on the One World theme continued throughout the Summer term, we tried to meet the Roots & Shoots challenge of spreading the word of Roots & Shoots (Exercise 2 of J’s Lost Notebook). The many school and community projects that we have been involved with and that are described below, have allowed us to share the ideas of Roots & Shoots.

We agree with the Roots & Shoots principle that is so beautifully demonstrated with the Greater Gombe ecosystem, that making small scale local changes can make a big difference over time. Our first application of this principle relates to Fairtrade. Our Chronobots have worked throughout the year to raise the profile of Fairtrade in the community. To …

Read all of One World: People in a Global Village – Mission Update!!

Agent Hickman reports from Ringwood School about what they have been doing this spring term.
Question Time with our MP
Students were treated to a stirring and impassioned speech by Mr Swayne who made clear his personal commitment to helping producers in developing countries get a better deal clear. In a rousing speech he described the importance of Fairtrade in supporting those living in poverty without enough money for food, clean water, medicine, books and education.

To a backdrop of projected images of Fairtrade at Ringwood, prepared by students, a lively question and answer session followed in which the MP was quizzed about his knowledge of Fairtrade, his own Fairtrade habits, and about practices in the House of Commons. Students learnt that …

Read all of Ringwood School’s Spring Term Mission Update!