Scoil Aonghusa’s very hardworking committee carried out an extensive Environmental Review counting and recording all the devices in the school that use water. They also decided to involve families by sending a survey home. Some of the results from this survey revealed that 27% of families surveyed stated that they leave the tap running when they brush their teeth; 86% only use the washing machine when it’s full; 65% use a basin in the kitchen sink and only 9 collect rainwater.
The committee posted their survey results on their Green-School’s notice-board, along with their Action Pan, tips on saving water, posters, Green Code etc...
Because this school is a Junior school they decided to focus a lot of attention and effort on creating awareness around water conservation and also educating the students on various water related topics. Each class in the school undertook a topic to investigate and were asked to then create a poster on their project to display on the walls around the school.
1st and 2nd class learned all about the water cycle and how water gets to our taps. Junior Infants investigated how much water we waste if we leave the tap running while we brush our teeth. They then made a huge poster and put the equivalent amount of water in recycled plastic bottles in front of the display to give a visual representation of the water saved by turning off the tap while brushing our teeth.
Junior Infants were also asked to make things out of play dough that reminded them of water. They then created a lovely display of their sculptures which included starfish, umbrellas, flowers, taps, jellyfish etc...
Another Junior Infant class investigated how much water is used when we wash our hands. They also created a beautiful poster of their results and had plastic bottles of water to show the amounts of water used by turning on and off the tap while we wash our hands and when we leave the tap running.
Senior Infants learned all about weather and water proof items. They created a large poster of raindrops and umbrellas made from black plastic bags.
First Class learned about the artist Claude Monet and re-created his painting ‘Water Lillies’ with tissue and displayed them on a wall in the hall.
The school collect rainwater in their school’s courtyard garden. They also collect rainwater at the school allotments in Tymon Park.
Following a competition to come up with the school’s Green Code the committee decided on ‘Don’t let the drip drop’.