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South Leeds Life | July-August 2022
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10 School Life
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Greenmount’s chalk mural sends clean air message G
reenmount Primary School in Beeston Hill teamed up with Cllr Ed Carlisle (Green, Hunslet and Riverside) to create a giant chalk mural on Coupland Street – to mark Clean Air Day on Thursday 16 June. Clean Air Day is an annual UK-wide event to raise awareness and develop action in communities around air pollution. Greenmount is one of several local schools working with their pupils and families to tackle the issue – with a special focus on trying to reduce the number of people driving to school, but walking or cycling instead. Ed (who also co-runs the South Leeds Alliance for Clean
Air campaign) commented: “Air pollution is such a blight on our communities, and yet – because it’s pretty much invisible – is often overlooked. But it’s great to see the work Greenmount are doing on it, and we had lots of fun creating the mural together. We can all play our part improving local air quality, and we’ll all benefit – let’s do it”. Lisa Dixon, Headteacher at Greenmount Primary School, added: “Some of our Eco councillors and year 3 and 4 pupils were keen to promote Clean Air Day and loved having the opportunity to create an art mural with Ed Carlisle. “Our Eco Council have been
working hard all week to find out which class has made the most changes for walking to school. Pupils are keen to find out which class has won the competition. Our Eco councillors helped me outside school Cllr Carlisle with Lisa Dixon and pupils from Greenmount Primary School in Beeston “We would really like to see a the environment but also help on Thursday morning to carry out a traffic survey and speak reduction in the amount of cars to keep our pupils safe.” According to Public Health to parents about how they on Greenmount Street at travel to school and safe places school drop off and pick up England, air pollution is a key times. This will not only help contributing factor to between to park.
28,000-35,000 premature deaths in the UK every year. For more info on air pollution, and steps we can take, visit: www.actionforcleanair.org.uk.
Windmill Primary pupils awarded Blue Peter’s green badge by Stewart Walton
I
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must start by thanking the music Federation for welcoming me into their schools and congratulate them on the continuous great work especially on the climate and the eco leaders. I went to Belle Isle to visit Windmill Primary School on Thursday 23 June to congratulate them on their Climate Hero program and being awarded to Blue Peter‘s green badge for completing the climate challenge. Led by Miss Millie Fraser, teacher and school council lead. Class 3F were invited to save the planet and become a climate hero. They were set a challenge to complete a series of planting pledges. Once the people pupils receive their badges, they also receive some initiatives and some bonuses of being awarded the badges. The pupils are encouraged to apply for a card which invites them to take up at least 200 attractions. The school also rewarded the pupils with a disco. One pupil commented: “I would do this challenge again because planting one tree can make a difference in the world.” Another said: “We helped the planet by planting flowers to give the Earth more oxygen. “My favourite part of the Blue Peter challenge was reminding Miss Fraser to turn off the lights. “We helped the planet by planting new plants to expand the colourful nature around us.”
Windmill pupils show off their Climate Heroes certificate My favourite of all was from this charming little lady: “I would do this challenge again because it’s kind and nice to help the world by picking up rubbish!” Miss Fraser said: “It would be great if we were used as an example for other schools to do the same. we aim to link the community together. The pupils are certainly more conscious of the environment and the space around.” I was very impressed by the environment in the school, the buzz of the children and the commitment to the children by the teachers. We often say that the commitment of any
initiative comes from the top and the teachers are definitely setting a good example for their children. I was intrigued to hear more about the school council and Miss Fraser was keen to tell me about it. All pupils, years 3 to 6 are involved. Leading up to the school council Miss Fraser sends out questionnaires to all the class teachers who then spend time with the pupils and ask the questions on the questionnaires. Questions like, what is litter? why do people drop litter? why do we have places to put litter in school? are there any
suggestions from your class? how can we keep our school clean and free from litter? It is very clear that the aim is to get the children involved, after all is it not their environment and we need to be educating our children of today about respecting the environment around them. I was so inspired by the enthusiasm of not just Miss Fraser but of her colleagues. I bumped into deputy head, Caroline Harvison while I was there, who was also very keen on impressing how proud of Windmill Primary she is and echoed the aim of getting the community involved.
