Green Schools, known internationally as Eco-Schools, is an international education programme, environmental management system and award scheme that promotes and acknowledges long-term, whole school action for the environment. Unlike a once-off project, it is a long-term programme that introduces participants (students, teachers, parents and the wider community) to the concept of an environmental management system. Green Schools fosters a strong sense of citizenship and leadership among participants that spreads far outside the school into the wider community. It also promotes a strong sense of teamwork among teachers and students to reach a common goal.
green school events for 2020!!!!
January and February - BIG TRAVEL CHALLENGE...more information to follow
March 9th- 13th - SCOOT TO SCHOOL WEEK - scoot to school everyday with your hi-vis jackets and helmets
March 11th - NATIONAL SCOOT TO SCHOOL DAY
April 1st - NATIONAL WOW day - Walk on Wednesday - walking to school - tell a joke on the way!
April 3rd - NATIONAL COW day - Cycle to school today!
May 11th -15th - NATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL WEEK - walk to school everyday with your hi-vis jackets
May 13th - NATIONAL WOW day - Walk on Wednesday
June 15th - 19th - NATIONAL BIKE WEEK - cycle to school everyday with your hi-vis jackets and helmets
June 17th - NATIONAL COW day - Cycle to school today!
March 9th- 13th - SCOOT TO SCHOOL WEEK - scoot to school everyday with your hi-vis jackets and helmets
March 11th - NATIONAL SCOOT TO SCHOOL DAY
April 1st - NATIONAL WOW day - Walk on Wednesday - walking to school - tell a joke on the way!
April 3rd - NATIONAL COW day - Cycle to school today!
May 11th -15th - NATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL WEEK - walk to school everyday with your hi-vis jackets
May 13th - NATIONAL WOW day - Walk on Wednesday
June 15th - 19th - NATIONAL BIKE WEEK - cycle to school everyday with your hi-vis jackets and helmets
June 17th - NATIONAL COW day - Cycle to school today!
September event 2019
GREEN SCHOOLS CYCLE DAY 27th September
Following on from our very successful Cycle Day in June 2019, our Green Schools officer Tiarnan has already lined up another ‘Cycle Day’ for us. Our cycle day will take place on Friday 27th September 2019.
Children from 1st class to 6th class only can participate in our cycle day.
Our cycle route will start at school, around by Mosstown and down onto the Canal then back to school. Bring a raincoat in case there is some rain.
All parents are very welcome to cycle along with us.
In order to participate your child / children
Children from 1st class to 6th class only can participate in our cycle day.
Our cycle route will start at school, around by Mosstown and down onto the Canal then back to school. Bring a raincoat in case there is some rain.
All parents are very welcome to cycle along with us.
In order to participate your child / children
- They must be confident cyclists.
- Pupils must have a working bike
- A safety helmet – if you do not have a helmet you will not be permitted to go on the cycle route.
- Wear your Hi-Vis jacket – Mrs Mc Cormick gave every pupil a Hi–Vis jacket.
- No stabilisers allowed!
june events 2019
GREEN SCHOOLS CYCLE DAY 26th JUNE
On Wednesday 26th June 2019 Green Schools Officer Tiarnan will be leading our Cycle Day. The route will be roughly 3km in length on mostly flat roads. We will be starting at the school and doing a loop around Kenagh and finishing back at the school. Gary Brady will also be handing out green schools goodies to all children who participate.
ALL PARENTS WITH A BIKE AND A HELMET ARE VERY WELCOME TO COME ALONG ON OUR CYCLE DAY
In order to participate your child / children
On Wednesday 26th June 2019 Green Schools Officer Tiarnan will be leading our Cycle Day. The route will be roughly 3km in length on mostly flat roads. We will be starting at the school and doing a loop around Kenagh and finishing back at the school. Gary Brady will also be handing out green schools goodies to all children who participate.
ALL PARENTS WITH A BIKE AND A HELMET ARE VERY WELCOME TO COME ALONG ON OUR CYCLE DAY
In order to participate your child / children
- They must be confident cyclists.
- Pupils must have a working bike
- A safety helmet – if you do not have a helmet you will not be permitted to go on the cycle route.
- Wear your Hi-Vis jacket – Mrs Mc Cormick gave every pupil a Hi–Vis jacket.
May events 2019
NATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL WEEK
13th - 17th MAY
13th - 17th MAY
national ''wow'' day - walk on Wednesday 15th may
St Dominic's NS is taking part in National Walk to School Week. All pupils walking to school will be added to our daily travel chart and your classroom could WIN the Golden Boot and a homework pass for the whole class.
On our ''WOW'' day (Wednesday 15th) everyone can wear green clothes while walking to school, if not just wear your uniform as normal. Anyone wearing green will be counted.
If everyone wears green, we could be chosen to win a One for All Voucher for the school.
Mrs McCormick and the Green Team will be counting everyone wearing green on Wednesday 15th May.
Lets get WALKING!!!!
On our ''WOW'' day (Wednesday 15th) everyone can wear green clothes while walking to school, if not just wear your uniform as normal. Anyone wearing green will be counted.
If everyone wears green, we could be chosen to win a One for All Voucher for the school.
Mrs McCormick and the Green Team will be counting everyone wearing green on Wednesday 15th May.
Lets get WALKING!!!!
An Taisce Green-Schools’ National Walk to School Week is a country-wide initiative which will result in thousands of pupils and their parents walking to and from school, to celebrate the environmental, health, social and financial benefits of active travel on the school journey. Don't forget to wear your Hi- vis!
This is the eleventh year Green-Schools has run National Walk to School Week, which will be promoted to over 2000 participating schools!
This is the eleventh year Green-Schools has run National Walk to School Week, which will be promoted to over 2000 participating schools!
April events 2019
alert!! Traffic jam!
Drivers - Morning and afternoon drop offs and pick ups
We are continuing with our ''Travel to School'' challenges and working towards our Green Schools Travel Flag. Drivers, please remember when dropping off or picking up your child/ children, please use our 'Park 'n' Stride' areas - Gav's Bar or the church car park. The traffic in the mornings and afternoons is starting to build back up! This is making it difficult for staff members and pupils to arrive and leave school safely.
We want to move away from these traffic jams as the main road through Kenagh is a very
busy road for other traffic users.
Please remember no parking in the middle of the staff car park or the bus area - keep the traffic moving or use our 'Park 'n' Stride areas. We all need to arrive and depart from school safely.
We are continuing with our ''Travel to School'' challenges and working towards our Green Schools Travel Flag. Drivers, please remember when dropping off or picking up your child/ children, please use our 'Park 'n' Stride' areas - Gav's Bar or the church car park. The traffic in the mornings and afternoons is starting to build back up! This is making it difficult for staff members and pupils to arrive and leave school safely.
We want to move away from these traffic jams as the main road through Kenagh is a very
busy road for other traffic users.
Please remember no parking in the middle of the staff car park or the bus area - keep the traffic moving or use our 'Park 'n' Stride areas. We all need to arrive and depart from school safely.
An Taisce Travel award 11th April 2019
Mrs McCormick, Ms Hughes and members of the Green Schools Committee were invited to An Taisce Award ceremony in Dublin Zoo. We were presented with our Green Schools Big Travel Challenge certificate and award for 'Walking School of the Year'. This was a whole school effort so well done to everyone for taking part! Keep it up! Keep walking, cycling and scooting to school!
scooter training - Tuesday 9th April
A huge thank you to Tiarnan McCusker for an amazing morning of Scooter training. The children learned how to stop carefully, dismount scooter is a safe way when crossing roads and zebra crossings and made sure our scooters are at the correct height for each child. We had loads of fun scooting across the school yard making different shapes and animals! Thanks Tiarnan and well done to everyone!
We will be having another scooter day coming soon.
We will be having another scooter day coming soon.
SCOOT SCOOT SCOOT TO SCHOOL!!!
Green Schools Officer, Tiarnan McCusker, is coming to our school on Tuesday 9th April to show us cool scooter skills and showing us how to scoot safely! Bring your scooter to school.
Green Schools Officer, Tiarnan McCusker, is coming to our school on Tuesday 9th April to show us cool scooter skills and showing us how to scoot safely! Bring your scooter to school.
Big Travel Challenge News!!
This February St Dominic’s NS took part in the Green Schools Big Travel Challenge 2019. The overall winning school will receive a cash prize of €1000 and four runner up prizes of €500. Well done to everyone who made huge efforts walking, cycling, and scooting to school. Keep it up!
Remember to wear your Hi-Vis jackets and bag covers.
With all this fantastic work, I am pleased to announce that St Dominic’s NS has been chosen as a
WINNER in the walking category, for which we will be awarded €500 prize. We have also been entered into the competition for the overall award of being named ‘Ireland’s Travel School of the Year’.
This February St Dominic’s NS took part in the Green Schools Big Travel Challenge 2019. The overall winning school will receive a cash prize of €1000 and four runner up prizes of €500. Well done to everyone who made huge efforts walking, cycling, and scooting to school. Keep it up!
Remember to wear your Hi-Vis jackets and bag covers.
With all this fantastic work, I am pleased to announce that St Dominic’s NS has been chosen as a
WINNER in the walking category, for which we will be awarded €500 prize. We have also been entered into the competition for the overall award of being named ‘Ireland’s Travel School of the Year’.
march events 2019
National Scoot To School Week! 11th -15th March
All pupils can scoot OR cycle to school this week. Its very important that you always wear your Hi- Vis jackets - 'Be safe, Be seen!' Mrs McCormick has limited Hi-Vis bag covers for school bags - if you want one for your bag while cycling or scooting to school ask quick because when they are gone they're gone!
All pupils can scoot OR cycle to school this week. Its very important that you always wear your Hi- Vis jackets - 'Be safe, Be seen!' Mrs McCormick has limited Hi-Vis bag covers for school bags - if you want one for your bag while cycling or scooting to school ask quick because when they are gone they're gone!
C.O.W. Day - Cycle On Wednesday - Wednesday 6th March -
February events 2019
cycle training day - Wednesday 27th February
A huge thanks to Garda Annmarie Gillespie for an amazing day of Cycle Training and Cycle Safety'. Well done to everyone who brought their bikes to school today! It was fantastic to see everyone in their Hi-Vis cycling to school. We all learned how to be safe on our bikes, check our bikes equipment and signalling correctly when we are cycling on the road. It was a great day of fun! Thanks again to Garda Gillespie!
golden boot winners
big travel challenge 2019
This February we are taking part in the Big Travel Challenge 2019
The overall winning school will receive a cash prize of €1000 and four runner up prizes of €500.
## REMEMBER WEAR YOUR HI - VIS JACKETS OR ARMS BANDS TO SCHOOL ##
WEEK 2
Monday 11th - Hi- Vis Hi- Fashion
Tuesday 12th - ODD Shoes Day
Wednesday 13th - Wear your favourite Jersey to school
Thursday 14th - Valentines Theme
Friday 15th - Fashion your school bag
WEEK 1
Monday 4th Feb - Sing to school with your friends
Tuesday 5th - Crazy Hat / helmet day - the crazier the better!
Wednesday 6th - Wacky Welly Day
Thursday 7th - Tell a joke day with your friends on your way to school - Prize for the best jokes!
Friday 8th - Crazy Socks day- how many socks can you wear!!
The overall winning school will receive a cash prize of €1000 and four runner up prizes of €500.
## REMEMBER WEAR YOUR HI - VIS JACKETS OR ARMS BANDS TO SCHOOL ##
WEEK 2
Monday 11th - Hi- Vis Hi- Fashion
Tuesday 12th - ODD Shoes Day
Wednesday 13th - Wear your favourite Jersey to school
Thursday 14th - Valentines Theme
Friday 15th - Fashion your school bag
WEEK 1
Monday 4th Feb - Sing to school with your friends
Tuesday 5th - Crazy Hat / helmet day - the crazier the better!
Wednesday 6th - Wacky Welly Day
Thursday 7th - Tell a joke day with your friends on your way to school - Prize for the best jokes!
Friday 8th - Crazy Socks day- how many socks can you wear!!
January events 2019.
January Winners!
Winners of Travel Award to school : Congratulations to Ms Lennon's 4th Class & Ms Mullooly 2nd and 3rd class.
Winners of Greenest Classes: Congratulations to Ms Hughes's 6th Class & Ms Finn's 1st & 2nd class
Winners of Travel Award to school : Congratulations to Ms Lennon's 4th Class & Ms Mullooly 2nd and 3rd class.
Winners of Greenest Classes: Congratulations to Ms Hughes's 6th Class & Ms Finn's 1st & 2nd class
**RECYCLE AND UP-CYCLE** This year we are hoping to be more active! We are currently working towards a new Green Schools Flag... The Travel Flag. The Parents Association have kindly offered to help. They are hoping to build bike racks for us to park our bikes and scooters from recycled materials. Donations of old tyres, wood, pallets, paint or handy helpers they would greatly appreciate it!
Contact any member of the PA if you can help out!
Remember we are all ' Guardians of the Planet! '
Contact any member of the PA if you can help out!
Remember we are all ' Guardians of the Planet! '
WEEE Pledge
** UPDATE** Our batteries were collected just before Christmas and we are very pleased to announce that 60kgs of batteries were recycled!!** Well done to everyone! ** Keep RECYCLING!!**
We have taken on the WEEE School Pledge to recycle batteries. All children got a blue recycling box to fill up with old batteries. This recycling challenge is to inspire the next generation to become 'guardians of our planet' The WEEE Pledge is in association with WEEE Ireland which raises funds for LauraLynn Foundation. There has been a fantastic collection of batteries from all children in the school! All batteries recycled by the end of January 2019 will contribute towards the LauraLynn Chrsitmas Appeal! So keep those batteries coming in! Big and small are welcome.
We have taken on the WEEE School Pledge to recycle batteries. All children got a blue recycling box to fill up with old batteries. This recycling challenge is to inspire the next generation to become 'guardians of our planet' The WEEE Pledge is in association with WEEE Ireland which raises funds for LauraLynn Foundation. There has been a fantastic collection of batteries from all children in the school! All batteries recycled by the end of January 2019 will contribute towards the LauraLynn Chrsitmas Appeal! So keep those batteries coming in! Big and small are welcome.
National tree day
St. Dominic's NS celebrated National Tree Day on the 4th October 2018. The children participated in a variety of activities to raise awareness of the environment around us and learning about the importance of trees! The school has made a 'Forest Pledge' to always be a lifelong friend to the environment and plant trees. Take a look at our creative activities. We all really enjoyed discovering more about trees!
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Here at St. Dominic’s NS, we were awarded our first Green Flag for ‘Litter and Waste’ in 2013, and our second Green Flag for 'Energy' in 2015. We are presently working towards earning our third Green Flag, where the focus is on ‘Water’. Have a look below for news and events relating to our Green Schools' work.
Blue Day
St. Dominic's NS held a 'Blue Day' on 17th June, 2016, in order to raise awareness about water waste and the importance of saving water. The children dressed up in blue for the day and learned about the water cycle and water conservation.
Our Green Schools' Water Code
You see water here and there,
You see water everywhere.
If you want it turn it off,
Water is precious, don't waste a drop!
Clear as crystal, fresh as air,
We need water everywhere.
So come on, shout it if you care,
We need water everywhere!
You see water everywhere.
If you want it turn it off,
Water is precious, don't waste a drop!
Clear as crystal, fresh as air,
We need water everywhere.
So come on, shout it if you care,
We need water everywhere!
Water Mascots
The pupils in 5th and 6th class were busy during the second term, creating water mascots for our work on the Green Schools' water flag. The children worked in groups, reusing waste materials to create their mascots. They came up with a name and a slogan for their mascots. The finished products looked great! Well done 5th and 6th!
Environmental Review
We are currently in the process of conducting our water environmental review. Members of the committee are recording meter readings and analysing water bills to help to establish how much water we are using. In the coming weeks committee members, as well as volunteers from the senior end of the school will carry out a water audit to establish the number of appliances which use water in our school. In addition to this committee members are also recording electricity meter readings to ensure that we are maintaining improvements made in recent years in terms of our energy consumption in school.
Green Schools' Committee
Our Green Schools' committee for 2015/2016
Green Schools' Award Ceremony
On the 26th May, 2015 representatives from the Green Schools' committee attended the Green Schools' award ceremony in Athlone, where we were awarded our second green flag, for energy. Well done to all of the pupils and staff on all of their hard work over the course of the year to earn the flag. For more photos from the ceremony please see the 'News and Events' section of our website.
Our Green Schools' Committee
Our Green Schools' committee for 2014/2015
Our Green Schools Noticeboard
Our Green Schools' Energy Slogan
At St. Dominic's we're so proud,
We're saving energy, so sing it loud.
When it's bright, turn off the light,
No need to have it on all night!
We're saving energy, so sing it loud.
When it's bright, turn off the light,
No need to have it on all night!
Energy Workshop
On Monday, 3rd November, 3rd - 6th class took part in an energy workshop, provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. The children had great fun carrying out lots of interesting experiments relating to different types of energy. They learned about the importance of reducing our energy consumption in school and at home, and about the forms of sustainable energy used in Ireland.
Energy Action Day
Our "Energy Action Day" on Friday, 3rd October was a great success. The aim of the day was to reduce energy consumption in the school as much as possible, and to increase energy awareness in each class. The children and teachers avoided turning on the lights in their classrooms and didn't use any electrical appliances during the day, resulting in a huge reduction in the number of units used. The classes also took part in science and art activities relating to energy. In the spirit of saving energy some of the children even walked or cycled to school and others car pooled. Well done to all!
Junior Infants' Fantastic Draught Excluders
In November 2013 Junior Infants made some colourful draught excluders for each classroom. Not only are they helping to save energy by reducing the amount of heat lost from each room but they look great too!
Raising our first Green Flag
We raised our first Green Flag for 'Litter and Waste' in June 2013. It was a great day for the school after all the hard work put in by the children and staff, especially Ms. Finn who was our Green Schools' co-ordinator.