The Green School Programme is student-led and it promotes long term, whole school action to protect the environment.
Teacher Doreen Killington began the programme with Transition Year students 10 years ago along with Mary O’Sullivan, housekeeping and Maurice Casey, caretaker, when the school obtained its first flag for litter and waste.
This was followed by the energy, water, biodiversity and travel flags.
Travel Flag Awarded
The travel flag, which was awarded this year, aims to create awareness of pollution caused by travel e.g. car and bus pollution. One of their initiatives in gaining this flag was to take part in the International Global Air Quality Campaign funded by NASA and the Environmental Protection Agency.
This involved assessing the air quality of the school in three different locations. The air quality found on the school grounds was one of the best readings recorded by an Irish school.
More Active Lifestyle
The promotion of a healthier and more active lifestyle was also encouraged and students took part in a photography competition during the national lock-down in 2021.
Students took photographs of nature for this competition that were within walking distance of their home.
The Green School Committee has begun work this year on the sixth Green Flag- Global Citizenship for Litter and Waste.
The success of the Green School Programme in Castleisland Community College has resulted in many cross curricular projects taking place.
Departmental Recognition
The promoting of a sustainable environment and climate action is strongly embedded in the school ethos.
This resulted in the school being recognised by the Department of Education last year.
Students presented to the Minister of Education, Norma Foley, Department of Education Inspectors and UNICEF Ireland for the World’s Largest Lesson and relayed the various projects undertaken since the Green School Programme began in the school.
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