June - July 2007

Dear School Councils

I know many of you have been very busy since the conference planning Fairtrade activities in your school and discussing how you are going to make your school Fairtrade.

Getting There

There are lots of things  for you to do for the rest of the term! Hopefully you have already set up your Fairtrade Schools Committee and are ready to start deciding what the Fairtrade Policy for your school will be.  I know you’ve been thinking about your Fairtade Event and now you’ll have to organise and run it. Finally, if you’ve any extra time you can start looking at what Fairtrade products you can use in school.

Website

The website is your website. Not only does it have lots of useful information but most importantly your school has its own webpage. It’s really important to make sure that you are putting what you’re doing on your webpage, including lots of photos! Your teacher knows how to put whatever you want onto your school’s webpage. There will also be a bulletin board section where you can chat about what your school is doing with pupils from other schools.

Project Name and Logo Competiton

I imagine it was difficult for you to choose just one entry for the competition. I’m really impressed with all the entries and can’t wait to know the winner! Click on the project logo and competition icon under Timetable for Action on the project website to get details on voting.

Fairtrade School Event

• Don’t forget to share your ideas for your Fairtrade Schools event and document your event with lots of photos and a written report about it.
• Your whole school event could be part of the attempt to break the world record for a picnic by holding a whole school Fairtade picnic on Friday the 29th of June. Click on the picnic icon on the website to get more details.

Fairtrade Schools Policy .You will need to decide on and write your school’s Fairtrade Policy.

• You can get ideas by looking at the sample School Fairtrade Policy on the website .  Go to "Becoming a Fairtrade School " and then click on Criteria .
• Remember to make sure the policy is signed by the governors, the staff and you, the student council.

Getting Fairtrade Products into School

There are four areas where you can introduce Fairtrade Products in school:

• You can buy healthy Fairtrade products to sell in your tuck shop if you have one in your school and you can encourage pupils and staff to buy Fairtrade healthy foods for their snacks and lunch boxes!
• Try to persuade your teachers that they should be drinking Fairtrade coffee and tea in the staff room.    How are you planning on getting them to switch to Fairtrade if they aren’t already using Fairtrade products ? Share your ideas on the Bulletin Board.
• You can purchase Fairtrade sportsballs. As they are more expensive than ordinary sportsballs a number of schools have discussed initially buying Fairtrade balls to use in all their matches.   Remember to let us know your ideas on the website.
• You can see if it’s possible for your schools to buy Fairtrade uniforms.
• There is information about all these Fairtrade products and where you can purchase them under the Fairtrade Product section on the website. I will also be visiting you with product samples of healthy snacks and advice on best buys in buying fruit, juices, healthy snacks, coffee and tea.

My Visit

I look forward to meeting with you this term so you can tell me what you’ve been doing towards becoming a Fairtrade School. I’ll also use this meeting to show you product samples and to discuss where you can buy the products you like.

Evidence for Becoming a Fairtrade School

You and your Fairtrade teacher will have to show that you have done everything you need to in order to become a Fairtrade School. You can look under criteria with your teacher on the website and see how the Fairtrade Foundation wants you to submit all the evidence to show you have.

Look forward to coming to your meeting later this term.

Best wishes

Diane Isenberg
Fairtrade School Project Coordinator