St Mary's NS prides itself on fostering a culture of sustainable living and helping the environment.
As a goal this year we have decided to embark on our Green School Journey. Our aim is to focus on the first theme of the green school projects 'Litter and Waste'. Stay tuned for all the exciting projects and activities that will be happening throughout the year.
As a goal this year we have decided to embark on our Green School Journey. Our aim is to focus on the first theme of the green school projects 'Litter and Waste'. Stay tuned for all the exciting projects and activities that will be happening throughout the year.
Our GReen school committee
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Our Journey so far...…. Step 1 : Our Green School Committee We have selected children from each class group to form our green school committee. Our secretary Mary, our caretaker John, Ms Daniel and Ms Conroy are all members of the green school committee. Step 2: Environmental Audit We are working hard on our Waste and Litter Flag in St Mary's NS. The children are working on a waste audit in the school and this will help us to make our plan of action in order to reduce our waste. We have identified litter 'blackspots' and have nominated our 'Waste Watchers' to keep an eye on our bin checklists and the number of bags being sent out to our bins every week. Step 3: Action Plan We are gathering lots of information about our bins and how much waste the school produces. We will soon be ready to put together our action plan. Stay tuned for more updates......... |
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New Green Schools Committee
Step 4: Monitoring and evaluaion
St. Mary's N.S successfully implemented an efficient recycling and compost system reducing the amount of general waste they were producing. Bin monitors empty the compost bins twice weekly and report any issues with the class.
Step 5: Curricular Links
Junior & Senior Infants
The Junior & Senior Infants completed questionnaires which questioned their knowledge of recycling at home and at school.
Since then they have been learning how to sort rubbish into the correct bins. They completed a cut and stick activity to sort items into the correct bin. They also worked hard to enhance our garden last year, sewing fruit and vegetables.
The Junior & Senior Infants completed questionnaires which questioned their knowledge of recycling at home and at school.
Since then they have been learning how to sort rubbish into the correct bins. They completed a cut and stick activity to sort items into the correct bin. They also worked hard to enhance our garden last year, sewing fruit and vegetables.
First, Second & Third Class
These classes also completed questionnaires based on recycling. They also completed a litter mapping activity around the school grounds and identified that littering is a problem in our school.
These classes also completed questionnaires based on recycling. They also completed a litter mapping activity around the school grounds and identified that littering is a problem in our school.
Fourth, Fifth & Sixth Class
The Senior room participated in questionnaires about their knowledge of recycling at home, at school and in the community. They made compost signs for each room outlining the items allowed in each bin. They took part in litter mapping around the school grounds and identifying litter black spots. The children designed posters about litter facts and battery recycling.
The Senior room participated in questionnaires about their knowledge of recycling at home, at school and in the community. They made compost signs for each room outlining the items allowed in each bin. They took part in litter mapping around the school grounds and identifying litter black spots. The children designed posters about litter facts and battery recycling.
Step 6: Informing and involving
St. Mary’s N.S. successfully implemented an efficient recycling and composting system reducing the amount of general waste they were producing. To eliminate litter blackspots, we had a litter pick up activities around the school grounds. The Green-schools committee members regularly monitor the bins and complete bin checklists. They empty the compost bins on a weekly basis and report any issues to the Green-schools coordinator. At committee meetings the team evaluate any programmes running to combat litter around the school and discuss if and how they can be improved.
Step 7: Green Code
Our Green School Code is an acrostic poem. The Green Schools committee distributed the Green Schools Code to each class and remind their class to recite it regularly.
St. Colman's Credit union presentation
Thanks very much to Laura from St. Colman's Claremorris & Ballinrobe for presenting us with a kind donation towards our school garden. She presented the cheque to our Green-Schools committee.
Cash for clobber
The children all helped to carry clothes bags out to the Cash for Clobber collection van.
Green schools committee - weee recycling
Thank you to everyone who brought in old and used household batteries. We nearly have ten full boxes. When they are all full they will be sent to WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Ireland for recycling. WEEE Ireland will make a donation to the Laura Lynn Ireland's Children Hospice for each box recycled so the more batteries collected then the more money that will be donated to Laura Lynn.
