Ms. Ryan is the current Green Schools Co-ordinator and is busy working behind the scenes with the GREEN SCHOOL COMMITTEE on our journey towards our next green flag;
Flag number 8!!! A great achievement for our school.
Marine Week
As part of Marine Week and further work towards our next flag – ‘Global Citizenship – Marine Environment’, Wednesday 17th April saw the Green Schools Committee hosting our own Marine Day and raising awareness for Marine Life and how we are affecting our oceans. The classes were treated to presentations from all of the Green School members – Jessica and Lucy presented their project on Marine Litter. Lily and Annmarie shared the results from our plastic free lunch day and also provided the classrooms with some interesting statistics and information. Donagh and Emily from fourth class provided an informative presentation on Climate Change and the effect it is having on our oceans. Jamie and Lorna from third class did themselves proud presenting their first ever project to all of the classrooms; they chose the theme of overfishing. Each class then had age appropriate lessons and puzzles to complete to finish off the day and everybody learned something new!
Green Schools 2023 / 24
Meet the new Green Team!!!!
We would like to introduce you to our Green Schools Committee members for 2023 / 24…
We have two members from each Senior class level 3rd to 6th. Pictured above; Back row; Jessica McCluskey, Lucy Ormonde, Lily Fox, Annmarie Butler.. Front Row; Lorna Kelly, Jamie Bierney Foley, Donagh McGee and Emily Cooper. The committee have introduced themselves to the student body and are looking forward to getting to work on our next flag – theme number 8 ‘Global Citizenship Marine Environment’.
Ms Ryan would like to thank all the boys and girls in third class for their applications and enthusiasm. Keep up the great work – remember the whole school is responsible for our environment – not just the green committee. 🙂
‘What I’d like to see for the sea’ Art Competition
In October we were informed of a great competition being run by The Green Schools – Marine Spatial Planning (Art) competition; ‘What I’d like to See for the Sea’. As this fit in nicely with our current theme – we informed all of the classes straight away. The Green Committee visited all the classes and explained the terms and conditions and the concept behind the competition. The response was amazing and Ms Ryan posted nearly 100 entries from various class levels.
*Update; Unfortunately for us – we did not place in any of the categories this time round – but the level of artwork was amazing and there was some really super slogans and ideas put forward. Well done everyone!
Award Ceremony – Kilkenny
May brought exciting news that we had secured our ‘Global Citizenship – Energy’ green flag award. This theme gave our school the chance to revise our theme of energy and to look at the issues surrounding energy use in our homes, school and our responsibilities in relation to Climate Change globally. We were invited to the Awards ceremony in Kilkenny to collect our flag, meet fellow Green School committee members and have a sit-down lunch to celebrate. On the 10th May, Miss Ryan and our two sixth class committee members – Teegan and Cora travelled up to Kilkenny to collect the award.
There were games and photo opportunities on arrival. We listened to some speeches from members of the Green Schools organisation among others and picked up lots of ideas to possibly run in our own school. The girls eagerly awaited our name to be called and Teegan and Cora went up to the top of the room to be presented with the flag and award. This was followed by a delicious hot lunch and dessert. The next day the Green Committee visited all of the classrooms to show off the flag and chat about our day out. We look forward to raising the new flag on our school flagpole in the coming weeks! Check out our photos from our great day out in Kilkenny…
Action Day March 2023
This March 22nd the Green Schools Committee held our ‘Action Day’ as part of the application for our Green Flag renewal – ‘Global Citizenship – Energy’. This theme gave our school the chance to revise our theme of energy and to look at the issues surrounding energy use in our homes, school and our responsibilities in relation to Climate Change globally.
The team have been hard at work the past few months gathering information through surveys, completing projects and generally educating themselves and their classmates on these issues. In preparation for our ‘Action Day’ we provided each class with suitable resources and lessons on various topics ranging from Climate Change, Energy usage and litter and the impact it has on our planet and ecosystems. We gathered storybooks, picture books and read-alouds to be used in conjunction with these resources. As well as this, the committee have been working on individual projects such as – Marine Environment, Where our energy comes from, Energy miles used in Food and Fairtrade and sustainability which they presented to all the classes. They also had quizzes and interactive games to do with the students. The classes really enjoyed the day and learned a lot from it – which was evident in our revised surveys and questionnaires. The Green Schools committee thoroughly enjoyed the chance to present their work and have massively grown in confidence since starting their projects.
We have gathered all of our information and have submitted our application for the flag so fingers crossed we will be successful and have some good news to share in the coming weeks.
Green Schools 2022 / 23
Meet the Green Team!!!!
We would like to introduce you to our Green Schools Committee members for 2022 / 23…
We have two members from each Senior class level 3rd to 6th. Pictured above from L-R; Cora Roche, Lucy Ormonde, Jessica McCluskey, Teegan O’ Brien, Donagh McGee, Lily Fox, Annmarie Butler and Emily Cooper. The committee have been meeting every week and are making super progress toward their flag application. They are working on individual projects as well as overall team goals.
Action Day 2023
This March 22nd the Green Schools Committee will be hosting our ‘Action Day’ as part of our application for our Green Flag renewal – ‘Global Citizenship – Energy’. This theme gives our school the chance to revise our theme of energy and to look at the issues surrounding energy use globally.
The team have been hard at work the past few months gathering information through surveys, completing projects and generally educating themselves and their classmates on these issues. In preparation for our Action Day we have provided each class with suitable resources and lessons on various topics from Climate Change, Energy usage and litter and the impact it has on our planet. We have gathered storybooks, picture books and read-alouds to be used. As well as this, our team have been working on individual projects such as – Marine Environment, Where our energy comes from, Energy miles used in Food and Fairtrade and sustainability.
Big Travel Challenge 2023
Big Travel Challenge Feb 2023
Starting us off next week (Monday 13th Feb 2023) we are taking part in the 10 day BIG TRAVEL CHALLENGE 2023 – where, as a school we will try to come to school using a ‘greener’ mode of transport. We understand that the majority of students don’t live within walking distance of the school, but one suggestion could be ‘park n stride’ where older children can get dropped maybe at the centre or the shop and walk the rest of the way – thus cutting down on some of the travel and car congestion outside school. Carpooling could also be a good option.
We have collected data for the current modes of transport and we will be updating the children throughout the ten days and encourage them to keep up the effort!
Thanks!!! Ms Ryan 🙂
Keep an eye on our blog to see what is going on in Piercestown N.S. and in our local community, for upcoming events as well as raising awareness about climate change, recycling, energy and water conservation and much more.
Due to the COVID19 pandemic, we decided to postpone our application for our seventh flag due to school closures, but that has not stopped us in our journey and efforts as a whole school since being awarded our last flag in 2018/2019. Keep an eye on our blog to see all that happens behind the scenes too…
NATIONAL BIKE WEEK 2021
National Bike Week 2021 kicked off on Sunday 12th September. As a GREEN and ACTIVE school, we have been learning all about bike safety, road safety and the importance of wearing a helmet when cycling on our bikes. Some classes have discussed the benefits of cycling as a mode of transport in the fight against climate change. Some classes have discussed road safety and the safe cross code. Other classes have held ‘Bike Week’ themed colouring competitions too. Here is a little peep at some of the photos coming into Ms. Taylor this week… If you have any you would like to add to our school blog this week – send them to Ms. Taylor at gtaylor@piercestownns.com
Have a lovely week everyone!! Happy cycling!!
FYI:
There will be a Bike Maintenance Workshop with The Bike Shop Wexford at The Bike Shop, 9 Selskar St, Wexford from 5-6pm on Thursday 15th September for all interested. You must register by email before hand. See: https://www.nationaltransport.ie/smarter-travel-workplaces/cycle-challenge-ie/bikeweek/wexford/sportsactive@wexfordcoco.ie/sportsactive@wexfordcoco.ie/
Saturday 18th September: Balance Bike Come and Try Festival at Min Ryan Park
| 1.30pm-3.30pm | 3-5yr olds | Min Ryan Park, Wexford |
Bikes and Helmets provided. For more information visit: http://www.wexfordcoco.ie/BikeWeek
Well done to all who took part in National Bike Week 2021. There was a lovely buzz about Piercestown NS with talk of bikes, favourite cycling tracks and trails, bike safety, helmet design, keeping active and raising awareness about climate change and looking after our planet – take a look at the photos below to see some of our very own pupils out and about during the week…
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Ms. Taylor and Ms. Sinnott have taken on the task of filling Ms. Barrett’s green shoes this year 2017/18, and have taken over reigns of the Green Schools committee. Both Ms. Sinnott and Ms. Taylor have been busy working behind the scenes with the pupils on the Green Schools committee in the journey towards our next green flag.
The Green Schools theme for this flag is ‘Global Citizenship’ and the current committee have been working hard all year towards raising awareness about litter and waste, energy conservation and working towards a cleaner, greener environment. This theme enables schools to discover how Green-Schools work has positively influenced people and environments worldwide while revising the previous Litter and Waste theme. This would be our 6th flag for the school – a huge achievement!!
A huge well done to the pupils on our committee who have been working hard this year – Donal and Ben in 2nd class, Kate and Alex in 3rd class, Leanne and Charlie in 4th class, Elizabeth and Luke in 5th class and Melissa and Conor in 6th class.
Keep your eyes peeled on our Green Schools blog (and on our Green Schools noticeboard if you are in and around the school) over the coming weeks to see for yourselves, the work that has gone in so far this year, and for further updates on how we will keep working towards making our school and global community a cleaner, greener place for all.
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Green School Application for Flag Number Four has been submitted on 21st March 2014. Hopefully we will soon hear some good news! In the meantime, please continue to come to school in a green way. Thank You for your co-operation!
“Come to School a Green Way
Make Pollution go Away”
SLOGAN: Many thanks to all the boys and girls for their efforts in composing a slogan for our Travel Theme Green Flag No Four. The winning slogan is at the top of this page. Other excellent suggestions for slogans included:
“Save Fuel, Carpool”
Car Pool, Cycle, Walk or Bus
Go Green, Don’t Make a Fuss
Bar the Car, Ban the Van,
Walk to School as Quick as You Can!
Be Cool, Use Less Fuel
Coming to Schoool
THURS, 13th FEB: Ciara Hanrahan, Green School Facilitator, will visit our school on Thursday, 13th Feb to review our work in promoting green ways of coming to school. We encourage everyone to make a special effort to come to school in a green way on Thursday morning. Why not WALK, CYCLE, CAR POOL, PARK and STRIDE or take the BUS? Wear a Hi-Viz jacket to school that morning.
Fifth Class pupils enjoyed a lesson in composting from Master Composter Chris Culleton on Wednesday, 4th December. Chris demonstrated many ways of composting in the arboretum. He also showed the class a Wormery and talked about food waste.
Ciara Hanrahan, An Taisce Green School Facilitator, visited First – Sixth Class in our school on Thursday, 21st November. She will taught the pupils about ‘Peak Oil’.
Fifth Class had a workshop on Wednesday, 27th November. Mr Gerry Foran, Constructive Waste Company, spent the day with the pupils and together they made and constructed objects from cardboard boxes. They made boomerangs, hurls, jellyfish, burgers and other objects. This was to promote greater awareness of recyclable materials and to encourage students to make recycling part of their lifestyle.
Green Flag Number One: Litter and Waste Management (2006-08)
Green Flag Number Two: Energy (2008-10)
Green Flag Number Three: Water Conservation(2010-12)
We are now working on Green Flag Number Four “TRAVEL”. Pupils are encouraged to come to school in a greener way, such as, walking, cycling, car pooling, bus, park and stride.
Every Wednesday is WOW (Walk on Wednesday) day, so we particularly encourage everybody to make a special effort that day every week. Over 200 pupils and parents walked from St Martin’s GAA Centre in May 2013 on our first WOW day.
BATTERIES can be recycled in school every day. NEWSPAPERS and CLOTHES may be brought to the Recycling Centre beside the church in Piercestown.
The Green Committee includes pupils from Second to Sixth Class together with our principal, Mr Eamonn Barrett, parent Roz Moran and caretaker Mr Christy Hynes. Mrs Mary Barrett is our Green School Co-ordinator.
Pupils are encouraged to come to school in a green manner on FREAKY FRIDAY, 25th October, the day we get our mid-term break. In particular, we suggest that pupils dress up in Halloween clothes, meet at the centre around 9 am and walk to school. Parents are invited to come along and walk with us. This will launch FEET FIRST FRIDAYS and pupils are encouraged to come to school in a green way every Friday, as well as WOW days every Wednesday.
Piercestown National School 