Soweto school Goes Green

by Admin · June 24, 2014

An Orlando West school in Soweto is about to see an ambitious multi-million rand project transformed into a green school and parish house to renovate the existing structures that have stood since 1946. KELSAY CORR�A finds out more about the exciting project.

Learners from St Martin de Porres High School in Orlando West, Soweto are excited about their new �green� school buildings and very knowlegeable about how the systems will work in the new project.

Originally built by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, St Martin de Porres High School in Orlando West, Soweto, is now under the patronage of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). Due to the rapid growth of the area, the school is set to see a complete revamp�one that is environmentally friendly.

From 1946 to 2003 the so-called temporary buildings schooled primary school children, but in 2003 it was decided that another Catholic high school was needed in Soweto: St Martin�s was the chosen site.

But by 2011, it was clear that something needed to be done about building more suitable facilities.

The existing buildings are in need of renovation, as little maintenance has been done over the years and adaptations are necessary to meet the requirements of a high school.

Therefore the school board has embarked on an ambitious multi-million rand project to improve the facilities.

But instead of taking the �easier� route, the school board opted to reflect Christian values in all areas of the renovation and build �green� structures�that is, buildings that use renewable building materials and environmentally friendly methods to control the climate.

The learners will not only be learning about climate change within the classroom walls, but will also be a part of the solution by spending their days inside green structures.

I had heard about this exciting project, so I visited the school and parish complex to see for myself.

Jesuit Father Bruce Botha is the current chaplain of the school and the figure behind the development of the site�s new green school. Kitted out with hard hat and reflective jacket, he was my tour guide for the morning.

When I arrived, the steel structure for the media centre had been erected and I watched as the structural insulated panels (SIPs) for the roof were placed.

The new school does not require foundations or brick laying. This makes it greener, quicker and cheaper to build. A steel structure is erected onto which SIPs are fitted. The SIPs make up the floors, walls and roof of the school. Within a week the floors, walls and roof of the media centre were installed.

�When all the work is done, a new green school consisting of 20 classrooms, a science lab, media centre and art centre will be built, the original school building and hall will be renovated, the current parish house will be converted into classrooms, and a replacement house will be built in a more suitable location on the property,� explains Fr Botha.

�All new buildings will be to a green standard. They will be designed to use natural light, heat and ventilation so that no electricity is used to heat or cool the buildings, and the electricity used for the LED lighting will come from photovoltaic cells [a process that converts solar radiation into electricity],� Fr Botha explained.

�The heritage buildings will also be sensitively upgraded using green technology. The project will enable the school to accommodate 720 learners.�

And the school will not only integrate environmentally friendly systems but also technologically advanced systems.

�Teachers will be encouraged to replace their well-loved, ear-marked textbooks with up to date versions available online via electronic tablets,� said Fr Botha. �Staff have been trained to use the new technology and will be ready to move over to tablet-based teaching later in the year.�

Felicity Herd, principal of St Martin de Porres High School, said that learners and educators are excited about the new school.

�The anticipation of the new green school has created great excitement among the learners, and a few tremors among the staff as they ready themselves to let go of out-moded teaching methods and embrace new technology,� she said.

I spoke to a group of matrics who are well-briefed on the project. They were able to tell me how the school will use rainwater in the bathrooms and gardens and that solar power will be converted into electricity to power the school.

The learners were proud to be the first matrics to complete their schooling in the new buildings. It�s even appropriate that the learners wear green to school every day�how fitting for their new green school!

Greening a School

St Martin de Porres� website (www.greenschool.org.za) describes the green school concept:

A green school is a school that is designed, built and managed in such a way so as to reduce its impact on the environment.

Architects have designed buildings that will use natural air flow to both warm and cool the classrooms, and to maximise the amount of sunlight each classroom gets for lighting.

The materials used are produced in an environmentally friendly way. The sun is used to generate electricity and rainwater is harvested for the gardens and toilet system.

Instead of using textbooks made of paper, electronic tablets will be used. Various food will also be grown for nutritional supplementation for students. In all areas, renewable resources are used.