Kellerwaldschule Frankenau has received ESD certification

For many years now, pupils at Kellerwaldschule Frankenau have regularly received diplomas as confirmation that they are receiving an education in their classes that enables them to think and act in a sustainable way. Now the school as a whole had also applied to be recognised as an institution with such "Education for Sustainable Development" (ESD). With success: after a one-year certification period, the Kellerwald School has received the "ESD School Waldeck-Frankenberg" award.

At a ceremony attended by the entire school community and a number of parents, the diploma was presented by the Waldeck-Frankenberg district school authority. After the "Schule am Goldberg", a primary school in Allendorf (Eder), and the Mathias Bauer School, a special school in Bad Wildungen, the Kellerwald School is the third school in the district to be certified as an ESD school. The award recognises the educational institute's special commitment to facing the important challenges of the future and tackling them in the spirit of sustainable development.

Two projects were set up and further developed by the Kellerwald School during the certification period: "17 sustainability goals" and "Improving the habitat for animals in the school environment". In the case of the sustainability goals, one of the sustainability goals is presented and explained in a child-friendly way every month as part of the Kellerwald School's "plenary assembly" (weekly meeting of all schoolchildren and teachers in the assembly hall).

In the weeks that follow, all classes work in different subjects such as art, religion or science lessons in more depth on the goal presented. Where appropriate, extracurricular experts, e.g. food bank employees, are involved or projects are implemented, e.g. a swap flea market. The aim is for the children to better understand the impact of their own actions on the global future and grasp the connections by engaging with the SDGs.

The Kellerwald School already had a school garden before it applied to become an ESD school, which is maintained by classes 2 - 4 as part of the "GEKO-AG" (gardening, harvesting, cooking). The garden can also be experienced as a habitat for insects and soil organisms. The children also learn about growing and preparing regional food.

Some of these already existed, others were created as part of the improvement of the living environment for animals: an insect hotel, a sandpit for earth-nesting wild bees, bat boxes and self-built bird nesting boxes. In addition, an insect-friendly environment was created for a better fauna habitat by growing flowering plants and mowing the green areas late or only rarely. In addition, a biotope and a compost heap were created, beeswax cloths were made and a green classroom was built for outdoor lessons.

Caption: The school community of Kellerwaldschule Frankenau and representatives of the Waldeck-Frankenberg district authority are delighted to be certified as an ESD school. (Photo: District of Waldeck-Frankenberg)

Keywords:

Schools and Education Service Education for Sustainable Development ESD School