We are delighted to announce that the Green-Schools Travel Competition 2012 is now open to all schools that are working on or have earned the Green-Schools Travel Flag. Total prize fund is €5000! This competition is to create artwork on the theme ‘Great for the planet, great for me!’ Using a poem, letter, song, poster or postcard, express how sustainable travel can benefit the earth, our society, our communities and us.

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.

Green-Schools Travel (The fourth theme in the Green-Schools Programme) has just completed another round of cycle parking installations at 33 schools throughout the country. The 33 installations equate to 540 spaces of secure parking for schools.

The staff and pupils of St. Marys Killenaule, Co.Tipperary have come up with a unique way to run their WOW days through the introduction of the ‘Wonder WOW’. This school began travel in September 2010 where pre-WOW surveys indicated that 39.2% travelled green to school (64/162). Their first WOW back in March 2011 was a huge success where over 70% opted to either walk, park & stride or carpool to school, a figure which was maintained throughout the school term.

St. Marys No 2, Nenagh are putting major work into their upcoming bid for their fourth Green-Flag. Shirley Maher, the schools new principal and her Green-Committee members organised a full day of action to promote cycling in the school.