This article is from page 31 of the 2008-05-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 31 JPG
STUDENTS at Clarecastle National School rolled up their sleeves for the annual spring clean, to help the school’s bid for another green flag.
As part of Environmental Action Week, staff and student students took part in a major clean up of the school and the surrounding grounds.
The work didn’t end there with stu- dents helping to further enhance the appearance of the school by potting new plants.
Clarecastle National School has already firmly established its green credentials with a number of envi- ronmental initiatives.
The school’s commitment to en- couraging greater awareness of green issues has been acknowledged through the awarding of two green flags.
Everyone in Clarecastle now hopes that efforts of the last few months will be recognised with a third green ne hee
The aim of Green-Schools is to increase students’ and participant awareness of environmental issues through classroom studies and to transfer this knowledge into positive environmental action in the school and, also, in the wider community.
Schools that have successfully completed all the elements of the
JO) ROy:a eH ANUS Oem T Rem RU DRO Lo(OME NO lem Osteo te Flag. This award has now become a well-recognised eco-label. The award has to be renewed every two years.
The Green Schools initiative has gone from strength to strength since it was launched in Ireland in 1997.
Eleven award ceremonies are be- ing held this month. Over 2000 Irish schools are registered for the pro- eramme, representing over 49 per cent of all the schools in the coun- (ry.
290 children attend Clarecastle Na- tional School, representing a number of different nationalities.
The school now has a two stream
system up to second class and 15 teachers, 12 mainstream teachers and 3 resource teachers.
The pupils receive their education in state of the art classrooms equipped with up to date I.T. resources includ- ing interactive white boards.
The school also houses a library/ computer room, resource area and PE/Multi purpose room in addition to 16 classrooms. Work commenced on the new building in 2006, seven years after procedures were instiagt- ed to secure a new school.
Prefabs were erected for temporary use and the old school was demol- ished apart from the original 1935 building which was retained.