This article is from page 33 of the 2009-09-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 33 JPG
SOME schools aiming for the Trans- port Green Schools flag take to their feet or make use of pedal power. But youngsters at Flagmount National School have shown they have real bottle and on Friday, launched a working raft, made from empty plas- tic milk cartons.
The pupils at the school made the raft last term under instruction from local couple, Sandra and Stephan Schwitilla who have been involved in similar projects in their native Germany before coming to settle in Currakyle.
The youngsters collected 840 two- litre milk cartons and recycled wood to build the handsome vessel, which can comfortably transport 28 chil- dren.
It was launched last Friday amid a festive atmosphere at Whitesands and, said school principal, Pat Mc- Namara, “It functions very well. It’s an amazing piece of work and we’re so delighted that Sandra and Stephen agreed to show us how to do it.”
Mr McNamara said it was “amaz- ing to see them all hammering, fix- ing and screwing it together. The children collected everything needed for the raft – it’s all recycled material. Bottles, wooden frame, nails – even the screws have been collected up from other things. They’re so totally involved with the work, it’s marvel- olin
The raft was made in four sections and test-runs carried out on each one before it was finally assembled for the launch.
Fully kitted out with life-vests, the young mariners took to the water amid shouts and cheers of encour- agement from teachers and parents gathered on the shore, or in their own
boats on the lake.
And the vessel sailed out on the water powered by youngsters using hurleys to row.
“They even managed to make the most use of those,’ the principal said.
After the rafts’ maiden voyage, there was a barbeque on shore to cel- ebrate the amazing achievement.
Now the next task 1s to find a safe place to store the vessel and the school is holding a competition to name the raft.
Parents themselves, the Schwitillas offered to help the school with their fourth green flag project, which in- volves looking at travel and how the carbon footprint of travel can be re- duced.
The school recently completed it’s third green flag award on the subject of water and water conservation.