What does our GreenTeam actually do in Winter? Hibernate? Not at all! Even during the cold season, our school garden remains a vibrant place of learning. Perhaps less is visibly growing above the ground – but beneath the surface, and in the minds and hearts of our students and parents, a great deal is happening.
Autumn Clean Up – Taking Responsibility
Our winter traditionally begins in November with the Autumn Clean Up. As a school community, we come together to prepare the garden for the colder months. Leaves are raked, birdhouses repaired, hardy plants sown, and plant labels cleaned.
Through these hands-on activities, children learn how the seasons affect nature and why care and responsibility for a shared space are so important. They experience that sustainability means taking action. The shared meal afterward – this year featuring a delicious pumpkin and tomato soup – further strengthens our sense of community. Engagement connects us.
Building Hedgehog Homes – Experiencing Conservation Firsthand
A special highlight this winter was building hedgehog shelters with the Primary GreenTeam and the Grade 3 classes. Using simple materials such as leaves, branches, and a weatherproof cover, we created protective winter homes.
Here, conservation becomes tangible: students understand why safe shelters are vital for wildlife, develop empathy for local species, and realize that everyone can contribute to protecting nature. Learning by doing ensures that these lessons are lasting.
Christmas and Winter Market – Showing Commitment
In December, the GreenTeam demonstrated social engagement through creative sales events in the Staff Lounge and at the Winter Market. Handmade products found enthusiastic buyers, and all proceeds were donated.
Students and parents experience self-efficacy: their efforts truly make a difference. At the same time, creativity, entrepreneurial thinking, and a sense of responsibility are encouraged. School becomes a place where initiative and active participation matter.
Celebrating Success & Planning Ahead – Living Participation
The new year began for the Parent GreenTeam with a shared breakfast. Together, we reflected on our achievements and planned future projects. This conscious reflection and forward thinking strengthen not only planning skills but also participation. Every idea counts. This fosters motivation, identification with the school, and a strong sense of community.
Bird Feed Collection – Strengthening Community
From January to March, our Primary GreenTeam organizes its annual bird feed collection. A box at the school entrance invites the entire community to donate bird food. Once a week, it is collected and distributed in the school garden and the floodplain forest.
This initiative connects families, teachers, and students alike. At the same time, children learn about native bird species and their needs. Responsibility is practiced regularly and reliably – an important experience for young people.
Community Green Hub
Tuesdays have become something special. In the after-school kitchen, the Parent GreenTeam produces jams, chutneys, soaps, herbal teas, balms, and much more. Many parents support the initiative regularly, making Tuesday a social anchor within our school community.
Conversations, exchange, and collaboration naturally grow during this time – and often a cake is baked that brings a smile to the faces of school staff. Community grows through shared action.
Animal Tracks in the Snow – Learning Through Inquiry
A particularly magical winter experience this year was the snowfall. Excitedly, the Primary GreenTeam set out to search for animal tracks in the school garden. During a small rally, students discovered tracks, assembled worksheet pieces, and ultimately created their own books featuring the tracks of ten native animals.
Nature observation, inquiry-based learning, and creativity come together here. Children sharpen their awareness, gain knowledge about local wildlife, and take pride in their self-created results.
CAS Project: Herb Garden on the Rooftop Terrace – Taking Responsibility
Older students also used the winter productively. Two Grade 11 students are planning an insect-friendly and climate-resilient herb garden on the rooftop terrace as part of their CAS project. In an expert discussion with the Natural History Museum Leipzig, they deepened their knowledge about suitable plants, soil conditions, and regional suppliers.
This project demonstrates how initiative, scientific thinking, and sustainability can be meaningfully connected. At the same time, older students take on an important role as role models.
Our school garden in winter is anything but quiet. It is a space for learning, connection and future thinking all at once.
The GreenTeam’s activities promote responsibility, environmental awareness, social skills and self-efficacy. They show that sustainability is not a matter of season, but of mindset – and that shared commitment strengthens our entire school community.
