The Convent Primary School, Mallow, Co. Cork, was awarded its 3rd Green Flag in June 2006, thus consolidating the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle practices within the school.Since participating inthe Green Schools programme the students, staff, parents and wider school community have become so involved, so interested and so immersed in the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle motto.
1.Initially the first task they undertook as a school community was to reduce the litter they created. This was achieved when both pupils and staff decided to no longer use cling film, tin-foil and drinks such as small juice packs which created quite an amount of daily waste. Instead everybody invested in a sealed lunch-box which stored lunches freshly without using cling-film or foil. Children were encouraged to use re-usable plastic bottles for their drinks, preferable milk, water or diluted natural juices. Both these moves really reduced the amount of lunch waste and rubbish.
2. Also at that time the school invested in a wormery and a compost container which absorbed skins, peels, tea-bags, withered flowers form nature tables, used shredded paper, left over food from cookery classes and from the Breakfast Club. Children were amazed to see the end result of this practice – namely diluted worm juice which nurtured our garden flowers and exceptionally organic compost which did likewise.
3. At this time so great was the interest in the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle campaign that they decided to appoint a Green Schools committee to monitor the continuation success of the above. Two children from each class, some parents, teachers and our local Traffic Warden, representing the U.D.C., made-up our Committee. Monthly meetings are being held since to ensure continuation of the Green Schools interest. Over the years the Green Schools committee has introduced and developed the following ideas and strategies.
4. Creation of Litter Wardens who kept a close eye on classroom, yard and general school litter. Whenever standards seemed to slip the Litter Wardens alerted the school through the medium of school assembly where this message was announced and through little cartoon strips the message for improvement was delivered accordingly.
5. Wormery: Compost wardens ensured that the proper materials were put into each container.
6.Spring Clean Week: one particular year dealt on reusing materials within the school. This idea suggested the removal of old unused slipper boxes from the cloakroom which were taken to our Pond Area, varnished put into proper position and then beautiful spring flowering bulbs planted in each section. This display is inspiring and so beautiful each spring, of course it is nature in our backyard literally.
7. Following the Recycle them it was decided to recycle (i) old phones (ii) used batteries (iii) Christmas stamps (iv) used ink cartridges and the relevant agencies were contacted and each year the above are sent to the proper centres for Recycling.
8.Each Christmas our school adopts a theme for its Christmas Tree decorations and then each child makes a decoration from used materials for the Tree. Last Christmas our theme was “Angels”. Each year the children are so amazed with their creations, all made from re-used materials.
9.When the Energy Theme was being developed our Green Committee suggested that we enlist Energy Detectives to keep an eye on energy loss and waste. These detectives checked Lights, Taps, Windows and Doors daily to ensure that energy was not being wasted. Last year’s detectives compiled their Rap for their annual school assembly. It went as follows:“We’re the Energy Detectives And we’re here to saySwitch off that light, , Close that door, Block that draught, Waste no more!!!We have to Recycle, Reduce & Reuse Cos we’re the ones with the most to lose Recycle those cans, plastic and paper Reduce that waste, it’s not a hard caper Whatever you do in any small way Will help to keep our planet alive for anther day We’re the Energy Detectives and we’d like to thank you,For Reducing, Reusing and Recycling too!!”
10. Water Detectives tried to reduce the amount of water used daily in our school. As the toilets are very old fashioned it was decided to place a liter bottle of water into each cistern so as to save a liter of water with each flush. Block graphs were undertaken to demonstrate the saving on water usage. Also water form the shoots was collected in a barrel and used to water our garden flowers, thus save more water. Water detectives are constantly checking that taps are not leaking or left running.
11. A beautiful Green Mural was painted along a corridor by members of the Green Schools Committee under the guidance of one of the participating teachers. This “green” mural incorporated every aspect of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle so as to create and maintain a green fresh healthy environment. This mural brings a touch of outdoors indoors.
12. The Power of 1 concept is delivered on a monthly basis by the Energy Detectives as they encourage the school community to adopt an extra simple energy-saving strategy each month and to spread this message at home also.
13. Surveys frequently carried out on (i) Litter, waste reduction figures (ii) Energy saving(iii) Power of One success (iv) Lunch box use
14. Teachers in the school use the large white paper bags as charts as these bags can be cut open, ironed and used as charts. This reusing of bags as charts intrigues children and makes them very much aware that everybody can reduce, reuse and recycle and so help our planet by reducing pollution and saving our trees etc.
15. An Energy Trail was developed within the school and when children followed the trail they learned about many Energy-saving techniques which could be used both at home and at school.
16. At the end of every School Year a Green Schools Newsletter typed on green recycled paper is sent home to the parents informing them about the many Reduce, Reuse, Recycle practices which were adopted in our school during the year.
17. Last school year they added three more R’s to their motto namely
Return - batteries etc., Replace - old bulbs with CFL’s, Restrict - water and energy use.
They hope that the above strategies constantly being monitored and improved in the school will prove that they really take the Green School Motto seriously and as a school community they hope that our efforts, ideas and multi-faceted strategies will encourage and help our children to take pride in their environment, their school, their town and ultimately their world.
R educe R euse R ecycle R eturn R eplace R estrict and help to protect Planet Earth.