This article is from page 33 of the 2007-07-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 33 JPG
ENNIS National School’s eco- friendly reputation has been further enhanced after winning the best-kept school’s competition.
The annual event run by Ennis Town Council aims to promote ereater public awareness in educa- tion among the general public, with a special focus on children, with help from their parents, teachers and communities.
Adjudicators were impressed by the school’s embrace of a number of litter awareness initiatives. Students and teachers worked together on a series of projects and litter preven- tion schemes.
Projects carried out have included the provision of recycling bins in schools, segregating rubbish and other waste materials projects.
The school also worked hard to ad- dress other issues such as graffiti, chewing gum and dealing with litter black spots.
Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of Ennis Town Council, new Deputy Mayor of Ennis Peter Consi- dine congratulated Ennis National on their success in the competition. He also said he hoped more schools would take part next year.
“It was good to see the schools up here last week for the Tidy Schools competition. It’s obviously important that schools encourage environmen- tal responsibility and many are doing
so. Although I would hope that more of the schools would take the oppor- tunity to take part next year”.
The award is the second time this year Ennis National has been com- mended for pursuing environmen- tally friendly policies.
Earlier this year this school was awarded green flag status. Green Schools committee. Through that they undertook a review of the
school’s waste management practic- es and surveyed the condition of the school and it’s surroundings.
Under the guidance of teachers John Kearney and Anne Flanagan, pupils embraced the Green School’s ethos by introducing a number of en- vironmentally friendly procedures.
These included composting, a bat- tery collection point an environmen- tal newspaper and regular clean ups
of the public car park.
The Green Flag, which is an in- ternationally recognized status, is awarded by An Taisce to schools who undertake the Green-Schools programme
It aims to help students apply what they have learned about environmen- tal awareness in their day-to-day lives both at school and in their own homes.