Duke of Edinburgh

DofE - Year 9

 

Year 9 students at St Paul’s Academy are the pioneers of participating in the first Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award as we have become a Directly Licenced Centre. For the volunteering part of the award the Year 9 class have been working on the allotments to give them new life. The students have been clearing the weeds and replenishing the nutrients into the soil by introducing compost. They has also cleared the greenhouse ready to grow tomatoes and strawberries. Molly stated she is keen to “create a salad with tomatoes, lettuce and other ingredients as it is her favourite food”.

This is an important aspect of the Catholic ethos of the school by encouraging students to be stewards of their community as well as achieving an award that is sought by potential employers or further educational institutions.

 

Clinton was also key with other boys in the group by transferring the rotten wood and other rubbish left in the shed to the skip. This will reduce the workload of the premise managers of the site.

Katie and Ketsia dig up the weeds to prepare the ground for planting

Eniola and Josephine dig the weeds out for Simao to rake

Click below to play the video clip

Below you can see the activities of the other members of the DofE group. Molly, David and Jessica were fantastic stewards with helping to clean the greenhouse ready for growing summer vegetables and fruits.

Janet using the hoe to rake in the compost to replenish the nutrients in the soil

Molly, David and Jessica have worked hard to remove debris from the greenhouse ready to grow tomatoes next week

 

Quotes from students: 

The Year 9s have embraced the experience. Two students have quoted why it is important to them:

“A fun thing to be part of and involved in. This will support me further in life.” (Jessica Jordon).

“I was turning the soil to get rid of any weed and I would like to in the future grown potatoes.” (Ketsia Lueso).

Thames21

 

Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh students were a credit to their local community on the 8^th November. The students worked with Thames21 staff and volunteers to conserve a local wetland habitat along the Thames Road in Dartford. Despite inclement weather and low temperatures the Year 9 students were exceptional in volunteering and Ray Hudson from Thames21 remarked “It was one of the best groups he had encountered”.

Year 9 students in their waders head towards the wetland for deep water habitat restoration

 

The first group of students (shown below) were tasked with the activity of clearing the reeds from the wetland to promote greater growth from the water and improve biodiversity. This involved using bill hooks, shears and a slasher. This would also promote better light accessing the water and therefore increase plants and animals to the fragile ecosystem, including the endangered Water Vole. As you can appreciate this was a large task to be undertaken but students were compliment for the work completed by Thames21 staff.

Clinton using the shears, whilst Ketsia, Janet and Stevie clear cut reeds from the water to create bankside habitats for mice.

Meanwhile, the other group were tasked with removing the reed roots from the water. This deeper water habitat restoration, which involved wearing waders as water levels were higher. Students were given similar tools and small blades to cut the roots from the river bed. You can see the activity completed below.

Deeper water habitat restoration.

Simao cutting the roots of the reeds.

Clinton using a bill hook to cut the reeds.

Aisosa and Janet collecting the reeds to build habitats onshore for mice.

The Year 9 DofE students did a fantastic job of clearing the wetland habitat of overgrown reeds to allow sunlight to penetrate the water and encourage new growth. The students have now achieved 8 hours of volunteering towards their goal of 3 months and have completed an array of different activities- both within and outside of school – meaning that they will soon achieve this part of the award. Activities have included creating a community garden within school, tending to new tree saplings in the grounds, planting bulbs and wetland maintenance and enhancement. A superb effort from all the students involved.

 

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Thames21 - 19th November

 

Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh students in minus 2°C temperatures volunteered in the Thames Road wetland to cut back reeds to improve biodiversity for flora and fauna. As like the other group they were a credit to their local community on the 19^th November and were commended again as being one of the best schools Thames21 works with.

Year 9 students in their waders head towards the wetland for deep water habitat restoration alongside Diana Webb and PC Verrall.

The first group of students (shown below) were tasked with the activity of clearing the reeds from the wetland to promote greater growth from the water and improve biodiversity. This involved using bill hooks, shears and a slasher. This would also promote better light accessing the water and therefore increase plants and animals to the fragile ecosystem, including the endangered Water Vole. As you can appreciate this was a large task to be undertaken but students were compliment for the work completed by Thames21 staff.

David, Michael, Sara and Sean use the tools to cut back the reed bed

Meanwhile, the other group were tasked with removing the reed roots from the water. This deeper water habitat restoration, which involved wearing waders as water levels were higher. Students were given similar tools and small blades to cut the roots from the river bed. You can see the activity completed above where Matteo gets to grips with using a slasher to cut back the reeds. Ray from Thames21 is giving him a health and safety chat and guidance on how to use the tool efficiently.

 Sara using the slasher

 

The group at work and the evidence on an amazing clearance job for water vole and other creatures to use the wetland habitat

Chris from Thames21 gives the students (Tyler and Jayde) the guidance on how to remove the reed bed

The Year 9 DofE students did a fantastic job of clearing the wetland habitat of overgrown reeds and brambles to allow sunlight to penetrate the water and encourage new growth. The students have now achieved 10 hours of volunteering towards their goal of 3 months and have completed an array of different activities- both within and outside of school – meaning that they will soon achieve this part of the award. Activities have included creating a community garden within school, tending to the peace garden in the grounds with Dave the gardener, planting bulbs and wetland maintenance and enhancement. They have also learnt new skills, as you can see by Archie’s mastery in using the slasher above. A superb effort from all the students involved.

#Where’s your next St Paul’s classroom?

Year 9 Conserve the Environment

 

Year 9 students for a third time in two months help conserve the local wetlands along Thames Road in Dartford. The students worked in small teams to cut down reeds to allow sunlight to penetrate the water and encourage new growth. This reed material was then used to create marginal habitats along the water’s edge for rare species of water voles and newts.

The other group collected rubbish that had been washed downstream along the River Cray that had collected in the storm drain. In addition, the groups cut back brambles to further release growth from other species. The management of this unique ecosystem has provided the area with a new lease of life and could not have been done without the tremendous effort by all the students. Well done Year 9!

Year 9 group participated in conserving the environment with Thames21

#Where’s your next St Paul’s classroom?

 

SPA Outside Spaces

 

Year 9 students at St Paul’s Academy have been pioneers this year in supporting the local community and rejuvenating the school garden. They have supported improving the biodiversity of the environment whilst participating in the first Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award as we have become a Directly Licenced Centre. For the volunteering part of the award the Year 9 class have been working on the allotments to give them new lease of life. They have become dilapidated over a number of years and below are two images that cast a sad picture.

 

 The site used to be a thriving area full of wildlife and plants but has fallen into disarray

 

Site of old allotments that is now overgrown with weed, rotten wood and was unsafe to be used by students

 

With the help of a Jack Petchey grant we have received £1500 to rejuvenate the environment. The Duke of Edinburgh students (seen below) have been the pioneers in taking away the rotten wood from the allotments and coppicing the trees to make the raised bank more welcoming to visitors. They have also spent a considerable amount of time helping to improve the quality of the peace garden that had become overgrown with weeds.

Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh students who put a number of hours of volunteering into improving the environment before the Jack Petchey grant

The transformation has been quite incredible. Even before the grant the Year 9 students have removed weeds, planted saplings from Woodland Trust and prepared the foundations of raised beds to be installed. As you can see below from the photo of the Peace garden, the students have worked hard with the gardener to provide additional flowering plants, trim overgrown plants and lay down gravel to improve the aesthetics of the environment.

The St Paul’s Academy Peace Garden given a new lease of life by the Year 9 students

Work has now commenced on using the Jack Petchey grant money to install the raised beds. As you can see from below and photo 2 in this article the money has been used to buy treated railway sleepers. These will be more sustainable for the allotments than what was installed previously and therefore the garden can be enjoyed by generations of students to come. We have now laid the foundations for three raised beds; one of which will be for flowers to encourage insects back to the garden, such as bees. The other two will be used to grow our own food for the school canteen and to be given to students to take home.

 A raised bed installed where the old allotments were. The land has been cleared, gravel has been ferried down by students and has been placed in the bed before top soil will be added

 Two additional raised beds created by the Duke of Edinburgh students

The garden has moved from one that was disused and run-off to one that is now being used by students and staff alike. Please see our future publications and Twitter account for more details of activities continuing in the summer time. I must take this opportunity to thank Jack Petchey for the grant, which has been the catalyst to the transformation in this area. My thanks is extended to all those students who have aided in creating an environment that the school community can use. You are incredible assets to the school. 

The Year 9s have embraced the experience. Two students have quoted why it is important to them:

“A fun thing to be part of and involved in. This will support me further in life.” (Jessica Jordon).

“I was turning the soil to get rid of any weed and I would like to in the future to grow potatoes.” (Ketsia Lueso).

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Academy Garden

 

St Paul’s students harvest the first seeds of the community garden

Students have recently spent time in the garden utilising the rejuvenated space created in 2020 by Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh Award volunteers and key worker students during the first lockdown. The grant donated by the Jack Petchey Foundation has now been put to good use with lots of planting in the raised beds. Students who helped with planting last March have given future students the opportunity to harvest crops in the years to come.

We have now been able to purchase seeds to plant in seed trays or on the raised bank by the shed.  In March 2020, students from Year 7 to 10 were able to enjoy the sunshine and the Peace Garden and also contribute to improving the area’s biodiversity. This has resulted in various different summer crops including marrows, pumpkins, potatoes and courgettes. These vegetables have been used in the Academy Restaurant and have also been given to staff and students.

The Community Garden has provided numerous crops. The latest before Christmas saw rocket and mustard leaves for salads which was distributed to staff.

 

Students have completed various activities in the garden, including creating a wildflower meadow on the raised bank. This was strenuous work as the ground needed to be raked and watered before being planted with wild flower species, such as Ox Eye Daisies and Poppies. It is hoped that they will blossom in the spring to encourage bees and butterflies to the garden. Pictures of Freddy and Patrick show how the students harvested the crops for staff as part of their Duke of Edinburgh initiative for volunteering. These two exceptional students have now achieved 6 months of volunteering for an hour a week.

Freddy and Patrick in the raised bed.

Two additional raised beds created by the Duke of Edinburgh students; one for flowers and the other for vegetables.

The garden has emerged from being disused and rundown to one that is now being used by students and staff alike. We are hopeful that when we emerge from the current lockdown we will be able to plant seedlings in the shed for tomatoes, lettuce, radish and broad beans. The aim with the volunteering of students is now to run a gardening club as part of the skills section of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.  This will involve work on the raised beds and the planting of 450 saplings from the Woodland Trust to increase the biodiversity of our hedgerows, which are a vital habitat for migratory mammals and birds.

Please see our future publications and Twitter account for more details of activities continuing in the summer time. I must take this opportunity to thank The Jack Petchey Foundation for the grant, which has been the catalyst to the transformation of this area. I would also like to thank all those students who have helped to create an environment that the school community can use. You are incredible assets to the school.

 

The students have started the school project to be sustainable in growing their own food. Many thanks to Oliver, Jack (on his first day) and Rachael for being the first of many to plant seeds and maintain the garden. To date, we have had 50 students take part in the enhancement of this school environment through volunteering.

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Prep for DofE Expedition

 

Although the global pandemic has hampered the preparation for Year 11 to organise their Bronze expedition, this has not deterred them. As many of the cohort have completed their Skills, Physical and Volunteering stages, we have now started to prepare for the expedition in July. This is the first year group to participate in the Bronze Award Expedition stage at St Paul’s Academy and it is thanks to the D of E regional team for providing the grant to fund necessary kit that we are able to make the expedition a reality.

In addition, the students should be commended for making the school and wider community a better place through the different activities they have participated in. A special mention goes to Toyosi, who has volunteered at a charity shop at the weekend to help the local community.

Picture 1: Leo’s team contend with the winds on the field. They were the first to pitch the tent.

This was the first time the students have had to get the Duke of Edinburgh kit out of the store and put it in practice.

Some of the teams were not as quick as Leo’s team, taking over an hour. However, given this is a novice situation for many they can be forgiven!

Picture 2: Angel’s team worked hard to pitch the tent.

Students on the Bronze expedition will be assessed by a member of the Duke of Edinburgh staff at school on 20 conditions, which include tent-pitching, map reading and cooking an evening meal on a stove.

These skills will be developed over the next couple of weeks and will be a welcome respite from GCSE revision.  On Monday 9^th May, the six-person teams will plan their routes for their expedition to Shooters Hill using six figure grid references. Students have already developed skills needed for the walk, including First Aid and team-word skills.

Picture 3: The twins (Patrick and Freddy) prepare for sleeping in the four person tent.

Picture 4: Team Nana enjoyed the experience.

 

 

DofE Expedition planning

 

Year 11 Plan their Duke of Edinburgh Expedition Route

Year 11 are now in the middle of planning expedition routes for their Bronze Award qualification. Students have been revisiting four and six figure references, compass skills and map symbols in an aim to plan their route to Shooters Hill. The planned expedition dates will happen in June and July and are the first to happen since the school has become a fully Licenced Centre. This has been due to forced closures due to lockdown.

Picture 1: Nana’s Team plan their expedition route using the OS Map of South East London

This was the first time the students have had the opportunity for route planning and all 10 teams are now prepared for their walking routes to Shooters Hill. Our main aim for the expedition is to support the wider community and this can encompass different activities, such as litter picking and volunteering taking place along the route.

 

Picture 2: A picture of envy with Nana modelling her new expedition kit

The picture above is significant in our progress of developing a sustainable Duke of Edinburgh within the school. Nana – a student in Year 11- has been awarded with a 65-litre rucksack from the Cotswold Outdoor Company. This award is due to Nana – despite being in lockdowns – becoming the first student to achieve the Volunteering, Skills and Physical sections in the school in 2020. Her activities included walking as part of the physical section during lockdown along the Thames River pathway. Nana has also completed 3 months of online courses with the iDEA website and improved the biodiversity of the school through planting trees, maintaining the Peace Garden and planting crops in the school garden. Nana should be commended for her efforts and has become a role model for other Year 11 to follow in her footsteps.

 

Picture 3: Nana displaying the newest expedition kit that she has been awarded.