In accordance with our Educational Philosophy, we promote a respect for the environment.  Our Green Schools Committee is active in promoting this ideology and by putting it into practice in real terms.

This year we are to be awarded the Green Schools Flag which is in recognition of our work to create an environmentally friendly school.  We are the first second level school in Kilkenny to be awarded the flag.

23 April 2010 was a special day for our school as it was the day in which we raised the Green Flag for the first time.  A special ceremony was organised by our Green Schools Committee and was attended by our very special guests: Bishop Seamus Freeman, Lord Mayor Malcolm Noonan, Minister Mary White T.D., Senator John Paul Phelan and Cllr. David Fitzpatrick as well as representatives of An Taisce and Keep Kilkenny Beautiful.

What is Green Schools?

Green Schools is an international project designed to encourage and acknowledge whole school action for the environment. In our school a group of 18 transition year students are on the Green Schools committee as well as a teacher overlooking the meetings and helping the girls with ideas.

The Benefits to Your School

The Green Schools award scheme can help schools to:
• Improve the school environment
• Reduce the litter and waste
• Reduce fuel bills
• Increase environmental awareness
• Involve the local community
• Create links with other schools in Ireland

What We’ve Done So Far

• Held an assembly for first years so we could educate them about the role of the Green Schools committee in the school.
• We had a battery collection for the whole school and collected a total of 652 batteries.
• We divided ourselves into groups of 3 or 4 and assigned ourselves to first year classes, so that we can personally inform them about any upcoming events and about the Green Schools.
• Held a quiz for first years on the 15th of October, which included questions about the environment.
• Hosted a ‘Bring home your own rubbish’ day on the 18th of November and as it a great success we are now going to carry out a ‘Bring home your own rubbish’ day once a month.
• Ran an Eco-Action from the 18th to the 22nd of January, which involved;
o A thought for the day everyday.
o Face painting while raising awareness about Green Schools.
o Hosted Miss Green Queen for 1st years. This meant that Miss Green Queen was the most eco-friendly among 1st years.
o Bring home rubbish day.
o Battery Collection
o Had a visit from Mrs. Mary White.
o Visit from an inspector, from An Taisce, who would decide if Loreto would receive a Green Flag.
• Received news two weeks later that Loreto would indeed receive a Green Flag.
• Held a pancake sale, during lunchtime, on the 25th of February. We raised €104.20 for Green Schools, so we would like to say a huge thank you.

Our Agenda

• Run a competition for the design of a mural and then allow the winner to paint the winning design on a section of the wall on the grounds of the school.
• Run a ‘Bring home your own rubbish’ day once a month.
• Make a film so that it can be used to educate future first years on the role of the Green Schools and also on how they can help keep the school litter-free.
• We also hope to peer-teach our first year classes about recycling and other green things.
• On the 2nd of March 3 girls on the Green Schools as well as Mrs. Glynn will go to Hotel Kilkenny, where the National An Taisce Awards will be held, to receive the Green Flag.
• We, the Green Schools Committee, are currently planning a special morning at the school, when the Green Flag will be raised. A date is not yet finalised, but we are all looking forward to the celebrations.

 

 

 

 

On Thursday the 17th of November, 5 members of the Green Schools committee travelled to Dublin for an Eco-Unesco workshop. Aoife Kenealy, Edwina Maher, Louise McKenna, Sinead Doran and Edwina Maher were the 5 girls, joined by teacher Ms. Makey. We arrived in The Greenhouse in Dublin about 10.30, where we recieved name tags and maps. We settled into a presentation from Eco-Unesco about themselves and the Young Environmentalist awards. Also giving presentations was the green company Donegal Pens and the creators on the “ Carbon Footprint Calculator” application. What these people have in common is that they are youths with green companies. When this finished we were split up into groups and brought on a walk around the Grafton Street/Temple Bar area. We got to look around certain shops and give our opinion on why they are green and environmentally friendly. It was really interesting to see how much some businesses care about recycling and saving energy to help the community. After lunch we were brought to the Wood Quay venue where we listened to talks from Cornacopia and Rothar. Different businesses but with the same “being green” idea in mind. After all the inspirational talks we were only delighted as a school group to start brainstorming on our own idea’s! After planning and much disscussion we decided to enter the Young Environmentalists Awards. We sent in our application on the due date, Friday 25th of November. Overall they workshop was enlightening and enjoyable!

On the 16th of November as part of Eco Action week in our school we had a peer education day. The event co-ordination group in the Green Schools Committee put together a 40 minute presentation. It was about Green Schools in Loreto and included giving out many different environmental facts. Every member of the committee had the chance to experience standing up in front of their peers and delivering this presentation. It was given to classes from 1st – 4th year and was received well by all. A lot of work was put in by the event co-ordinator’s to make the presentation engaging and interesting for everyone. This was the first year green schools have delivered a class on peer education and hopefully it will be continued in the school from now on.

Next week is eco action week. A time to become more aware of our environment and save energy. Here are the events planned:

Monday Poster Competition for 1^st years

Tuesday: Face Painting

Gum Litter Task Force

Wednesday: Peer Teaching for 1^st-4^th years

Thursday: quiz in the library

Friday: Cake Sale

Classroom Clean-up