The cat, who lives nearby and has been turning up frequently for the past couple of years to distract some of the school's 143 pupils, roamed freely among the assembled children and visitors at the special ceremony attended by Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull and Cr Jinty MacTavish yesterday.
The cat made sure it was in the limelight, playing with the strings of a special flag when it was presented to the school.
The award recognises the school's work over the past 11 years and marks the 10th anniversary of Enviroschools as a national movement.
There are 12 Green-Gold Enviroschools in the South Island and 49 across the country. Only one is a secondary school.
The programme is based on five principles which schools are encouraged to integrate into their learning and activities: empowering pupils, teaching and learning based on sustainability, honouring Maori perspectives, respecting the diversity of people and cultures, and developing sustainable communities.
The school's work has included introducing composting and vegetable gardening, reducing plastic wrap usage and working with the Dunedin City Council to rejuvenate Dundas Bush.
To receive the award, the school has to undergo a rigorous day-long process reflecting on its implementation of the five principles which involved its envirogroup, the Fantails, the board of trustees, the principal and a key teacher, plus external Enviroschools representatives.
The celebrations involved the sign presentation, a decorated recycled hat parade, sunflower-seed planting and morning tea.
