Green-Schools is Ireland’s leading environmental management and education programme for schools. Promoting long-term, whole-school action for the environment Green-Schools is a student-led programme with involvement from the wider community. The programme is operated and co-ordinated by the environmental Education Unit of An Taisce. Spa N.S. is very proud to have been involved in the Green Schools Awards Programme since 2007 and has been awarded five green flags for
- Litter & Waste
- Energy
- Water
- Travel
- Biodiversity
Every year our Green schools committee is responsible for making sure that all classes and teachers continue to do their best to keep our school as green and clean as possible. As well as meeting regularly at lunchtimes with school coordinator Mrs. Linehan to work on the latest green flag, the children organise student and family surveys, monitor energy and water usage as well as the school’s overall waste and recycling habits. They also liaise with our hard working school caretaker, Mr. Padraig Walsh regularly.
We are a very active green school. Here are some of the other ways that we work to make our world a more sustainable place to live in
- Reduce, recycle and reuse waste where possible.
- Equip classrooms with recycling, compost and general waste bins.
- Minimise the use of paper in the school as much as possible.
- Conserve water and heat.
- Operate a ‘Walk on Wednesday’ initiative during the year.
- Students take responsibility for all lunch packaging, bottles and reuse them.
- Recycle batteries and mobile phones.
- Organise two recycling events in school during the year.
- Provide high-vis jackets to all pupils.
- Support students who opt to walk or cycle to school.
- Invite external speakers to discuss environmental issues or concerns.
- Grow vegetables every year in our school garden.
- Support local Tidy Town teams.
- Take part in the National Spring Clean in April.
Our aim as a Green School is to teach the children to respect their environment and to hopefully put into practice as adults what they have learned in school.
