Brookby School Earns Bronze Enviro School Award
Brookby School has been awarded the Bronze Enviroschools Award recently in recognition of their commitment to working
towards becoming more sustainable at the Enviroschools ceremony held at the Western Springs Garden Community Hall.
The Enviroschools awards, which were developed by the Auckland Regional Council in partnership with The Enviroschools
Foundation in late 2002, are part of the national Enviroschools programme.
Brookby School was awarded the Bronze Award for the many environmental projects they have initiated including growing
their own vegetables, litterless lunch days, establishing of worm bins and compost bins. The highlight of the year was
running the Ag Day as a Waste Free event for the first time diverting more than 85% of waste from the landfill.
The Enviro Council, a student environmental group at the school, helps plan initiatives. At the recent Waste Free Ag
Day, the Enviro Council helped man the waste stations and educate the community on how to be waste free. This was also
in collaboration with the Howick College environmental group who worked alongside the Brookby Enviro Council on the day.
“It is wonderful how the Brookby students, staff and community have embraced the Enviroschools journey” said Enviro
teacher Sarah Blong. “The students are empowered by identifying what needs changing, finding solutions and taking
action. Our students are now wanting to learn more about pests in the Brookby area and what they can do to reduce
numbers, and how to reduce soft plastic usage.”
At the recent awards ceremony the Brookby students were able to meet with Deputy Mayor Bill Cashmore and discuss their
achievements. The students were also able talk to him about their next steps along their Enviro journey, and how they
plan to gain the Silver Enviro award.