‘We saw many plastic bottles ending up in the bin, which means they are being excluded from the recycling process, and that is, of course, absolutely not sustainable.’ According to biology teacher Sandra Durlinger, who is also part of the Healthy School working group. We asked her a few questions about the new recycling bottles at Haarlem College.
Why did you choose the recycle bottles?
‘We want to make the pupils aware that plastic bottles and cans can be recycled and hope that what they do here at school they will also do at home and encourage people around them to recycle too.’
What happens to the proceeds from recycled bottles and cans?
‘We want to use the deposit money from the bottles and cans to buy materials and resources for our pupils. In consultation with the student council, we will decide where the money will be spent. This could include, for example, games for indoors and outdoors, decorating the assembly hall, or tasty snacks for the canteen.’
Why is the healthy school important?
‘I think it's very important to make our pupils aware of or engage them with a healthy lifestyle. Within a Healthy School, attention is paid to various themes such as nutrition, relationships, sexuality, exercise & sports, environment & nature, media literacy, smoking, and information about alcohol and drugs. The aim of the Healthy School is to bring about an effective and lasting change in the lifestyle and health of pupils and staff regarding these (and other etc.) themes.’
What other projects has the Healthy School working group tackled?
‘Alongside recycling bottles, we have provided paper bins in all classrooms, healthy snacks and drinks in the vending machines and canteen. There is also free school fruit, smoothies and yoghurt for our pupils every day. In addition, we have arranged loan bikes for staff and pupils who don't have a bike, and various diversity and sexuality projects are running. It's quite a long list, but we're far from finished!’
What does the future for the healthy school look like?
‘Since last academic year, we have been allowed to display the Healthy School logo, having achieved the Relationships and Sexuality theme certificate. Furthermore, we are extremely enthusiastic about the themes of Movement & Sport and Nature & Environment. In connection with these themes, we are in the process of installing various sports equipment on the school playground, so that our pupils can be physically active together during breaks, and we are working on greening the school playground.’
The working group is already doing a very good job; when will the Haarlem College be a success as a healthy school for you?
‘I am extremely proud to be part of this working group. With the very inspiring leadership of colleague Yarah Hollander and the enthusiastic members of the working group, we have already brought about a great deal of change at Haarlem College. It is already a success, but it will be even better when students and staff become more aware of their own actions regarding the different themes that we, as the Healthy School working group, are working on. And of course, when this awareness actually leads to an improvement in their lifestyle. We will continue to work hard on that.’
