Green Flag 2023
Photos from our Green School Action Day on Feb 10th. We are working towards our travel flag this year and encouraging everyone to leave the car at home and walk or cycle to school as much as possible. We went for a canal walk on the day and took the opportunity to do some litter picking too.
Congratulations to Melissa Mulvey and our Green Schools Team on achieving our third Green Flag for water awareness and conservation. Representatives of our Green School Committee will be awarded the flag at an event in Athlone on 24 May. We will have a Green Flag Day in the school to celebrate their success on 13 June.
Scoil Mhuire, Clondra, is currently taking part in the Green Schools Initiative. Green Schools (known internationally as Eco-Schools) is an international environmental education programme that promotes and acknowledges long-term, whole school action for the environment. Unlike a once-off project, it is a long-term programme that introduces students, teachers, parents and the wider community to the concept of an environmental management system.
Over 3,500 primary, secondary and special schools in Ireland are currently participating part in the programme and 2308 schools have been awarded the Green Flag. The Irish Green-Schools programme is one of the most successful within the international network. Most of the Local Authorities (City & County Councils) have an Environmental Education Officer (EEO). These officers provide the invaluable on the ground support to schools undertaking the programme.
Third Green Flag
Water is the third theme of the Green-Schools programme. The Water theme looks at developing awareness around water conservation and how to effectively manage this important resource in our schools and at home.
Melissa Mulvey is co-ordinating the programme within the school this year. We have already achieved two green flags and hope to receive our third this summer. A Green Schools Committee co-ordinates activities in the school. This committee is comprised of representatives from each classroom and staff members.
We recently held a Crazy Hair Day to raise funds for our new water butt and awareness of water conservation. As you can see from the pictures below, Crazy Hair Day was a great success
We also had a Canal Walk to raise awareness of the fact that many people in the world have to walk for miles to get clean water. Water also supports a diversity of plant and animal life.
Below are some of the activities we have taken part in, around the theme of Water awareness.
Wednesday 15 June 2016: Water Awareness Day
Water experiments in the classrooms
Clondra NS raise our Second Green Flag
The school year ended with great celebration as we raised our Second Green Flag.The second green flag involves teaching the children about energy and energy use. Part of the programme was a ‘No-Energy Day’ which involved the school using no energy for the day.
Our Green Flag for Energy Awareness raised on 24 June 2015. Private James Hussey did the honours in raising the flag and a great day was had by all. Gary Brady from Longford County Council’s Environmental Department also joined us for the day. And, thanks to the Parent’s Association, there was an ice-cream van!
Clondra NS raise our First Green Flag
The school year ended with great celebration as we raised our first Green Flag. Over the last two years, the students have been working hard to make their school a green school, with “green teams” being set up to tackle different tasks at break and lunch times.“It’s a huge achievement, especially for the kids” says Vice Principal and Green schools coordinator, Paula McGann. “Their ideas were brilliant. The majority of the ideas came from them!” The Green Schools Committee held meetings once a month, and that the children took their responsibilities very seriously, making sure that litter was picked up, cartons wahed out and items were put in the recycling bins.
A great day was had by all at the official Flag Raising Ceremony held on the last day of the school year. Helping the students of Clondra NS celebrate their achievement was Moone Boy star David Rawle, who plays Martin Moone in the hit show. Longford’s Damien Sheridan was also on hand for a penalty shootout which was enjoyed by all. Many thanks to Supermac’s and Papa John’s provided food for the celebrations.
A special word for thanks to Gary Brady from Longford County Council, was very supportive in helping us achieve our first green flag.