1 School Green Awards 2013 Attracts Record Number of Schools 327 schools – from Pre-schools to ITE and even Schools for students with special needs achieve tremendous savings of electricity, water and other resources. Singapore, 5 November 2013 – 327 schools were recognised for their commitment to environmental stewardship at the Singapore Environment Council’s (SEC) School Green Awards (SGA) 2013 ceremony which was held at Temasek Polytechnic today. The event was graced by Ms Grace Fu, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs. At the launch of SGA 2013 on 12 March 2013, the SEC announced targets to achieve a 5% reduction in electricity, water and paper usage respectively across 300 participating schools, while aiming to reach 1 million people over the next three years. Actual figures after submissions by the participating schools now show an outreach of close to half a million students, with exceeded targets of 8%, 6% and 7 % reduction in electricity, water and paper usage respectively. (Refer to Annex A for details) This reduction in resources is equivalent to powering 39,019 4-room flat households for one month and 36 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The corresponding reduction in paper usage will result in the savings of 2,950 trees, 11,062,286 litres of water and 1,556,914 kWh of power, which equate to a reduction of about 540,823 kg of greenhouse gas emissions. “SEC’s outreach efforts, whether to the community, schools or private sector, always strive towards very important outcomes. The data collected through SGA 2013, reflects the effort put in by all these participating schools. We have achieved tangible and quantifiable reductions in the usage of our precious natural resources, and have even exceeded the targets we set for the schools,” said Mr Jose Raymond, Executive Director of the SEC. Out of the 327 award submissions received, a total of 277 were from primary and secondary schools, 5 from schools for students with special needs, 12 from junior colleges, international schools and ITE and 33 from pre-schools. Submissions from primary and secondary schools constituted 85% of applications, while junior colleges, international schools and ITE and schools for students with special needs constituted 4% and 1% respectively. Pre-schools made up 10%.
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School Green Awards 2013 Attracts Record Number of Schools 327 schools – from Pre-schools to ITE and even Schools for students with special needs achieve
tremendous savings of electricity, water and other resources.
Singapore, 5 November 2013 – 327 schools were recognised for their commitment to environmental stewardship at the Singapore Environment Council’s (SEC) School Green Awards (SGA) 2013 ceremony which was held at Temasek Polytechnic today. The event was graced by Ms Grace Fu, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs.
At the launch of SGA 2013 on 12 March 2013, the SEC announced targets to achieve a 5% reduction in electricity, water and paper usage respectively across 300 participating schools, while aiming to reach 1 million people over the next three years. Actual figures after submissions by the participating schools now show an outreach of close to half a million students, with exceeded targets of 8%, 6% and 7 % reduction in electricity, water and paper usage respectively. (Refer to Annex A for details)
This reduction in resources is equivalent to powering 39,019 4-room flat households for one month and 36 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The corresponding reduction in paper usage will result in the savings of 2,950 trees, 11,062,286 litres of water and 1,556,914 kWh of power, which equate to a reduction of about 540,823 kg of greenhouse gas emissions.
“SEC’s outreach efforts, whether to the community, schools or private sector, always strive towards very important outcomes. The data collected through SGA 2013, reflects the effort put in by all these participating schools. We have achieved tangible and quantifiable reductions in the usage of our precious natural resources, and have even exceeded the targets we set for the schools,” said Mr Jose Raymond, Executive Director of the SEC.
Out of the 327 award submissions received, a total of 277 were from primary and secondary schools, 5 from schools for students with special needs, 12 from junior colleges, international schools and ITE and 33 from pre-schools.
Submissions from primary and secondary schools constituted 85% of applications, while junior colleges, international schools and ITE and schools for students with special needs constituted 4% and 1% respectively. Pre-schools made up 10%.
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The breakdown of award recipients for SGA 2013 is as follows:
This year’s SGA saw a 26% increase in the number of schools that achieved the Lotus Sustained Achievement Award - 149 compared to 118 in 2012. The previous year’s awards recognised 261 schools for their efforts in going green. “The School Green Awards not only shapes practice and behaviour toward resource conservation in participating schools, it raises environmental awareness amongst the students, who will grapple with the effects of climate change and human impact on the environment throughout their lifetimes. Club 21 is happy to support the School Green Awards, which gives them the tools to make positive decisions through participation in the application process,” said a spokesman from Club 21. Ms Chin Soo Fang, Head of Corporate Communications and CSR, Singapore Press Holdings said: “We are extremely proud to be a supporting partner of the School Green Awards 2013. Each of us has a part to play in securing a greener tomorrow for future generations and the SGA is an effective programme to bring about behavioural change through educating the children.” One of the winners of the newly launched Daisy award for pre-schools was Kinderland Preschool (MOE) Centre, which integrates environmental learning into their curriculum, and even gets the children’s parents involved. Ms Susan Tan, Zone Principal of Kinderland Preschool (MOE) Centre said: “Even the simplest of activities that carries environmental messages such as making arts and crafts using recycled materials, or taking care of plants on the pre-school campus can make a deep impression on young minds. By inculcating these values from a young age, living a green life will come naturally to them.” A returning participant to SGA 2013 was CHIJ Our Lady of the Nativity Primary School, which earned the highest category Lotus Award. The school participated in 13 environmental events and competitions between April and September 2013. With animal conservation, water recycling, and the 3Rs in the school’s schedule, Children’s Day 2013 became a “No Plastic Bag Day”, when all students received a recyclable bag as a gift. “Infusing classroom lessons, co-curricular activities and even school celebrations with environmental messaging is a great way to gently but consistently build up environmental values in our students. We are greatly encouraged by the Lotus Award, and will definitely be aiming for the Lotus Sustained Achievement Award in coming years,” said Ms Eleanor Foo, teacher from CHIJ Our Lady of the Nativity Primary School.
A school that is no stranger to the Lotus Sustained Achievement Award is River Valley High School (RVHS). With four such awards under its arm, and a host of environmental initiatives within the school, RVHS’ outreach extends to a mentorship programme with Jurong West Primary School. It even participates in the environmental program which is part of the annual Community Service Marathon organised by National Youth Council. “RVHS is glad to receive the prestigious Lotus Sustained Achievement Award for the 4th consecutive year. With each passing year, we strive to enrich and expand our environmental education initiatives, and make them more meaningful and engaging for students. We have also seen a shift towards more sustainable practices in our
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school. This award from the SEC is an affirmation of our efforts,” said Mr Gabriel Wong Woen Long, Vice Principal of RVHS.
Yet another recipient of the Lotus Award, is first-time participant MINDS - Lee Kong Chian Gardens School. This school for students with special needs has successfully integrated indoor and outdoor environmental learning into a singular experience, which the students have obviously grown to love. They join the Green Club – one of the Co-Curricular Activities – and affirm their stance on conservation through gardening, visiting parks, and getting involved in talks and community services. The school’s backyard now houses a pond and a Food Garden Trail and bears witness to a wide diversity of plant and insect life, which subtly reminds students of how precious life-cycles interconnect with the environment directly. “Appreciating Nature is a natural process which links our existence to our environment. We develop our students’ skillset through a lot of interactive hands-on learning because they see and learn things in a unique way. We are lucky to have teachers that recognise this. And the school is ecstatic at the recognition this Lotus Award brings, all the more so, as this is our first time participating,” said Ms Anuradha, senior teacher-in-charge of Green Club from MINDS – Lee Kong Chian Gardens School.
The SGA 2013 also marks the first time the 3R Awards, previously administered by the National Environment Agency (NEA) since 2003, is integrated into the event. The SEC will now administer the 3R Awards, which aim to educate students on the need to work towards zero waste by practising the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle). The 3R Awards saw a twofold increase in participation, from 106 last year to 230 this year, after it was integrated with the SGA 2013 programme.
“It is heartening to see the hard work done by schools to develop different activities to inculcate the 3R principles in the students. We are confident that the 3R Awards will continue to grow with the support of SEC’s diversified outreach efforts,” said Mr Ong Soo San, Director of Waste and Resource Management Department, NEA.
The breakdown of award recipients for the 3R Awards 2013 is as follows:
In addition to the Sustained 3R Achievement, Gold, Silver and Bronze awards that were handed out for the 3R awards, three primary schools and three secondary schools were singled out for demonstrating extraordinary qualities in their efforts towards zero waste.
S/N School Category Additional Award
1 Corporation Primary School Primary Best Outreach 3R
2 Queensway Secondary School Secondary Best Outreach 3R
3 Bendemeer Primary School Primary Most Holistic 3R
4 Chong Boon Secondary School Secondary Most Holistic 3R
5 CHIJ Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary Most Innovative 3R
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S/N School Category Additional Award
6 Guangyang Secondary School Secondary Most Innovative 3R
“Singapore has always been seen as a country with very high education standards. We will continue to capitalise on our position as role models to promote environmental advocacy in schools,” added Mr Raymond.
** END OF MEDIA RELEASE**
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
ABOUT THE SCHOOL SCHOOL GREEN AWARDS
The School Green Awards (SGA) is a simple environmental audit programme for schools. This programme gets students to work in teams to audit their school in order to submit a report on their environmental efforts. Based on the score, the school is eligible for one out of the four awards annually – the Palm, Hibiscus, Orchid, or the top level, Lotus Award. Schools that receive the Lotus Award for at least three consecutive years will be honoured with the Lotus Sustained Achievement Award. In 2013, schools with students with special needs will be eligible to participate in the SGA as well. Pre-schools too, will compete to receive the newly introduced Daisy Award.
For more information about the SGA, please visit www.sec.org.sg/sga.
ABOUT THE SINGAPORE ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL
Established in 1995, the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) is an independently managed, non-government organisation that nurtures, facilitates and co-ordinates environmental causes in Singapore. SEC’s work is founded on three pillars of action – Firstly, partnership with the people, private and public sectors of Singaporean society, to nurture a culture aligned with sustainable development concepts. Secondly, SEC rewards environmental excellence through awards schemes and product endorsement programmes, such as the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme. Thirdly, the SEC collaborates with partners to develop and implement training and learning programmes to build competencies in environmental sustainability within companies, thus keeping our business leaders ahead of the curve. Visit our website at www.sec.org.sg.
Each tonne of paper savings translate to savings in the form of:
• 18 trees • 67,500 litres of water • 9,500 kWh of power • 3,300 kg of greenhouse gas emissions
Hence, the equivalent savings from a reduction of 163 tonnes of paper usage is
• 2,950 trees • 11,062,286 litres of water • 1,556,914 kWh of power • 540,823 kg of greenhouse gas emissions
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Annex B: Photographs of Featured Schools’ Activities
Kinderland Preschool (MOE) Centre (Daisy Award)
Students reusing waste materials to make musical instruments as part of classroom art activities.
Celebrating Children’s Day with a book character parade. Parents helped to create unique costumes out of recycled materials of their children’s favourite book
characters.
CHIJ Our Lady of the Nativity Primary School (Lotus Award)
Participating in the Clean and Green Carnival 2012.
Visual literacy with 3R – P5 & P6 English lessons.
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River Valley High School (Lotus Sustained Achievement Award)
Sec 2 students making a sculpture out of egg cartons and mobile phones.
Tree planting activity on International Day of Biodiversity 2013.
Lee Kong Chian Gardens School (Lotus Award)
Students learning to water plants during their CCA hours.
Planting trees within the school compound.
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Corporation Primary School – Best Outreach 3R Award
Outreach at PCF Hong Kah North.
Games made from reusable and recyclable items available for playing to the public and pupils during the
open house.
Queensway Secondary School – Best Outreach 3R award
Newspaper collection by the students.
Students briefing the public on water issues at the launch of Sungei Ulu Pandan in July 2013.
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Bendemeer Primary School – Most Holistic 3R Award
An example of a recycling corner set up in a school
classroom.
Environmental club pupils and teachers teaching the public how to make bracelets using simple paper beads
made from old magazines and newspaper.
Chong Boon Secondary School – Most Holistic 3R Award
Bins for recycling aluminium cans and Tetra Pak
cartons in the school corridor.
Recycling outreach to Teck Ghee residents.
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CHIJ Our Lady Queen of Peace - Most Innovative 3R Award
Using unwanted plastic bottles to get a good workout
as part of the school’s “Eco-Sports” activities.
Environmental art exhibition on 3Rs in school canteen.
Guangyang Secondary School - Most Innovative 3R Award
Recycling bins are decorated and placed in every classroom to collect paper and plastic bottles. They are
cleared by the students every week.
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Students putting up the signboard of their games booth, which was made of toilet rolls and bottle caps, at the “Splendour of Green” Carnival organised by the
