Clonberne National School - Green Schools Project
Green Schools
Clonberne National School is a Green School that has been awarded six Green Flags. The school has a recycling programme that involves waste separation. It also operates an energy management and conservation programme with the children. We participate in wider recycling programmes with the community including clothing, used stamps and batteries.
Green-Schools, known internationally as Eco-Schools, is an international environmental education programme, environmental management system and award scheme that promotes and acknowledges long-term, whole school action for the environment.
Green-Schools in Ireland is operated and co-ordinated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce (FEE member for Ireland), in partnership with Local Authorities throughout the country, is supported by the Depatment of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Department of Transport and is sponsored by Repak, ESB Independent Energy and the Wrigley Company Ltd.
We have recently applied for our seventh Green Flag - Global Citizenship Energy Flag. We have submitted a detailed application to the overseeing body and eagerly await their reply.
Clonberne National School is a Green School that has been awarded six Green Flags. The school has a recycling programme that involves waste separation. It also operates an energy management and conservation programme with the children. We participate in wider recycling programmes with the community including clothing, used stamps and batteries.
Green-Schools, known internationally as Eco-Schools, is an international environmental education programme, environmental management system and award scheme that promotes and acknowledges long-term, whole school action for the environment.
Green-Schools in Ireland is operated and co-ordinated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce (FEE member for Ireland), in partnership with Local Authorities throughout the country, is supported by the Depatment of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Department of Transport and is sponsored by Repak, ESB Independent Energy and the Wrigley Company Ltd.
We have recently applied for our seventh Green Flag - Global Citizenship Energy Flag. We have submitted a detailed application to the overseeing body and eagerly await their reply.
Upcycling Projects
We have been upcycling materials throughout our school, upcycling waste timbre to create planters, upcycling concrete pipers to create planters, upcycling waste timbre to create a sensory path, upcycling buckets to create planters, upcycling an old sink and pallets to create a gardening potting area. We are entering the Bord Na Mona Schools Upcycling Competition with some of our work. |
Bike Racks and Bike Shelters 2023
Our Green School Co-Ordinator's (Ms Dunne & Mr Broderick) have organised the installation of two bike racks and bike shelters at our school. We now have safe storage for 20 bicycles at our school. All costs, material, installation etc. was completely funded by An Taisce, as part of our Green School Programme. |
Grow It Yourself
Our Green School promotes gardening as a pastime but also as a way of growing your own food. Pictured are students and staff after installing four new raised beds for growing our own food. We painted them red and white to show support for our local football club! We received the raised bed free of charge from 'Grow It Yourself' and we used left over paint to add a splash of colour. |
Our School Garden
We repaired and restocked our raised beds in our school garden during 2023.
Many thanks to our caretaker Tomas who repaired and rebuilt our raised beds!
We repaired and restocked our raised beds in our school garden during 2023.
Many thanks to our caretaker Tomas who repaired and rebuilt our raised beds!
Poly tunnel
We purchased a poly tunnel from the funds raised through the Cash4Clobber initiative.
We can now grow vegetables in our poly tunnel all year round!
We purchased a poly tunnel from the funds raised through the Cash4Clobber initiative.
We can now grow vegetables in our poly tunnel all year round!
Sensory Path
Over the past two years our sixth class students have been involved in digging out, building and moving top soil into our new sensory path. Younger classes have been involved in planting over 40 flowers/shrubs/grasses/fruit trees in our sensory path. Some of the plants in our sensory path are 'Lamb's Ear', 'Sunflowers', 'Rose Campion' and 'Honesty'.
In Spring 2024 we planted 55 Raspberry plants along our sensory path, to increase biodiversity and to provide a food source for ourselves and birds.
Thank you to Mrs Nancy Lyons for donating the plants to our school, thanks also to the students of 4th & 5th classes who planted them. We look forward to eating fresh Raspberries later this year!
Over the past two years our sixth class students have been involved in digging out, building and moving top soil into our new sensory path. Younger classes have been involved in planting over 40 flowers/shrubs/grasses/fruit trees in our sensory path. Some of the plants in our sensory path are 'Lamb's Ear', 'Sunflowers', 'Rose Campion' and 'Honesty'.
In Spring 2024 we planted 55 Raspberry plants along our sensory path, to increase biodiversity and to provide a food source for ourselves and birds.
Thank you to Mrs Nancy Lyons for donating the plants to our school, thanks also to the students of 4th & 5th classes who planted them. We look forward to eating fresh Raspberries later this year!
What's coming next...
Our students will work with our staff to decide on our next project.
We discuss ideas, price options and gauge suitability for our school.
Our students have come up with some wonderful ideas - a water bowser is on our 'wish list', we will purchase one in the coming years.
Our students will work with our staff to decide on our next project.
We discuss ideas, price options and gauge suitability for our school.
Our students have come up with some wonderful ideas - a water bowser is on our 'wish list', we will purchase one in the coming years.
Reduce - Reuse - Recycle
Cash4Clobber
During 2022/2023, our school collected and recycled over two ton of used clothing, this clothing was then sent to be recycled.
Our next big collection will be in June 2024!
We use the funds we receive to enhance our school - purchase new picnic benches, sports equipment and more recently a polytunnel!
WEEE Battery Recycling
During 2023/2024, our school have collected over 80Kg of used batteries to be recycled.
Mobile Phone Collection
We collect old/damaged mobile phones & devices, we exchange these devices for ICT equipment for our school. To date, we have recycled over 300 mobile phones!
Used Stamp Collection
We also collect used stamps, these are sent to the missions.
Cash4Clobber
During 2022/2023, our school collected and recycled over two ton of used clothing, this clothing was then sent to be recycled.
Our next big collection will be in June 2024!
We use the funds we receive to enhance our school - purchase new picnic benches, sports equipment and more recently a polytunnel!
WEEE Battery Recycling
During 2023/2024, our school have collected over 80Kg of used batteries to be recycled.
Mobile Phone Collection
We collect old/damaged mobile phones & devices, we exchange these devices for ICT equipment for our school. To date, we have recycled over 300 mobile phones!
Used Stamp Collection
We also collect used stamps, these are sent to the missions.
Global Citizenship
Deforestation - Luke Walsh
As part of our current efforts to achieve our fourth Green School flag, we are collaborating with our past pupil Luke Walsh.
Luke has been working on a deforestation project as part of his Junior Cert Woodwork CBA.
Luke meet with our school principal, Michael Tevenan, to discuss initiatives to reverse effects of deforestation & to increase biodiversity in our local environment.
Luke then worked in partnership with our Green School Co-Ordinator's - Ms. Dunne & Mr Broderick - & they identified potential projects, target groups & potential practical actions to empower child to positively affect the future of our planet.
Luke then coordinated and delivered apple tree seeds in decomposable pots to our students. Our students have brought home these apple seeds (with instructions on how to take care of the future fruit tree) and are taking care of them. They will plant them in their garden when suitable.
Luke's project has inspired and empowered our students to individually and collectively take action to reverse the effects of deforestation and to increase biodiversity within their community.
We look forward to tasting the apples from our trees & welcoming Luke back to taste some of the apple tarts!
Deforestation - Luke Walsh
As part of our current efforts to achieve our fourth Green School flag, we are collaborating with our past pupil Luke Walsh.
Luke has been working on a deforestation project as part of his Junior Cert Woodwork CBA.
Luke meet with our school principal, Michael Tevenan, to discuss initiatives to reverse effects of deforestation & to increase biodiversity in our local environment.
Luke then worked in partnership with our Green School Co-Ordinator's - Ms. Dunne & Mr Broderick - & they identified potential projects, target groups & potential practical actions to empower child to positively affect the future of our planet.
Luke then coordinated and delivered apple tree seeds in decomposable pots to our students. Our students have brought home these apple seeds (with instructions on how to take care of the future fruit tree) and are taking care of them. They will plant them in their garden when suitable.
Luke's project has inspired and empowered our students to individually and collectively take action to reverse the effects of deforestation and to increase biodiversity within their community.
We look forward to tasting the apples from our trees & welcoming Luke back to taste some of the apple tarts!