New World is on Mission to save the bees!

New World set out to save the bees by putting out the Little Garden campaign promising, even more, happiness for New Zealanders of all ages and stages. 

There are 23 different seed pots in a stunning collection, many of which are designed to attract bees and butterflies which pollinate our gardens and crops. 

We were given our Bumble Bee Nesting Box made in Timaru by Creative Woofcraft. Each Leafcutter bee house comes with a supply of cocoons for our school children to look after. The bees will then return the favour by pollination the schools garden. Leafcutter bees do not sting and are prolific pollinators- proven to be nine times more effective than honey bees. 

So we would like to Thank New World for giving us a bumble bee nesting box and a supply of seed pots.

Watch our slideshow made on introducing Leafcutter Bees. 

Introducing Leafcutter Bees

We're in the paper!

A press release written by Brian, Frank and Kolya got picked up by the Cook Strait News in July!

Tracking tunnel project update

Clyde Quay School students are working on a project to help catch pests and make Mount Victoria are safer place for birds to live.  Students have traps set up at school and around the suburb to catch rats, mice and hedgehogs.

Firstly, students made “tracking tunnels” that helped to identify which pests lived in the area by looking at their  footprints. We then got some expert advice from Wellington City Council and “Wild Eyes” about how these pests are affecting the ecosystem.

We found tracks belonging hedgehogs, mice and possibly slugs and snails too!

We signed up to the Student Volunteer Army, and got to work.  Platoon leader, and year 7 student Brian Ngan says “I think this is important because it’s saving the environment.   We are old enough to make a difference” and Liz Patra, principal, couldn’t agree more with Clyde Quay rangatahi taking direct action.

The project consists of 5 main groups: The storytellers, platoon leaders, planners, do-ers, and the habitat restorers.

• Each of the platoon leaders are assigned to manage a group.
• The storytellers manage the media outlets, take pictures, and write for newsletters.
• The do-ers do stuff, such as set and check the traps,

• Habitat restorers are planting and looking after plants around the school
• The planners set up trap lines at school and across the suburb.

The habitat restorers did a survey of birds at the school and saw lots, although they were mostly pidgeons and sparrows!

We know that there is a similar group, Victory over Vermin that is catching pests in the town belt and we wanted to support their work by trapping in the suburb of Mount Victoria.This inspired a few of the students here, and narrows the suitable trap locations down a lot.  Teacher Sandy O’Brien says “I think that trapping is the lesser of two evils when you measure it against the possible extinction of our native treasures.”  As an Enviroschool, we think it’s really important to be looking after our planet so future generations can enjoy what we enjoy.

There are currently two traps set at school and 7 in households in the community.  We hope that by doing this, many more people in Mount Victoria will be inspired to start trapping pests.

What we'd love to do next is:
- Purchase our own DOC200 trap so we can kill hedgehogs (currently we are borrowing one but we'll need to return it.)
- Host a workshop run by a group of secondary school students from the group "Ratted out" where they teach parents and children how to build trap boxes so we can have trapping happening in more back yards in Mount Victoria
- Expand the project so that more students at school are involved (not just the year 7 and 8s)

Although led by the year 7 and 8 students, it has been a real community effort.  Zealandia has donated traps, Wild Eyes has given us inspiration and parents have given us advice.

To conclude, we as a community hope to make Mt. Victoria pest free and have more native wildlife. The council is hoping to make wellington the first pest free capital city in the world.

What does geometry have to do with conservation?

Here's what we had to do to make the tracking tunnels:

Putting our tracking tunnels out

Paul Stanley Ward talking to us about the impact of pests on New Zealand's native biodiversity

Paul brought along a whole lot of stuffed animals including this possum and stoat!  Do you know how to tell the difference between a stoat and a weasel?  One is weasely identifiable and the other is stotally different.

Measuring angles

Decorating!

Setting up the tunnels to go out

Tracks!

Movin' March Awards 2017

Congratulations from Movin' March

Clyde Quay School was one of the top 3 schools in the Wellington region with the highest percentage of participation in Greater Wellington Regional Council's Movin' March walk or wheel passport competition.  With 70% participation Clyde Quay School had the second highest rate!  The prize is a personalised certificate and set of books for our school library.

One of our students also won a prize in the Movin’ March competition!  Isaac Goodwin won a brand new bike and helmet from Avanti Plus!

It's fantastic to see so many of our students being active on their journey to school.  Ka mau te wehi!

We even won a set of books for the library!

Thanks to Kate from GWRC for coming to school to present Isaac with the grand prize!

Movin' March Awards

Congratulations from Movin' March

Clyde Quay School was one of the top 3 schools in the Wellington region with the highest percentage of participation in Greater Wellington Regional Council's Movin' March walk or wheel passport competition.  With 70% participation Clyde Quay School had the second highest rate!  The prize is a personalised certificate and set of books for our school library.

One of our students also won a prize in the Movin’March competition!  Isaac Goodwin won a brand new bike and helmet from Avanti Plus!

It's fantastic to see so many of our students being active on their journey to school.  Ka mau te wehi!

We even won a set of books for the library!

And a Certificate!

Worm Warriors - The Sequel!

Capitalising on our Worm Wee success since the Fawkes Food Fair and the more recent Book BBQ, our green team, under the direction of Isobel has spent term 1 putting together an updated Worm Wee advert.
Many thanks must, of course, go to our editor in chief, Polina, we couldn't have done this without you!

The Junior green team has been...

Making scarecrows to protect the strawberries from the birds:

We had some extras to put amongst our purple beans, and to scare the neighbours with!

We have learnt lots about weeding and watering over the summer, and we're excited to try out some new projects this year.

CQS GREEN TEAM IN THE MOUNT VIC NEWSLETTER

Guest post by Caitlin Fecteau

Meet the Locals - The Green Team

March 2017

By: Caitlin Fecteau

The Green Team or “eco-group” of Clyde Quay School, led by teacher Sandy O’Brien, has nearly twenty students
years 5-8 interested in climate change and environmental initiatives. Members take turns doing di erent daily jobs like checking the compost bin, or take to the community with sorting recycling stations at public events.

When asked why eco-group is important to them, Zara and Lillian said they, “want to help this world because it’s the only one we can live on.” Another chimed in, “I don’t really want to move to Mars.” Freya added the advice, “Respect what you take, respect the environment and take only what you need not what you want.”

I then asked the group what they wished everyone would do differently to be more considerate of the planet. Emmanuel’s immediate response was, “Reuse!” Hazel suggested, “when you go to the store bring your own bags.” “Don’t use plastic, use alternatives,” said another member.
I showed up for a chat with these amazing humans and instead they gave me a full tour! The last stop was their vision map of sustainability posted on the wall in the office. It’s a literal map of the school that highlights where they will focus their eco- efforts. Then outside the group stopped in the middle of the school yard and all looked up, as did I. They were very proud of their efforts to finally get a solar array atop the school that, I am told, slashed their energy costs big time.

Everyone then led into the small greenhouse area where seeds for cauliflower and silverbeet will soon be planted, they sold all their other veggies and plants. The green team are also in charge of looking after the rain capture barrel that was installed in August of last year. The last stop was the compost/worm farm filled with worms eating their full of human scraps. Underneath the bin is a large barrel that catches the worm wee. I didn’t think to crouch down and look until one girl excitedly pointed at the barrel and said, “It’s full!” It will be used for plants in the greenhouse and some will be sold. 

The tour ended, but their excitement

for sustainability is contagious. - A big thanks to Rob the Caretaker for installing everything I saw on my tour! 

CQS GREEN TEAM HIGHLIGHTED IN THE MOUNT VIC NEWSLETTER

Thanks to Caitlin from the Mt Vic Community Centre for her visit.  She has chosen to profile our school's green team for the Mt Vic newsletter to recognise and celebrate our school's efforts in sustainability education.

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Mt Vic Hub - 24E Elizabeth Street, Mt. Victoria - Phone: (021) 765-525 or (04) 390-1411

Mar 2017

March 2017

Meet the Locals - The Green Team

By: Caitlin Fecteau

Upcoming Events

Out in the Park 2017

- March 18th 12pm

at Waitangi Park

The final destination of the Wellington

Pride Festival Parade. 60+ stalls selling

clothing, jewellery, crafts, books, toys,

electronics, etc. Have some scrumptious

food and drinks, and learn more about

local organisations and groups.

Mt. Victoria Annual Treasure Hunt

!!! Date Of Event Has Changed !!!

It will now be held Sun 2nd April from

2-4pm, registration at Mt. Vic Hub, with a

BBQ at Innermost Gardens from 4-6pm

Community Dinner at Innermost

Gardens

- Sat 8th Apr from 6pm. Main

Course and Dessert Provided pay what you

like & BYO. Seating is limited email us to

book your spot at

hello@mtvichub.org.nz

Upcoming 2017 events

5

th

March, Newtown Festival

11

th

March 10-2pm, St. Mark’s

Open Day

18

th

March 12pm, Out in the Park

2017

25

th

& 26

th

March from 12pm Cuba

Dupa

2

nd

April 2-4pm, Mt Vic Treasure

Hunt, with 4-6pm BBQ

8

th

April from 6:30pm Community

Dinner at Innermost Gardens

The Green Team or “eco-group” of Clyde

Quay School, led by teacher Sandy

O’Brien, has nearly twenty students

years 5-8 interested in climate change

and environmental initiatives. Members

take turns doing different daily jobs like

checking the compost bin, or take to the

community with sorting recycling stations

at public events.

When asked why eco-group is important

to them, Zara and Lillian said they, “want

to help this world because it’s the only

one we can live on.” Another chimed in, “I

don’t really want to move to Mars.” Freya

added the advice, “Respect what you take,

respect the environment and take only

what you need not what you want.”

I then asked the group what they wished

everyone would do differently to be more

considerate of the planet. Emmanuel’s

immediate response was, “Reuse!” Hazel

suggested, “when you go to the store

bring your own bags.” “Don’t use plastic,

use alternatives,” said another member.

I showed up for a chat with these amazing

humans and instead they gave me a full

tour! The first stop was their vision map

of sustainability posted on the wall in the

office. It’s a literal map of the school that

highlights where they will focus their eco-

efforts. Then outside the group stopped

in the middle of the school yard and all

looked up, as did I. They were very proud

of their efforts to finally get a solar array

atop the school that, I am told, slashed

their energy costs big time.

Everyone then filed into the small

greenhouse area where seeds for

cauliflower and silverbeet will soon be

planted, they sold all their other veggies

and plants. The ecos are also in charge of

looking after the rain capture barrel that

was installed in August of last year. The

last stop was the compost/worm farm

filled with worms eating their fill of human

scraps. Underneath the bin is a large

barrel that catches the worm wee. I didn’t

think to crouch down and look until one

girl excitedly pointed at the barrel and

said, “It’s full!” It will be used for plants in

the greenhouse and some will be sold.

The tour ended, but their excitement

for sustainability is contagious. - A big

thanks to Rob the Caretaker for installing

everything I saw on my tour!

Mt Vic Hub - 24E Elizabeth Street, Mt. Victoria - Phone: (021) 765 525 or (04) 390-1411

Mar 2017

Timebank Wellington: Where

Time Is Your Currency

By: Trish Given

Having read about Timebank, where skills

and knowledge are exchanged rather

than money, I finally took the plunge and

joined. I met up with the coordinator Chris

who runs Timebank Wellington out of

Newtown Community Centre and filled in

all the forms to get me started.

Luckily I immediately found it to be a great

way to share my skills with others and will

hopefully soon find some way of using

my future time bank hours I accumulate.

Members receive a weekly newsletter of

“Trading Posts” with exciting things that

are in the pipeline - stuff you might need

help with or where you can possibly help

someone with.

As a Community Centre Organisation we

are also hoping to be able to offer time

banking hours to anyone who can help

Austin Street Pothole

By: Sara Williams

Mount Vic’s Students are keeping an eye on

our streets!

On a sunny Saturday in late February, the

Mt. Vic Newsletter was delighted to meet

students (L-R) Sarah Wood, Andrew Russell

and Sarah Courteny, of Austin St. Recently

moved to Mt. Vic, the three had, earlier that

morning, discovered a sinkhole opening up

in the road outside their home. Concerned

that someone could injure themselves, or

that the hole would get bigger, they had

made good use of their bin and nearby

rogue cones, and with the help of a hi-vis

vest offered by another neighbour were

Photo by Sara Williams

Shift: ‘Shift your Body, Shift

your Mind’

Shift is a Wellington based project that aims

to improve the wellbeing of young women

aged 12 – 20 through physical activity,

leadership and wellbeing opportunities. It

was launched in 2016 in response to a large

body of New Zealand and international

research showing that young women

are dropping out of sport and physical

activity in their teenage years and do not

understand or prioritise their wellbeing.

The project currently sits under Wellington

City Council but is supported by an

array of partners and volunteers who

share a passion to see young women

flourishing. Shift focuses on getting girls

moving, removing the financial barrier

to participation, social connectedness,

promoting positive mental health,

confidence and empowerment.

In 2016 Shift engaged with more than

2,000 young women through ‘Just Shift it’

benefit from getting involved with Shift you

can follow them on Instagram or Facebook

@shiftwgtn

OR for adults wanting to

support this great work there is a Facebook

page

@givebackshiftforward

. Shift is also

holding a volunteers information evening

on Thursday 16th March for people wanting

to get involved (all details on their page).

guarding the danger zone.

After calling the council, the trio were told

it would go on their ‘medium maintenance’

list (up to 10 days). Luckily, they were

keeping an eye on the hole, and could

see it was getting bigger. Along with other

neighbours they got onto the council to

explain the risk. By 2.15 a council vehicle

had visited and they had been assured

action would be taken that day. The trio

said they love living in Mt. Vic as everyone

is really friendly, it’s sunny and they can

walk everywhere important. It’s great to

see the students back - if you have student

neighbours, do get to know them - you

might need some help one day!

community physical activity opportunities,

the inspiring ‘Shift Speaker Series’, ‘Shift

Jams’ – teaching social entrepreneurship

skills and ‘Shift Leaders’. Now in its second

year Shift is aiming to reach more young

women both in Wellington city and across

the region.

If you know any young women who might

us out with our various events over the

coming months. In exchange we can help

with various tasks and are open to any

ideas of what we can offer.

For some Timebank information visit The

Hub at 24E Elizabeth Street, or get in touch

with them yourself.

Email at

info@wellingtontimebank.org

.

nz or call 04 920 6708 or visit the their

website at

www.wellingtontimebank.org.