Unlike a once-off project, it is a long-term programme that introduces participants (students, teachers, parents and the wider community) to the concept of an environmental management system. However, Green-Schools is far more than just an environmental management system. It fosters a strong sense of citizenship and leadership among participants that spreads far outside the school into the wider community. It also promotes a strong sense of teamwork among teachers, students and the wider community to reach a common high level goal. It flattens and democratises school management structures. It brings children into the decision-making process and makes them responsible for their decision and actions. In fact it could be best described as being ‘more than the sum of its parts’.
The aim of Green-Schools is to increase students’ and participant awareness of environmental issues through classroom studies and to transfer this knowledge into positive environmental action in the school and also in the wider community. Schools that have successfully completed all the elements of the programme are awarded the ‘Green-Flag’. This award has now become a well-recognised Eco-Label. The award has to be renewed every two years.
In Clarecastle National School we have achieved our first five flags for
(1) Litter (2) Energy (3) Water (4) Travel and (5) Biodiversity.
We are currently working our our sixth green flag and it’s theme is ‘Global Awareness – Litter and Waste’.
Recycle Appeal
We encourage you to recycle used batteries and all your old mobile phones and to send them into the school on a regular basis. Our school forwards all used batteries to ERP (European Recycling Platform)Ireland where they will be recycled in a controlled environment. All phones are dispatched to the Jack ‘n Jill foundation to raise funds and help sustain their much needed services.
Freetradeireland.ie is a web service designed to facilitate and encourage the reuse of household and business items.
The aim of this service, which is free and accessible to all, is to:
- Protect the environment through the reuse of items.
- Reduce costs for users on waste disposal.
- Encourage the better use of household and business resources
- Extend the lifespan and value of items through reuse.
- Contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle for citizens in Ireland.
- Bring about a change in our behaviour in the management of waste.
Please feel free to browse the website and be encouraged by the wonderful initiatives available to us.
Thank you.
