We place a big emphasis on the 3 ‘R’s’- reduce, reuse and recycle. All organic waste is composted on site in the school. We have separate bins for plastics, paper/cardboard and non-recyclable waste. As a result of our efforts, we reduced the amount of rubbish leaving the school for landfill by over 50%.
We continue to work closely with Blessington Tidy Towns Committee and the more recent Blessington Transition Towns project.
The second module ‘Energy Awareness’ involved an audit of our use of energy in our school and generating awareness in the home of energy efficency. For two years we planned and implemented ways to reduce our electricity and gas bills. Posters advising users to be vigilant about turning off lights, keeping doors and windows closed when the heat is on and avoiding waste of water. At the same time we had to maintain our standards in Waste management! It all paid of when we raised our second flag in June 2009. It was a great day of celebration and the children really enjoyed the bouncing castles and outdoor party. Well done to Mrs. Lenehen, Michael Keogh and our Green Schools committee.
Our third flag was awarded on two years of work based on Water. Again an audit of our water consumption wass required and proceedures put in place to reduce our usage. The Board of Management changed our wash hand basin taps to push taps, inserted water saving devices into cisterns and fitted our incoming water pipes with indoor shut off valves to prevent flooding from burst pipes. Our Green School's Committee focused on the importance of conserving water and drew our attention to ways in which we as individuals and as a school can benefit from minding our water supplies. They organised
- a poster campaign
- a play about water from Jr. Infants
- an audit of water sources in the school by 1st and 2nd
- assembly for each class on the theme of water
- signage throughout the school reminding us to be vigilant
- and a look at our water meter to see how water consumption is measured.
Our GREENCODE incorporated a poem and a song which was learned by every pupil in the school and all pupils were given a list of the "Top Ten Tips" for conserving water at home .
Senior Infant classes visited St. Patrick's Well.
Our Day of Action on the 22nd of March, World Water Day was an enormous success.
- On that day parents visited the G.P. room to see examples of cross curricular work, projects etc. and see some of our students demonstrate various science experiments with water.
- Also on display that day were all entries for a photographic competition on the theme of Water.
- "Green Home"- workshop for parents were facilitated on the day by An Taisce.
All our work paid off when our committee met with Jim Callaly from Wicklow Co. Co. and told him about everything we have beeen doing and on how we are still committed to the Waste management and Energy Efficency modules. He was dead impressed by all he saw and said he was amazed by all we had achieved for a Junior School!!! We may be small but we got big vision! ! Our flag was presented in Croke Park and was raised in June with another great celebration!!!
Thanks as usual to all our pupils, staff and parents but especially our Green School Co-ordinator Mrs. Michele Lenehen, our caretaker Michael Keogh and our Green School Committee.
Work is now underway for our next module Transport which will involve a lot of cooperation with our Senior School, our local Gardaí and our community. In the next two years we hope to reduce the number of pupils driving to school and increase the number cycling or walking. We look forward to your support!
.
For more information on the Green-Schools environmental education programme visit www.greenschoolsireland.org
Back to the top
|
