GREEN SCHOOL

In 2001 St. Mary's was awarded its first  prestigious EU Green Flag. The Green School initiative is a Europe-wide project encouraging and acknowledging whole-school action for the environment.  St. Mary's became the first school in Ireland to be awarded the flag in less than a year.

The 3-Rs, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, are an intrinsic part of the life and ethos of the school. St. Mary's students and staff compost all organic materials daily.  Cans, glass, newspapers, cards, plastic bottles, ink cartridges and batteries are all recycled.

The school is divided into indoor and outdoor green zones with each class group responsible for one of each.  Each week green points are awarded to the best areas.

Wexford County Council implements the programme in conjunction with An Taisce and is a regular presence in the school. The programme involves the whole school; teaching staff, maintenance staff, cleaning staff and students, all are represented on the Green School Committee.

In 2003 St. Mary's  added the Green Schools' Energy Programme to its Waste and Litter Programme  A very active Green School Committee spearheaded the programme. Window box competitions and poster competitions were  used to support our programme.. Energy awareness week was a great success and following a review by An Taisce, we were  once again awarded the Green Flag.  Ms Anita Fennelly initiated and co-ordinated the Green School Programme from 2001 to 2004

Renewable Energy Project 2004

Well done to class 2:3 on their presentation at the Renewable Energy National Conference. The event was organised by Wexford Energy Management Agency.

As St. Mary’s is a designated green school, the students researched the mechanisms behind various forms of renewable energy and then carried out case studies on their own areas and suggested suitable sources of Sustainable Renewable Energy taking all factors (culture, economy, tourism, planning and climate) into consideration. All sites were plotted onto a 3-D plan of the south east from Forth Mountain to Tory Hill and from the Saltees to Mount Leinster.

The class exhibit was awarded a prize of educational Lego and from this, the girls constructed a solar – powered car and a wind turbine.

The finished model and lego constructions are now on display in the school Library and are also used as a teaching resource.  Well done to all the girls concerned and a special word of thanks to Mrs. Eva Kelly for her enthusiasm and guidance.

In 2005 St. Mary's was involved in a number of projects which led to the retention of the Green Flag for another two years. 

Mrs Eva Duhig is the new co-ordinator of the Green School Programme  for 2007 and works with a very active Green School committee on a number of environmental projects including energy and litter and waste management. 

Reduce   Reuse   Recycle

A dripping hot water tap wastes energy
and in one week wastes enough hot water to
fill half a bath.

Leaving electrical appliances on "stand by"
wastes energy and means higher E.S.B. bills

Colours of the wind

ER of 2001

Our first compost bin

Celebrating the earth on Green Day with a dance called "Colours of the Wind"

Darina Allen, Ballymaloe presenting Lisa Brennan with her prize for best ER of 2001

We receive our first of many compost bins from Carol Walsh, Composting Unit, Wexford County Council

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Colours of the wind

Celebrating the earth on Green Day with a dance called "Colours of the Wind"

 

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