Theme One – Waste
We achieved our first Green Flag in June 2010 for ‘Waste’.
Our targets included:
- Recycle paper in all classrooms.
- Collect cartons, plastic bottles and plastic for recycling.
- Assign litter pickers in the yard.
- Collect batteries for recycling.
- Hold an annual Spring Clean Up Day.
Work continues with these targets. We have four separate bins in each classroom – paper, plastic, food and general waste.
Theme Two – Energy
We achieved our second green flag in May 2012 after working on the theme of ‘Energy’ between September 2010 and May 2012.
Our targets included:
- Close blinds when leaving the classroom at the end of the day to retain heat.
- Turn off whiteboards and laptops when not in use.
- Turn off lights when leaving the classroom.
- Ensure that all light fixtures are fitted with energy efficient bulbs.
- Turn off the radiators before opening windows.
In conjunction with Glanmore Foods, we reduced the number of plastic bottles we were using each day in school by installing water filters in some areas of the school and giving the pupils reusable plastic bottles which can be refilled each day.We continue to work on these targets. Students continue to use the reusable water bottles and filters are now installed in all classrooms. New windows have made our school warmer and more energy efficient. Laptops, whiteboards and lights are all turned off when leaving the classroom.
Theme Three – Water
We received our third Green Flag in June 2014. Saving water is not just about saving money. Water is an important resource and clean water is essential to the health of both people and the environment. We need water to grow crops and have enough food to eat.
At St. Catherine’s we save water in the following ways:
- We have water-saving push taps and modern cisterns in our toilets.
- We save left over drinking water to water plants and wash art tools.
- We drink filtered tap water instead of bottled water – which is not only better for the environment, it also allow us to cut down on our waste.
Theme Four- Travel
We continue to work on the theme of travel and encourage children to walk, park and stride, carpool or use public transport. The ‘Green Boot Award’ is awarded to a different class each week who have made the best effort to walk to school.
Transport Slogan
Whether you’re playing with friends or strolling in the sun, when you’re walking to school it’s always fun!
National Walk to School Week
May 16-20 2016
We were delighted to celebrate National Walk to School Week last week. 55 children walked to school on Wednesday, which was National WOW day. Well done girls!
Our Green School
Littering is bad,
Littering is uncool,
Don’t ever do it,
Especially in School
Ms. Savage will be watching
All the time
Don’t think of littering,
It’s like committing a crime.
Pollution is dangerous,
Not just for rivers and lakes
Help stop pollution
For all of our sake
With a smile here and there,
Walking is fun,
Don’t take your car,
Come on, join our run!
by Brooke, 5th Class
We’ve had a very busy year promoting Green travel.
You can read all about it in our Newsletter here.
St. Catherine’s Awarded Travel Flag
May 24th 2016
We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded our fourth green flag for transport! Hollie, Brooke and Ella from the Green Schools Committee went with Ms. Savage to the Helix in DCU to collect the flag. It was a wonderful celebration of the girls’ achievement. Thank you to all parents and pupils who have made a special effort to use their cars less and walk to school to ensure a healthier environment for future generations.
Theme Five – Biodiversity
We have started working towards our fifth green flag which is for ‘Biodiversity’. Every class planted seeds including carrots, lettuce, marrow and sunflowers, these were then be transferred to the school garden. The school garden is new as of this year and contains an insect hotel. Classes will visit the garden to learn more about biodiversity. In June, 4th and 5th classes recently participated in a Biodiversity Workshop with a representative from An Taisce. 2nd Class planted daffodils and tree saplings as part of Tree Week. In October we held a ‘Biodiversity Parade’ in which the children dressed up as plants, animals etc.
Working towards our Fifth Green Flag for Biodiversity.
3rd Class have been busy planting seeds as part of the ‘Grow n Sow’ programme.
Our new school garden looks amazing!
2nd class had a great afternoon planting daffodil bulbs in the garden.
Sow and Grow Packs are going down a treat in our school.
Classes have planted spinach, cress and peas.
We explored the trees in our school garden recently.
We found a beech tree, horse chestnut tree, holly tree and sycamore tree.
We were delighted to receive our 5th flag for Biodiversity recently in DCU. Ms. Shovlin and three members of the Green School’s Committee went to D.C.U. to collect the flag.
Great work everyone!
We were delighted to come Runner-Up in the final of the Dublin City Neighbourhood Awards in the Mansion House for all our environmental work and improving the local area.
Theme Six – Global Citizenship Biodiversity and Food
We are working on our sixth Green Flag for Global Citizenship Biodiversity and Food. We look forward to piloting this new flag over the next two years.
Firstly, we conducted an awareness survey before the Christmas Concert.
The planting has started and we have prepared the garden for the spring-summer seasons.
Check us out on News2day speaking about plastic pollution in our seas!
Ms. O’Brien’s Class have been busy keeping an eye on their hatching chicks. Many have now hatched and are ready for new life on the farm.
Ms. Heeney’s Class have been busy making doll houses using recycled materials including old election posters.
Well done girls!
We really enjoyed a recent Food workshop from the Green Schools Team. Huge thank you to Meabh and Michelle for all their hard work. We loved it!
