Outreach And Environmental Projects
Putting School Values Into Practice
As Montessori educators we feel it is vital to be active in serving our local community and environment and raising
an awareness of our school values: Integrity, Equality, Compassion, Humility and Curiosity
ISIBONELO CRECHE IN NDWEDWE
This ongoing relationship involves assistance on several levels: As school leaders and teachers we provide mentorship to the school and have assisted with administration systems and curriculum development. Our pupils have an annual Mandela Day book and stationery collection for the school.
A highlight of our school year is to host a Christmas party for the Isibonelo school leavers. Our pupils prepare the food, games and gift packs. During the COVID-19 pandemic we launched the “Helping Hands” campaign and for this our pupils completed extra chores at home to raise money for food parcels and PPE for Isibonelo pupils. We were amazed by the focus that our pupils gave to this project, working hard on their chores at home during lockdown for the benefit of others. This was certainly evidence of putting school values into practice
THULA-THULA RHINO ORPHANAGE
Our primary pupils hone their entrepreneurial skills to run an annual bake sale to raise money for the incredible work undertaken at Thula Thula.
DURBAN NORTH ENVIRO FIXERS
We are proud to be enthusiastic members of this community group, who work hard to clean up and beautify common areas in our suburb. The outreach work compliments the environmental focus that we have to our teaching. We often join in with alien weed eradication and tree planting activities in the Bridgevale Valley Park. This is a peaceful haven for nature in central Durban North. It is very special to us, and only five minutes’ walk from school. We are able to enjoy trail runs, nature walks, the preparation and placing of ‘Kindness Rocks’ and family functions in the Valley, such as our annual ‘Spring Walk.’
WASTE REDUCTION
We raise awareness of waste reduction in all aspects of our routine at school. We have designed and manufactured shopping bags and are also involved in the ongoing production of Eco Brick stools. Both of these Ocean View Signature products are produced and sold by our Primary pupils. We have a recycling station at school for the use of our families, who may drop off; plastic, cans, cardboard, paper and tetrapak cartons. We also have a collection bin for batteries, LED bulbs and ‘e’ waste.
The children love our ‘Tops and Tags’ collection. They each have a tin can caddie at home which they fill with plastic lids and bread tags, these are collected at school and sent off to the ‘Sweetheart Foundation’ who sell the plastic waste to raise money for wheelchairs. The children love the monthly ‘Tops and Tags’ weigh-in, keeping track of totals across the years.
OTHER RECENT COLLABORATIONS
We like to respond to current needs in our community whenever able and recent projects have included:
Water Donations at times of drought
Pet food for SPCA
Beach clean-ups with Adoptariver SA at Beechwood Mangroves
Food donation and materials donation for hand washing stations for Warwick Triangle street traders.
Sponsored Spring Walk to raise money for Owl Boxes in Bridgevale Valley.
Market stall selling Eco Brick stools and re-suable shopping bags to raise money for Adoptariver SA
PARTY FOR THE PLANET 2023
In 2023 Ocean Celebrated Earth Day by holding a ‘Party for the Planet.” This event brought together community stake holders to raise awareness of crucial environmental issues.
There were stalls, demonstrations, talks and lots of fun had by children and parents alike.
We held a ‘Hat Parade’ with each child showcasing the hats that they had made from upcycled materials.
One of the highlights of the day was the talk given by Romario Valentine, our local teenage environmental activist and author of ‘Protect our Planet.’ The children found him to be very inspirational,
Following the party each family has made at least one, if not all of the following 6 pledges:
- Reducing waste
- Recycling of waste
- Encouraging Nature around the home
- Growing food at home
- Reducing energy consumption
- Reducing water usage and pollution