Tree Planting

What does our Future Hold?

As part of a project titled ‘What does our Future Hold?’, Year 6 children wanted to explore the effects of global warming and pollution. The children’s lines of enquiry directed the project towards a study of excessive and unnecessary plastic use, and the problems plastic pollution was causing for our planet.

Pupil Voice

Pupils voiced their concerns about our traditional balloon release at the St Mark’s end of year Leaver’s Service – and as a result an exciting and lively debate was held! Our pupils voted in favour of no longer releasing helium balloons during the ceremony (we learned that even biodegradable ones are not environment or wildlife friendly!) and instead agreed on a new tradition for our Leaver’s Service…

A New Tradition for St Mark’s

In July 2019, our new Leaver’s Tree was planted in the grounds of our school. The Year 6 children decided that the oak tree would represent the children’s roots, securely embedded within our Christian school community, with the trunk and branches symbolising how children “flourish and grow” at St Mark’s. The children then wrote their hopes and aspirations for the future on dissolvable paper which they hung on the branches of the Leaver’s Tree using biodegradable twine during the ceremony.

Making a Difference

This is an excellent example of courageous advocacy where our pupils wanted to make a significant difference to their world and raise awareness, not just for their own Leaver’s Service, but for all future Leaver’s Services at St Mark’s. From now on, each Year 6 class will follow the same tradition as set by the Leaver’s of 2019, something which we are very proud of at St Mark’s for making a difference globally.