Environmental sustainability is becoming increasingly important globally and at a community level. It is therefore important that we identify what we can do at a local level to highlight and support existing initiatives as well as identifying gaps where we could develop new projects/initiatives. Whilst COVID interrupted our work on this project, we have begun by identifying what environmental sustainability means to the Halswell Community Project and what we do / can do to support environmental sustainability.

Environmental sustainability comes about when the environmental, economic and social needs of a society are met in the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. In the words of a student at the Sustainability Academy, Burlington, VT

"Sustainability means doing more good than harm with the people around us and the stuff we have" 

Making Halswell Community Project more sustainable is about looking at what we do, what we're buying, and how we’re using and disposing of things. It’s also about moving to eco-friendly, local, organic or low-emissions alternatives.

With this in mind HCP has already identified the following initiatives:

• Providing recycling at all events and at the Halswell Hub

• Reducing energy usage and wastage at the Hub

• collecting used sports gear as part of the Give Gear Get Great program

• Collecting wine bottle lids for Kidney Kids

• Sharing shack - sharing of resources from gardens

• Book shack - sharing books and resources

• School holiday craft activities that encourage recycling or upcycling

• Using UPSTREAM for services which benefit young people

• Choosing products and services that show a commitment to

• sustainability whenever we can

• Promoting and supporting environmental initiatives through facebook

• Reducing the amount of printing in the administration of HCP

• Collecting bread tags which are recycled to support wheelchairs in South Africa

What can you do?

Individually we can all make a difference.  If we all try and recycle everything we can, reduce waste and share resources we can make a community wide difference.

Some suggestions for living more sustainably might include:

• Reducing CO2 by driving less - walk, bike or take the bus if you can or if you cant share the drive with others :-)

• Run full loads through the washing machine and dry your clothes on a clothesline when you can

• Take shorter showers

• Use recyclable or reusable products whenever you can - eg keep cups, metal straws, reusable shopping bags

• Install LED lightbulbs to use less power

• Bring your old wine bottle lids and bread tags into the Hub so we can recycle them for you

• Shop local and try and support local businesses where you can

• Slow down and dine in rather than getting take away

• If you have a garden - try growing your own fruit and veg, if not try joining a community garden

• Swap / share  resources - books, clothing, excess fruit and veg,

                         

We are aware that many groups and organisations in the community also have environmental sustainability at the forefront of their planning - if thats you - please do let us know!!!

Many local schools for example have garden to plate programs, the Huritini Student council are passionate about Westlake park and there are regular planting days at Halswell Quarry. We plan to identify other initiatives we can set up or take part in as well as identifying and sharing other examples of sustainability across our community.

Great News for Halswell!!

Halswell Community Project have been leasing the old Library building at 381 Halswell Road from Christchurch City Council until recently,  but have been working closely with council staff to secure the building for the use of the community in the longer term. 

We are excited to report that at the recent council meeting, councillors voted unanimously to gift the building to HCP which means that the Halswell Community Hub can continue to serve the local community for many years to come. Thanks to the Halswell Hornby Community Board and Anne Galloway for all their work and support on this project.

The Hub is open      Monday 9 - 5pm

                                Tuesday 9 - 2pm

                                Wednesday 9 - 5pm

                                Thursday 9 - 2pm

                                Friday 9 - 1pm

There is lots happening so pop in to have a look around or chat to Kate and Keri to find out more!

A few years ago a discussion at one of our monthly connections meetings triggered a survey of facilities and activities in the Halswell area with an emphasis on accessibility for those living with disabilities. Whilst on the whole many buildings and facilities were able to cater for people living with disabilities, one of the things that came out of it was the lack of play equipment in the are. 

Our local councillor, Anne Galloway, picked this up and after much discussion and planning we are excited to see that play equipment specifically designed for children with disabilities will be installed on the Halswell domain near the existing playground by the trains. This will be a real asset to our community and all who come to use it :-)

Halswell Connections - May 2021

This month we met offsite at Hillmorton High School to check out their new building.

Hillmorton is a diverse, medium-sized Years 7-13 school with a dedicated Middle and Senior School. The size and scope of the school means they are able to provide students with a caring and supportive environment, where they are known as an individual from Year 7 through to Year 13.

Ann Brokenshire (principal) and Duane Major (Board Chair) showed the group around the new building - Aonga Ake. This building is located at the front of the school site nearer the road to give the school a greater more welcoming presence particularly for new students and parents who are a welcome part of the school community.

Ann described how the building was designed to bring the middle school, years 7 - 10, together and give them a sense of belonging and inclusion.  The design and architecture aims to reflect all the different cultures represented in the school and students had input into the design and features. The spaces are designed to be flexible with single cell classrooms that can open up into the bigger spaces to be used as teachers/ classes wish.

Part of the new building brings Ko Taku Reo (Van Asch school) into the main school and these students have classrooms within Aonga Ako which again helps with their sense of belonging to Hillmorton.

The masterplan for Hillmorton is for 2000 students with a current roll of just over 1000. The school has seen a period of growth with the current year 9 being the largest the school has seen at 237 students. It is expected that this growth will continue and roll up.

Hillmorton has a great board who are all heavily invested in the school, most of their own children attend.

Ann shared several stories of students' successes and acknowledged that the school would like to do more of this within the wider community.  Many parents share that their children's school experience at Hillmorton prepares them for the real world because it is enriched by the diversity within the school

We discussed the free school lunches trial which Hillmorton is a part of. The team at UCSA have been doing regular student and parent surveys to improve the service and food provided and the school is seeing an increase in uptake by students. Students eat in their Whanau groups which is working well as eating and relating go hand in hand and helps to build relationships and that sense of belonging. All packaging is recyclable and any lunches not eaten are passed onto other organisations or back to the University who use them in their food bank for students who may be struggling. This means that even if not eaten at school, the lunches are not going to waste.  Long term the school would love to have a full cafeteria providing choice and hot food but this is a long way off.

Keri asked how the no cell phones policy was going.  The overwhelming results are successful. As well as students being more engaged in other activities, staff have seen a huge drop in the number of phones being confiscated each day - 10 per day being the max currently. In a school of over 1000 this is a great result. Instead students are spending time in the library or engaged in sports, card games and talking to each other.

One spin off of the policy was the need to put clocks in each classroom so students could keep track of time - and therefore the need to teach lots of students how to read an analogue clock.

Sally asked how the school deals with the sometimes negative perception the public may have.  Ann said it was simple really - by focussing on the positive and championing the students they have. The school is very family oriented and works closely with individuals to solve problems. They have a great pastoral wrap around culture which means they have one of the lowest stand down rates in Christchurch.

During questions, Ann outlined how the biggest challenge Hillmorton faces is how to develop a culture that retains the pastoral wrap around that is key to Hillmortons success. This involves setting structures at deputy and associate principal level, year levels,pastoral leadership and increasing teams within the staffing so that decisions are made as close to the point of impact as possible.  The board currently funds some staff to enable the class sizes to be kept smaller

Setting the culture - high expectations - then allows the strategy to be put in place to develop that culture.

Duane suggested the tension between size and growth could be managed by growing slowly and growing well. Planning and culture are key to this with the school being whanau orientated and committed to their visions of working with their communities,  nurture well-rounded and accomplished young people, prepared and ready for life

Finally Duane described the urgent need for the new gym.The 6 tennis courts that gave way for Aonga Ake have been replaced but the gym is needed urgently.  The school is hoping for a decision on this from the Ministry of Education in the next few weeks.

Meeting Closed 1.30pm

Next Meeting:     Tuesday 15th June at the Halswell Hub, 381 Halswell Road

Speaker:             Zahra Hussaini - communities supporting Migrant and refugee families