Green Schools
Green-Schools is the leading environmental management and award programme in Ireland, working with primary and secondary schools across the country.
What is the Green-Schools Initiative?
The aim of the Green-Schools initiative is to promote long-term whole school action for the environment. It is a student-led programme with involvement from staff and the wider community. The programme is operated and co-ordinated by the Environmental Unit of An Taisce (FEE member of Ireland).
Below are the 8 themes under which the Green-Schools Initiative work.
Below are the 8 themes under which the Green-Schools Initiative work.
1. Litter and Waste
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2. Energy
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3. Water
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4. Travel
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5. Biodiversity
7. Global Citizenship - Energy
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6. Global Citizenship - Litter & Waste
8. Global Citizenship -Marine Environment
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Green-Schools at work in Sonas
In September 2015 a Green-Schools Committee was established in Sonas consisting of 7 students, 2 teachers and 5 SNA's. The role of this committee was to analyse and improve current practices within the school community under the first theme of the initiative: Litter and Waste.
A number of areas of concern were highlighted, including the use of disposable tissue to dry students hands after hand-washing, insufficient recycling bins in classrooms, the cross-contamination between recycling and general waste and the mismanagement of art supplies throughout the school.
To address these issues the committee proposed a number of changes. Firstly each student across the school was asked to bring in their own clean hand towel each Monday that would be sent home on Friday afternoon. Once implemented this saw a huge reduction in paper hand towel waste.
Each class received new bins which were clearly labelled with what waste was permitted in each one. This helped reduce cross contamination and increase recycling.
A number of areas of concern were highlighted, including the use of disposable tissue to dry students hands after hand-washing, insufficient recycling bins in classrooms, the cross-contamination between recycling and general waste and the mismanagement of art supplies throughout the school.
To address these issues the committee proposed a number of changes. Firstly each student across the school was asked to bring in their own clean hand towel each Monday that would be sent home on Friday afternoon. Once implemented this saw a huge reduction in paper hand towel waste.
Each class received new bins which were clearly labelled with what waste was permitted in each one. This helped reduce cross contamination and increase recycling.
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In order to monitor the bins and ensure the new practices were being followed, students were involved in checking the bins each week.
Classes who were using the bins correctly and reducing their general waste amounts were awarded with a star. Another initiative implemented by the Green-Schools Committee was the elimination of bins in the staff room, encouraging staff to bring their waste home to recycle. Students too bring home their own waste to recycle. |
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The committee decided that it was best practice to use a communal art press where all resources would be stored. This would reduce the amount of waste in terms of over supply. With everything in one place ordering art supplies would be easier as shortages/surpluses would be clearly identified.
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In Spring 2016 the efforts of the Green-Schools Committee were formally recognised and Sonas Special Junior School was presented with the Green Flag. The flag was presented to one of the students on the Committee.
The flag was raised along with the Tricolour, in a joint ceremony to commemorate the centenary of the Easter Rising. The flag stands proudly alongside the Active Schools flag in the school grounds. |