Water and Food Security is the theme for International World Water Day 2012 and to celebrate An Taisce is organising a Low Water Lunch Day on March 22nd. Low Water Lunch Day is aimed at raising awareness on how much water we consume in our everyday food. Green-Schools have put together fun and educational lesson plans, as well as useful posters and videos that will help you celebrate and participate in Low Water Lunch Day 2012.

Children all over Ireland will be leaping to school on 29th February, as part of their Travel theme in the very successful Green-Schools programme which is run by An Taisce. Schools nationwide, who are working on the Travel theme, have designated Walk on Wednesday (WOW days) each week as part of their efforts to promote more sustainable travel

As part of their work for their 5th Green Flag Donabate Portrane Educate Together N.S. Green-Schools committee members visited HSBC Ireland offices on Grand Canal dock to find out about green practises in place in the workplace.

Students and teachers from ten secondary schools across Leinster came together at An Taisce’s headquarters in Dublin for the first ever Neat Streets conference on 21st February 2012. The schools are all working on the Litter & Waste theme of Green-Schools and participating in the Neat Streets pilot programme.

HSBC International has linked with Eco-Schools programme to create a new initiative that aims to empower students as active contributors in reducing carbon emissions. Using the 7-steps methodology, the initiative is focused on tackling climate change. The ‘Climate Initiative’ has been running in Ireland for 3 years with selected schools from the greater Dublin region.

Every year, the BT Young Scientist and Technology awards attract over 1500 entries from secondary schools around Ireland. This year was no different, 354 schools participated in the competition, all hoping to be the young scientist of the year. Green-Schools Officer, Joanne Scott went along to have a look at some of the projects.

Eco-Schools from across Northern Ireland and a selection of Green-Schools from the Republic gathered in the Newry on 2nd February 2012 to celebrate their achievements. The packed event, which was supported by the Department of the Environment and sponsored by Newry and Mourne District Council, attracted over 500 people who participated in workshops and activities and honoured the 800th school to join the Eco-Schools programme with an award.

Working on the Green-Schools programme has been a fantastic experience. For the past five years I have been blown away by the positivity, the enthusiasm and great work being done in schools all across Ireland.

On February 2nd Knockanillo NS celebrated Grandparents Day. The pupils had prepared a list of questions to ask their grandparents. They focused their questions on Water as they are on the Green Schools Water Theme.

Its easy to see that Our Lady of Mercy Primary School, Sligo Town have been involved in the Green-Schools programme for many years. Take a look at the videos and the powerpoint presentation below, all excellent work undertaken by pupils at the school, and you will see evidence of their interest in the environment relating to all the Green Flags they have achieved, namely Litter & Waste, Energy, Water, Travel and their most recent theme of Biodiversity.