Roxboro National School has a long running history with the Green Schools programme. The school is one of only two schools in the country to be receiving its flag for the tenth time. The Green Flag process involves a seven step programme including forming a committee, reviewing current practices and writing slogans. There are eight themes currently being explored by the Green Schools; Litter and Waste, Energy, Water, Travel, Bio-diversity, Global Citizenship – Litter and Waste, Global Citizenship – Energy and Global Citizenship – Marine Environment.
We are currently exploring the new theme Global Citizenship – Marine Environment. This theme focuses on raising awareness of marine eco-systems and the work being done to save them.
The children who serve on the green school committee attend regular meetings with their co-ordinating teacher which over the years has included Mrs Gavigan, Mrs Devaney, Mrs Fallon (Nee Keane), Mrs Fallon (Nee Gibbons) and Mrs Walshe.
The children are given various aspects of school life to monitor and report back on. The children love the responsibility of checking up on their peers’ behaviours, particularly when it involves getting to give someone a telling off!
The most recent An Taisce inspector pointed out that this generation is the first that knows how to recycle and can educate their parents and grandparents. The children are aware of Global Warming and Climate Change and will hopefully keep this information with them in future as they try and make the world a little bit better.
The Green School Programme sets out to teach children that we are all responsible for looking after Mother Earth.
