CFBL is proud to be an eco responsible school, having earned earlier this year the Eco Schools Green Flag as well as the EFE3D label from the AEFE (French school abroad with a Sustainable Development Approach).
We are thus excited to share with you some information about our Eco Week, which took place on 5-9 December 2022, as well as for the future.
Sustainable school actions
Thanks to the work of the eco-representatives and the eco-committee of previous years, CFBL has already put in place actions to reduce its carbon footprint, such as:
the expansion of green spaces and gardening areas
the upcoming installation of a green wall
fitness walks to 3 Acres from Year 6 onwards
paper/cardboard recycling and labelling of bins
timer on lights in all classrooms
timer on the water taps
use of Ecosia on all computers
canteen food from sustainable sources
Eco Week Projects
During Eco Week (5-9 December), CFBL students and staff took part in the following eco friendly activities:
No Paper Day (Tuesday 6 December): students encouraged pupils and staff to use as little paper as possible, and suggesting using whiteboards, interactive materials and digital materials for classes instead of loose sheets, the printer and the photocopier.
Digital Clean Up Day (Wednesday 7 December): this initiative aims to encourage everyone to sort through their digital files, deleting those that are no longer required, to free up server space and use less energy.
Reducing food waste (throughout the week): by encouraging everyone to request appropriate portions at the canteen, students were able to reduce food waste by 30% over the course of the week, from 424 to 306kg!
They also took part in a wide range of class activities, including:
Primary
PS/MS: Ocean pollution and food waste - activities and art work around plastic waste in the ocean.
GSM: Students learned about waste sorting.
CP: Students took part in an upcycling workshop, making a sensory bottle with old materials. Djamel the chef came to speak to CP about eating in-season, local produce to reduce the amount our food has to be transported to reach us and be kept refrigerated too. They also had presentations on responsible fashion and the energy of the future to fight greenhouse emissions. Finally, students drew on and then melted down plastic cups used at the Eco Winter Fair and turned them into Chihuly style objects for a collective class sculpture.
CE1: Pupils worked on a terrarium project, had a workshop with Veolia about recycling and food waste, and did a workshop on climate change. At the end of the session, each pupil decided to implement an action at home in order to tackle climate change ( switching off lights when it's not necessary, having a shower instead of bath, using Ecosia,....).
CE2: Waste disposal poster making: each class will create a House Point display using recycled materials.
CM1: Students will make cleaning products using vinegar and soda, and participate in the Echos d'escale project (AEFE) throughout the year.
CM2: Students had a workshop by the Education Centre on The Heath c/o Heath Hands, a conservation charity. They also enjoyed a presentation on growing sustainability practices in new construction and property development.
Secondary
Maths: Year long project: "Eco-responsible mathematics".
History/geography: Second hand clothes swap - pop up shop (5ème).
English: 6ème students will write a letter to their MP.
Languages: Presentations about charities that protect the environment.
PE: Eco-themed orientieering (4ème A).
Music: Lunch Jam with eco theme, activities around current protest music on the subject of the environment, junk percussion (making music with unconventional sound sources) and 'Back to the Earth' song on ukuleles
Watch Radio Récré's special report on Eco Week:
Eco Winter Fair
This year, the Parents' Association annual Winter Fair was an Eco Winter Fair, with a special focus on how to make our school - and our lives - more eco-friendly. Families took part in festive and eco friendly activities on Saturday 3 December.
Upcoming projects
Over the course of this school year and the next, CFBL plans to continue to work on ecological friendly or carbon footprint reducing actions, such as:
Consideration of long-term structural works and equipment to reduce the carbon footprint
Renewal of kitchen equipment - replacing with better energy ratings
Measuring source of energy consumption (electric)
Recycling clothes and shoes (in addition to Bag2School for clothes too worn to be donated)
Updating and further developing the Eco Charter
Yearly actions to be determined with new eco representatives
Reducing plastic use
Congratulations to our students, staff and families who are getting involved to save the planet!
