WAY TO GO GREEN - Mission Heights - the School With No Text Books!

IMAGINE GOING TO A SCHOOL WHERE THERE ARE NO TEXTBOOKS AND NO RUBBISH BINS. CLASSROOMS ARE LIT WITH HARVESTING LIGHTS, THE WALLS ARE MOSTLY MADE OF GLASS AND HUNDREDS OF SOLAR PANELS ARE MOUNTED ON THE ROOF. YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS AMAZING PLACE ALREADY EXISTS AND IT'S RIGHT HERE IN NEW ZEALAND. ACTV8 PAID A VISIT TO MISSION HEIGHTS.

From the wind turbine to the huge worm farm and the rain collection system, it's hard to find anything about Mission Heights Primary and Mission Heights Junior College that isn't green. In fact, you'll be amazed to learn that there's not even a tuck shop here. Why? Because it would cause unnecessary plastic waste and thus isn't in tune with the 100% environmentally friendly stance of the schools.

These remarkable schools are tucked into a corner of Auckland's Flat Bush, south of the city, and their front doors were opened for students for the first time earlier this year. The schools were the vision of two forward-thinking women, Mission Heights Junior College Principal Joan Middlemiss and Primary principal Veena Vohra.

Called to the Principal's office

Actv8 got the eco-friendly low-down from Joan Middlemiss

How did you guys get so green?

We think it's so important that we be responsible stewards of the environment. So each school was built as an ESD (Environmentally Sustainable Designed) complex, which means that all aspects of the layout are conscious of this. So for example we've got solar panels on all of our big buildings and even a small wind turbine to generate electricity, and to make students aware of alternative energy sources. 

We even collect our rainwater and the solar panels heat that water in our bathrooms, which is lovely.

Harvesting lights? Do they have anything to do with farmers?

The harvesting lights only turn on when needed. If there's enough natural light in a classroom they stay off. They're also motion activated, so they only turn on if someone is in the room. This way electricity isn't wasted.

That's really smart. Is this one of the reasons why there's so much glass?

Yes it is, the glass lets light into the central areas and opens up the buildings.

We hear a wild story that you don't use textbooks?  I

t's true, we just use digital resources. Everything is digital, even the newsletters and reports. We do use paper to teach handwriting in the primary school of course.

There's no tuck shop. Don't the students miss those unhealthy pies and chips?

No they're fine. The students were the ones who made us aware of the environmental issues of having a canteen. So our kids bring in their own food and heat it in microwaves, and we've got kettles so they can bring noodles and curry and things like that. Even the teachers bring a homemade lunch.

Sounds like rubbish

As we wandered around the school grounds, we noticed something was missing ... where were all the rubbish bins? The schools just don't need ‘em, Ms Middlemiss told us.

You see, they've got recycling bins for food, paper, card and plastics, but everything else goes home with the students at the end of each day. Even the teachers and the headmistress take their own rubbish home. Mission Heights doesn't even have caretakers or cleaners; students are responsible for their own areas and they really look after them, wiping down surfaces and vacuuming at the end of the school day.

Enviro-champions

A puppy is the kind of thing that a kid normally adopts. Right? Well, that wasn't quite the case when it came to a group of Year 7 and Year 8 Mission Heights Junior College students. They've adopted a bush reserve instead. Yep, well part of one anyway.

Going to a school like MHJC means you'd have to have your head buried in your locker to avoid being environmentally conscious. But students Chris, Daisy, Alex, Cara, Georgia and Helen have taken their eco awareness to the next level and are transforming an area of neglected bush reserve into a learning resource and a beautiful place. They've dubbed their mission ‘Project Tane', which stands for ‘Trees Are Natures Educators'. Tane is also of course the god of the forest in Maori legend.

Rubbish tip makeover

It all began when the team noticed an area of bush reserve (filled with native trees) neighbouring their school was a dumping ground for rubbish. They resolved to do something about it. So they sought permission from Auckland's Manukau City Council to open the area up to be developed. Their application was rejected four times, but these environmental warriors didn't give up and their perseverance paid off when approval was eventually granted. This taught the students a great life lesson about persistence. Now they're in the process of marking out a trail, making signage and a gate was recently installed.

What's next?

Well the schools have big plans that include developing a website and a downloadable audio tour (just like at an art gallery). Plus they have just received the awesome news that they have been invited to the New Zealand finals for Community Problem Solving. Good luck guys.