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.

     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 was appointed 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.   Following a review by An Taisce, in May 2007 we were  once again awarded the Green Flag. 

     In 2006/2007 Class 2.4 were won the prize for the best classroom and green area.

     Sarah & Amy who were the Environmental Representatives ( E.R.'s) for the class collected the Green school award on Award's night October 13th. on behalf of class.  Their prize was a day out at the Dunmore Adventure Centre which they enjoyed on October 23rd.

     The winners of the best classroom and green area in 2007/2008 was class 3.3.  Congratulations to the girls and their class tutor Ms Walpole  for the great effort put in during the year.

    A lot of effort went into winning this award which requires a class to keep their room tidy at all times, keep their green area tidy & separate the waste put in their bins. This class were a wonder with a sweeping brush and also participated in other Green school projects to do with litter.

     Members of the Green School Committee take turns in emptying compost bins  and raising and lowering the Green Flag.

Reduce   Reuse   Recycle

Conserve energy by turning off lights and closing doors when rooms are not in use.

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

Think Globally, Act Locally

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

THE 10 MOST POWERFUL WORDS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARE:

"IF IT IS TO BE - IT IS UP TO ME"