Green-Schools in Newbridge

Our Children are Leading by Example

Background:
The Green-Schools initiative is an International environmental education programme, designed to promote and acknowledge whole school action for the environment. Green-Schools offer a well-defined, controllable way to take environmental issues from the curriculum and apply them to the day to day running of a school. This process helps students to recognise the importance of environmental issues and take them more seriously in their personal and home lives. At present there are at least 28 countries participating in Green School's projects. When it comes to diversion of waste from landfill Green-Schools are showing an average reduction of 45% waste to landfill.

Some Statistics:
An Taisce stated in 2005 that there are over 2,000 schools participating in this initiative in Ireland, and in total 651 schools have been awarded the green flag at the end of 2005. There are five accredited Green Schools in Newbridge all of which are Primary Schools:

Green Flag Roll of Honour

St. Conleth’s Infants School – 4 green flags

St. Conleth’s & Mary’s Primary School – 3 green flags

Scoil Mhuire (Senior) Ballymany - 1 green flag

Gaelscoil Chill Dara, An Bóthar Glas - 1 green flag

Patrician Primary School – 2 green flag

Nationally very few Secondary Schools have achieved the Green Flag, and to date none of the Secondary Schools have been awarded the Green Flag in Newbridge, although some are working towards the award.


The Green-Schools programme can help schools to:

Improve the School environment

Reduce litter and waste

Reduce fuel bills

Increase environmental awareness

Involve the local community

Create links with other schools in Ireland and abroad

The Green-Schools award scheme is run by An Taisce and in Newbridge - Kildare County Council provides significant guidance and assistance to schools participating in the Green Schools programme. However Green-Schools is both a programme and an award scheme, with the Green-flag being awarded to schools which successfully complete the Seven Steps of the programme.

The Green Schools programme can facilitate sustainable development at a local level; pupils are encouraged to take an active role in devising practical steps to reduce the environmental impact of their school. This in turn leads to learning beyond the classroom and helps children develop responsible attitudes to their environment while in school, in the home or wherever they go. The Green Flag is only awarded to schools with high achievement in their Programme, is an internationally recognised and respected eco-label for environmental education and performance.

The core themes of Green Schools are reducing Water, Energy and Waste. Schools involved in the Green Schools programmes are also encouraged to participate in various themes and issues of relevance to Local Agenda 21.



What are the seven steps to being awarded the Green Flag?
Green Schools Committee: This committee directs the school's involvement in the Green Schools project. Ideally the committee should be comprised of pupils, teachers, non-teaching staff, school management and parents. Regardless of the type of school or age group, student involvement in the committee is essential.

Environmental Review: The Green School project begins with a review of the environmental impact of the school in order to identify targets for action and improvement. Pupils are involved in this work from assessing the level of litter on school grounds to checking the building for inefficiencies such as leaky taps or electric equipment left on overnight.

Action Plans: The information gathered in the initial environmental review is then used to identify priorities and create an action plan. The action plan should set realistic and achievable targets on how to improve the schools environmental performance, with target completion dates.
Examples of items which could be included in your action plan are:

A paper recycling policy

Use of Eco-friendly cleaning materials

Turning off lights, computers or other equipment when not in use

Recycling / composting

A litter-free school strategy

Monitoring and Evaluation: To ensure that progress is being made, and to enable the committee to adjust plans where difficulties are encountered, it is essential that the action plan in continuously monitored and re-evaluated. This will ensure that progress towards targets is checked, amendments made when necessary and success acknowledged and recognised.

Curriculum Work: Classroom study of themes such as energy, water and waste are undertaken by most students as part of the schools curriculum. The whole school should be involved in practical initiatives - for example, saving water, recycling materials and preventing litter. Curriculum materials are provided by An Taisce which will give ideas on how to integrate environmental issues into normal school lessons.

Informing & Involving: A publicity programme keeps the school and wider community involved and informed through displays, assemblies and press coverage. This brings Local Agenda 21 directly into schools as local authorities, businesses and the wider community are involved in the Green-school process. Green Schools are encouraged to consider the wider community when preparing action plans, and make ties with external organisations in order to benefit from their experience and expertise. A publicity programme keeps the school and the community informed of progress through classroom displays, school assemblies and press coverage. This also brings the Green School philosophy home where the lessons learned during the day can be used in a wider community.

Green Code Each school produces its own code (or mission statement) setting out what the school and students are striving to achieve. This code will be displayed at various locations around the school. Essentially this is a statement of the schools commitment to a sustainable environment.

Awarding of the Green Flag:
After a period of participation, an evaluation of the success of these initiatives and the methodology is undertaken, and the whole Green Schools programme for the school is assessed. The criteria for assessing schools for the award is very specific with set guidelines, successful schools are awarded the Green Flag.

The adjudicators will need to see evidence of whole school activities in their assessment for awards. The School will be expected to have achieved at least 2/3 of the objectives in their Action Plan. Kildare County Council are ready and willing to assist any school thinking of taking the Green School challenge.

Remember Green-Schools is a long-term programme, once a school receives the Green Flag, they will need to apply to have it renewed every two years. To keep the flag the school must continue to work towards their objectives, and keep expanding their environmental programme. The Green Flag can be flown outside the school or displayed in a foyer. Award winners will also receive a certificate, a logo to display on headed notepaper, and other publicity material.

Benefits of the Green Schools Programme

Increased Environmental Awareness: Students, teachers and parents are encouraged to use their new environmental knowledge in the everyday life of the school and home. This helps pupils to see the relevance of what they learn in the classroom.

An Improved School Environment: Students and staff can work together on such issues as reducing litter and waste and run the school in an environmentally conscious way.

Involvement of the Local Community: Local authorities, organisations and businesses have expertise in many areas of environmental management and are generally willing to cooperate, give help or advice. The result is a more integrated community.

Pupil Empowerment: Through the democratic process involved in Green Schools, pupils can take control of their own environment, learning and taking decisions about how to improve both their home and school environments.

Financial Savings: Actions undertaken throughout the programme will undoubtedly lead to savings in the school's energy bills and water consumption. Reducing waste and recycling will reduce the schools waste disposal outlay.

An Taisce provides support materials to each school that registers for the Green-Schools programme.

For more information on Ireland's Green-Schools Programme, please contact:
An Taisce Tel: 01 707 7067
E-mail: An Taisce Green Schools
Web: www.antaisce.org


Kildare County Council - Environment Section, Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas. Tel.: 045 980 588 or Fax.: 045 980 587
Web: www.kildare.ie/countycouncil
Email: Kildare County Council - Environment Section