Sustainable Communities

What have been our key area of progression?

Taking more responsibility for designing more buildings and spaces that are good for people and nature
Increasing our action with our wider community - valuing our local ecosystems
More sustainable practices in our resource use - especially water and energy
Longer and stronger strategic planning to be more sustainable in our operations
Continued far reaching student led sustainability projects at all levels
Engaging the whole community with more of our stories, actions and inspiration
Helping new groups in our community that have needs
Embracing our role as kaitiaki
Using our data to make sustainable decisions

Wahi: Our Stepping Lightly Campaign.. more solar at Kristin...

In 2020 Kristin continued its efforts to invest in Solar is energy... and we got the whole Kristin Community involved with our Stepping Lightly campaign. Our community came together and we raised over $140,000 for solar panels and rainwater tanks to be fitted into our new covered netball courts - having these features was all part of helping to reduce our footprint on the planet .. Our efforts helped Kristin School to be a finalist for the NZ Sustainable Schools awards in 2021.

The Power of Solar - by Byron Gao

Green Star Buildings.pdf

All Green Star builds - now and in the future

Tikanga: Even more planting in the community - 2 new parks

Since 2016 Kristin has been actively planting trees in our community. It began with small plantings in Sanders Reserve. Today Kristin plants in other parks, including Rosedale Park and Hoskings Reserve. In 2018 we signed up to Trees for Survival and we see our planting programmes increasing in the years to come. Every year we plant between 2000 and 3000 trees. This year we will plant over 3500 trees outside Kristin and another 200 in our own school environment. Video created by Year 12 student Olive Wilson.

Tikanga: Annual Waste Audits - we are acting on them..

Kristin holds an annual waste audit where members from various environmental groups (SS waste team, Year 10 Ideas and Environment, MS Roots and Shoots) sort out the rubbish going in our landfill bins into various categories. These include soft plastics, food waste, and compostable paper; the latter two of which I was surprised to see so much of, as they were in landfill despite being compostable. Using this information, we can educate the school about the areas they lack in, as well as what can go in our newly acquired compost bins and how this will help the planet. Written by Marina Stowers, Yr 10 Ideas and Environment team Chairperson.

Tangata: Waste Team Compost Bin Proposal

Waste Action Proposal 2021 (1).pdf

The Waste Team - now has a huge Social Media following :)

Last year, after another waste audit, we realised that large portions of waste could be composted or recycled. Therefore, to reduce our waste as much as possible, we came up with a solution - compost bins. To persuade the school to implement more compost bins, our team formed a report with data gathered from the waste audit and the detailed logistics. Then, we organised meetings with our school’s advisory board and informed them why the school needs to obtain more compost bins. Because of our determination, we now have five "WE Compost" compost bins at our school, which is reducing Kristin’s waste significantly! Written by Yr 13 Ivy Yu - Waste Team Chair

Tikanga: JS MAD - Make a difference...

Yes MAD - Make. A. Difference.We aim to clean up the environment to...

To help stop polluting. If we all don’t litter and correctly dispose of the rubbish that we have, our marine life will have a much higher chance of surviving.
The impact on the wilderness is huge - so less litter on wilderness trails brings a huge benefit to animals and humans. Not only is litter unsightly and capable of ruining our experience in nature, it also poses danger to animals that may ingest it.
Littering and rubbish contributes to the spread of disease as discarded trash is a breeding ground for bacteria. Litter can spread diseases, viruses, and parasites through both direct and indirect contact.
Last but not least Litter can negatively impact your sense of community and make people feel less safe. By picking it up, you’re showing pride to your community and making the area look more natural.

Written by Yr 5 Zoe Gottschen

KFF Update.pdf

Tangata: KFF (our Parents group) providing an amazing SEED Fund for 'sustainable' inspiration...

In 2021 the Kristin Friend and Family group (KFF) created a fund for students to complete projects that helped promote sustainable actions. In the past they have funded EKOS Carbon Footprint Reports and a Green Cone composting bin. This year they funded a 'friendship chair' in the JS and have applications for Solar Panel charging stations and more... But the exciting thing is also how this fund has been created - the hard work of the KFF team means collecting and selling second hand uniforms to whanau needing them. It's a wonderful way to reuse and recycle uniforms and ensure everyone has access to good quality uniforms at a great price for all. Uniforms that can't be sold are being 'upcycled' this year to create Christmas decorations, working with our "Upcyclers" club - KFF work tirelessly to ensure lost property is returned or donated to communities that will benefit greatly from the items - we are lucky to have parents who value 'sustainability' so much !

Wahi: We now have 'serious' Pest Control in place...

Pests are a large issue in Kristin, before the year 2021, not many initiatives and actions were taken by the school for pest control. At the start of 2021, a student group started looking at how pest control in Kristin could be improved and took action. The action started from tracking the numbers and type of pests within an area of the school grounds to trapping pests using different methods such as the Easy Set rat traps and the AT220 possum trap. These were introduced recently due to their efficiency and ethical considerations for a fast and painless kill process. Kristin has also started an alternative trapping group to keep the engagement of this action and extend the effort for reducing pest issues into the future - Written by Yr 13 student Jessica Xie. Video by Yr 9 Jerry Chen.

Note - students are working with Trap NZ to record and monitor the trapping successes

Letter to get Free Range Eggs .pdf

Tikanga: Free Range Eggs - MS Roots and Shoots Animal Team push for change

Good afternoon Roots and Shoots committee

Thank you for meeting with me to present your letter and petition regarding the use of Free Range eggs in our school Pavilion Café, Express Tuck Shop and also the Staff Café.

Together with Nigel Wilkinson, Director of Business Services, we have reviewed the additional cost feel comfortable agreeing that this is a positive step for Kristin and for chickens!

I am happy to confirm from Term 3, all food prepared onsite in the Pavilion Café, Express Tuck Shop and also the Staff Café will use Free Range eggs.

As mentioned at our meeting, I do not have control over what our external food service providers offer in terms of eggs however I have emailed Ezlunch explaining that after your letter and petition we have made the switch to Free Range from Term 3 and would love them to share the word (your letter) with all their contractors. You never know what might happen. I will keep you up to date if I hear anything.

Thank you again for your hard work on this project.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Maggie Cross

In addition - our Food Tech department now only buys Free Range Ham and Chicken - supporting more ethnical food production

So what actions are coming out of this? We are looking at flight offsetting opportunities, supporting Bayes buses with their electric bus project and we've added composting. We have more solar panels and our energy monitors are in action... but the permanent reduction in flights will be our biggest impact...

Kristin School Carbon Inventory Report (4).pdf

Tikanga: Our Carbon Inventory - reducing our Carbon Footprint starts with knowing the source... flights!

The process of doing the EKOS Carbon Inventory Report was massive - we had so many staff involved. Bayes Buses and Fortis Travel were amazing at giving us the carbon data and providing us with data on transport - and we used waste reports, energy reports, financial reports and much more for the rest. BP cards, LPG sales, refridgeration companies and much more. It was a huge undertaking and we are so grateful to everyone that spent the time to collect the data for us...

To find out more - check out https://www.kristinsustainability.school.nz/2019-carbon-report

Tikanga: Sustainability during Lockdown!

Kristin supporting #KeepNZBeautiful week - even in lockdown!

It's officially Clean Up NZ week from the 26th-31st of October with clean up events happening all over New Zealand. Lockdown isn't going to stop caring Kristin students and families to step up, pick up and clean up around their local neighbourhoods. The Council of Sustainability encourages everyone to play their part and do a 'rubbish collection' during the week.

Post your photos here! https://padlet.com/swakeford/86jc72ueuif1580k

Page updated

Report abuse