SMART Schools
This RESEMBID funded partnership aims to strengthen resilience in our schools through disaster preparedness and the integration of environmental awareness into our schools.
HOW WE DO IT
BUILDING RESILIENCE
GREENING SCHOOLS
GREEN LEARNING AND PLAYING
SCHOOLS WITH MOSQUITO REDUCTION PROTOCOLS
SCHOOLS WITH RECYCLING SYSTEMS
SCHOOL GARDENS
LESSON PLANS, GAMES AND ACTIVITIES
GREEN SCHOOL COMPONENTS
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WE (ALL) RECYCLE
First we reduce – Try to be more intentional about purchases and consider how the items will be dealt with at the end of their usefulness.
Then, we reuse – Find ways to reuse items whenever possible instead of buying more new things.
Finally, We Recycle – Recycling stations have been put into classrooms with external recycling bins that can be used by the school and surrounding community.
FOOD GARDENS CLASSROOM
A key component of resilience is food security. In the school garden classrooms students gain hands-on experience in growing food, learn lessons about the importance of food sovereignty, and cultivate an appreciation for nature.
SMART Schools gardens include raised beds, rainwater harvesting systems, tool sheds, tools, irrigation systems, compost bins and pergolas that serve as outdoor classrooms. Many of these are made from polywood derived from the plastics collected from the We Recycle programme.
COMPOSTING
In addition, students learn about composting and the value of decreasing waste going to the dumpsites and instead, being used to enrich our soil. If you haven’t started composting at home, bring your fruits and vegetable peels to your local school garden compost bin. Your support would help our school garden classrooms to generate healthy soil with which they can grow fruits and veggies.
MOSQUITO CONTROL
Schools are checked monthly for breeding sites and mosquito traps have been set up to reduce the risk of mosquito borne diseases at schools and monitor mosquito types and numbers. Litter can collect rainwater and become mosquito breeding sites.
Community cleanups are scheduled monthly and participation is a wonderful way to contribute to the resilience of our territory. At these cleanups, refuse is categorised as either waste or recyclables.
AIR AND WATER GENERATORS
Instead of relying on single-use water bottles, students can refill water bottles from home and they have access to good quality water from installed air-to-water generators. These machines capture moisture from the air which then goes through 3 filters and then mineralises it.
ENERGY – EFFICIENCY
BVI SMART Schools project provided for the installation of LEDs in schools to increase energy efficiency. Students learned to turn off lights, devices, and appliances when not in use. We are hoping the next step is to run our schools on renewable energy sources such as solar power. .
Featured School Garden
Francis Lettsome Primary School was supported by a donation from Harneys as a part of their commitment as a Green Certified business. At Francis Lettsome, we work with four classes of Grade 5 and Grade 6 students to provide “seed to harvest” lessons and teach healthy eating and environmental stewardship skills. Students market produce each week to staff and parents to encourage agripreneur ambitions, and to further support purchases of fruit trees, seeds and supplies for the garden.
Garden Gallery
Growing carrots
Learning about soils
Learning about in-vessel composting
Harvest time joy
Learning about roots and rhizomes
Francis Lettsome Produce sales
Students show off their produce
Getting garden beds ready
Identifying pests and nutrient deficiencies
Weights and measures
Making signs for Pineapples at FLPS
Growing bananas
Ebenezer Thomas students starting pumpkin seeds
Soil lessons
Leonora Delville students perusing a seed catalogue
Making garden signs
Green Certification incentivizes, guides and educates businesses in best green operation practices and provides Bronze, Silver, Gold and Leader Accreditations.