This article is from page 26 of the 2008-03-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 26 JPG
THE primary school in Newmarket- on-Fergus has reduced the amount of waste it sends to the landfill, by more than 95 per cent.
This has been achieved by the staff at Scoil na Maighdine Mhuire en- couraging the pupils to be mindful of the importance of the environment.
A wide range of initiatives have been undertaken by the school, in its ongoing efforts on the environment.
Last week the school’s staff and stu- dents all took part in a green dress- up day, where everybody dressed up in green. This was aimed at honour- ing St Patrick and to highlight green awareness. In the process they raised money to buy a new lawnmower to
keep the school’s newly-seeded grass field in tip top shape.
Each class planted a tree during na- tional tree week earlier this month. The school also hosted Beni Oberu from Trocaire, who highlighted the need for water conservation.
School principal Ann McMahon said a survey carried out late last year showed the reduction in the amount of waste going to the landfill was more than 95 per cent, compared to previous levels.
She said that a number of initia- tives have been carried out by vari- ous classes at the school.
“We had a recycling project earlier in the year where each child used re- cycled materials to create something useful or artistic,” she explained.
‘Each class has planted a variety of seeds in recycled yogurt pots which we hope to transplant to the school garden as soon as they have sprout- ed. Juniors and seniors are sprouting water cress seeds. Third and fourth classes are doing a science experi- ment to determine whether seeds need water to germinate,” she said.
“Sixth class undertook to survey the number of light switches and sockets in the school and have designed an art competition to make reminder signs for switches and sockets.
“Third and fourth classes under- took a survey of toilet cisterns in the school. They have collected 500ml bottles which they will fill and place in every cistern in the school, thereby saving 500ml of water for each flush
of each toilet, which 1s a lot of water saved annually,” she said.
“We are collecting plastic bottle tops for a hospital in Dublin who hope to collect a skip full and raise funds for a wheelchair,” she added..
The school held an exhibition in the school hall last month, which was judged by members of the En- vironment section of Clare County Council.
The winning entries are currently on exhibition in Newmarket-on-Fer- PAU lyeTae