Kaupapa does not have a direct English translation but encompasses words such as foundations, principles or philosophy. Our kaupapa is our touchstone and guides all that we do.
Our kaupapa is creating a healthy, peaceful, sustainable world through learning and taking action together.
Each of us brings unique perspectives and gifts, and it is by uniting them that sustainable communities will be created. Many solutions will come from people working together intergenerationally, combining ancient wisdoms with new understandings. Answers will also be found by working with nature and allowing nature to teach us. By learning together in practical ways, sustainability becomes an integral part of what we do throughout our learning centres, schools and communities. Caring for our place and the whole planet provides a living curriculum, where young people become the catalysts for change.
Enviroschools advances this kaupapa in a number of ways.
At the heart of Enviroschools is the Action Learning Cycle, encouraging a process of exploration, decision-making, design, action and reflection.
Surrounding and reinforcing this is a Whole School/Centre Approach where tamariki and students are involved in all of school/centre life, taking action and changing the physical place, practices and ways of interacting in the school/centre.
Embracing and connecting everything are five Guiding Principles – Ngā Mātapono. These inform the whole journey so that young people participate in a genuine way, indigenous wisdom and cultural traditions are honoured, and action-based learning becomes the basis for creating sustainable communities.
Emerging from the kaupapa are any number of environmental themes that offer an opportunity to deepen tamariki and students’ understanding and ability to take action with a specific focus.
Me in My Environment is the core of the Enviroschools programme and involves investigating and understanding the school/centre in the context of its history and ecology. The learning is focused on developing an understanding of whanaungatanga/ inter-relatedness.
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What is special about an Enviroschool?
What is special about an Enviroschool?Enviroschools have a sense of place
All aspects of nature, including people, are nurtured and the whole school or centre environment is a learning context. Creating a sustainable physical environment is an ongoing learning exercise that fosters a greater understanding of whanaungatanga – the inter-relatedness between all living things, and a concern for the particular place we live in.
Enviroschools are participatory
Enviroschools processes involve the whole community around a school or centre. Young people, teachers, caretakers, management and governance, whānau and the wider community each have roles in actively creating and caring for their school/ centre and wider environment.
Enviroschools have a sense of purpose
Young people are inspired to be creative and become competent to make decisions and take action in and with their community. They learn how they can nurture both taiao – the environment, and tangata – people around them. Learning is lived and reinforced at their Enviroschool. Teachers reshape and refocus everyday activities to maximise the potential for environmentally friendly practices. Adults are also empowered to advocate and take action for the environment, serving as role models for young people.
Find out ways to Explore the Enviroschools Kaupapa here.
