St. Ita s and St. Joseph s Primary and Post-Primary School Green Flag and Biodiversity Policy
2 Introduction A number of years ago St. Ita s and St. Joseph s School was presented with the first prestigious Green Flag award by Mr. Michael O Coiléann on behalf of An Taisce. This was a great honour for the school and its pupils, parents and teachers. The award was a result of a culmination of effort by all staff. Since that time we have earned in total, five Green Flags for our school. Historical Background St. Ita s and St. Joseph s is a specialist co-educational school catering for the educational needs of students with mild general learning difficulty. The student cohort ranges in age from four to eighteen years. Educational provision is accommodated at primary and second level, with students undertaking state examinations where appropriate. The school offers its specialists services to students from Kerry, Cork and Limerick. Environmental Awareness St. Ita s and St. Joseph s has over the years consistently promoted an awareness of environmental issues. This awareness prompted the school community to take practical steps to enhance the green environment through the introduction of a policy on waste reduction and re-cycling and the implementation of the Green Schools seven point plan. Initial Environmental Review To facilitate this review, extensive use was made of the Green Schools Environmental Review Booklet: to help identify existing strengths and weaknesses set realistic targets review progress. 2
3 Policy Prior to 2003 School policy on environmental issues prior to 2003 was mostly concerned with: Litter collection Environmental issues both local and national. Tree planting School Landscaping. In the year 2002/3 at least four large wheelie bins were presented for collection each week. Under the direction of school green policy co-ordinator the review committee identified areas of existing policy which could be immediately improved and areas which would require a more long term strategy. Listed below are the short, medium and long term targets, as outlined by the committee. Results of Review Short Term Targets: An immediate reduction in litter Establish a litter patrol group Sorting of litter material Coloured containers for various types of litter i.e. cans, paper, batteries etc Raising of Pupil awareness with regard to disposal of litter Parental involvement in the programme Staff involvement in the programme Acquisition of Compost bin(s) Acquisition of Wormery. 3
4 Methodology After the review the students were encouraged to reduce the amount of packaging used in school lunches and instructed on its proper disposal. The school staff was urged to review their use of the photocopier. Copies were used more efficiently, old copies used for art work, jotters etc. A shredder was purchased to shred old waste paper and this is donated for animal bedding. Most of our school administration is now completed on the school server. Policies and plans are outlined via the school server instead of paper format where possible. Medium Term Targets: The quadrangle area in the school is to be developed further for propagation of seeds for horticulture classes A flower garden will be developed An awareness project will be embraced on an annual basis. Computer Cartridges to be re-filled and re-used where possible. Methodology Those students who are pursuing the FETAC programme incorporated the quadrangle area into the horticultural element of the programme and pursued the medium targets outlined. To raise awareness of international environmental issues the school commenced involvement in the Green Flag Project. Long Term Targets: Re-furbish and stock pool in sensory garden Establish vegetable garden Reduce light bill 4
5 Reduce heating bill Build glass-house in sensory garden Build compost holders in garden from recycled materials Review attic insulation. Methodology Through use of fundraising the glass-house and refurbishment of the pool area took place. To reduce lighting bills all lights are switched off during break time or when rooms are not in use. To aid the reduction of fuel bills, some radiators in the school corridor were turned off at certain times of year. Radiators in the P.E. Hall are turned off when appropriate. Waste Disposal It is school policy to minimise waste as much as possible and to foster an atmosphere of environmental care within the school and in the community at large. Each class is responsible for ensuring its own waste is correctly sorted and only correctly sorted waste is sent for recycling. Recycling must be done only between 1.30 p.m. and 1.40 p.m. each day. Each class is responsible for cleaning its own bins. Waste Disposal Procedures Paper and cardboard (to be torn into small pieces) may be put into the dry recyclable bag in Ms. O Shea s classroom. Any sensitive documents to be shredded in shredder in office first. The recyclable bags will be put out for collection every second Thursday. Clean tissues may be put in the Tissue Bin in Ms. O Shea s class room Non recyclable waste to be left in classroom for collection after school. Toilet bins will be emptied after school once a week. This will be put out in main bin for collection every second Thursday. 5
6 Containers and wrappers from staff and children s lunches must be taken home by them each evening. Raw food waste and pencil parings from all classrooms and kitchen to be put in appropriate bins and recycled into main bin in Ms. O Shea s classroom. This will be put into wormery and/or compost heap. Cooked food from kitchen to be put into special covered container. This will be taken home by a staff member every evening. Plastic bottles from kitchen will be washed and squashed and recycled once a week as long as the recycling facilities continue in Garvey s Car Park. If they are stopped, then the bottles will be put into the dry recyclable bag and put out for collection. Extra Responsibilities Specified classes will be responsible for recycling food waste and tissue. Specified classes will be responsible for putting out the bin/bags on alternate Thursdays for collection and then for bringing the bin back in again. Staff will be responsible for supervising cleaning of staff room by children from Senior Corridor. All children and staff are to keep the school building and grounds as neat as possible. Policy Summary 1. All paper waste reused or recycled. 2. Glass bottles are placed in Garvey s Bottle Bank. 3. All other dry re-cycled material is placed in bags provided for same and left for collection at school gate. 4. Batteries collected separately from students and re-cycled. 6
7 5. Paper material not suitable for re-cycling is shredded and the shredded material is donated for animal bedding 6. Tissues and appropriate food waster, organic material is composted in the school compost bins. 7. Compost bins in garden to be utilised for making compost. 8. Wormery used to dispose of appropriate waste. Achievements to Date The Green School Committee have achieved the following targets: Overall reduction of 80% in non-organic waste resulting in a significant cost saving to the school. Bottles, cans, tins, and plastics are re-cycled which would otherwise have ended up in landfill sites. Very important practical learning on environmental issues available to the school community. All computer cartridges now being re-filled locally and re-used where possible. Important lessons learned in area of group and committee work by the students. A cleaner healthier school environment available to all. Compost from wormery and composter used for planting bulbs, seedlings etc. School Grounds and Building The school although over thirty years old, is reasonably environmentally friendly. All windows are now double glazed, with the exception of those in the corridors. Fluorescent lighting is used in all classrooms. Heating is used with due consideration to climatic conditions. However, attic insulation is not as efficient as it should be and is one of the long term projects which will be prioritised as soon as funding is available. Many new trees were planted and these are successfully maturing and are a considerable asset to the local environment not just to the school. The school received an award in 2004 7
8 from Tralee Tidy Towns committee and was commended by the Chairperson of Kerry County Council at the presentation ceremony. Environmental Issues and the Curriculum Environmental studies have always been part of the school curriculum both formally and informally since the schools inception. This long association with environmental issues is reflected throughout the curriculum in History, Geography, Social, Personal and health Education and Religious Studies. The lessons learned by the students, staff and school community since we embarked on this project are too numerous to list here but have contributed greatly to the development of a strong and dedicated commitment to achieving a healthier environment for all. Review of our Work The Green School project is reviewed every two years in St. Ita s and St. Joseph s. The purpose of the review is to demonstrate how the school has advanced on its original achievement and is meeting with any new or revised targets. Green Code Policy Statement To arrive at a green code policy statement the organising committee issued the following criteria; it should be brief, practical, clear and implementable. Policy Statement and Green Code St. Ita s and St. Joseph s school is committed to creating a clean, healthy and wholesome environment for the enjoyment and pleasure of the whole community. 8
9 Green Flag School Our green school motto is: Floating like butterflies, working like bees, the greenest school in Ireland in the Vale of Tralee. Equality During the Equality Review in our school it was recommended that we should include the following in all our school policies and plans in the future: Our school will not discriminate on any of the nine grounds named in the Equal Status Act and any processes and procedures will not be applied in a discriminatory way. The school is committed to positive action for those who are disadvantaged or who need assistance that others do not need and the school should be alerted to the fact that support is needed so it can be put in place. Discrimination under the nine grounds or harassment including sexual harassment is prohibited in our school. Ratification and Communication This policy was ratified by the Board of Management on the 03/12/13. This policy is communicated to staff on our school server and to the whole school community via our school website. 9
10 Appendix 1 Dissemination of Relevant Green School Information A notice board has been attached in a prominent position in the school corridor where all relevant information is posted. Students The general student cohort are informed on green policy issues through the notice board, teachers, green flag committee members and at assembly. Staff Staff are informed through co-ordinator Ms. O Shea, committee members and at staff meetings. Parents Parents are informed by the principal, policy co-ordinator, Board of Management representatives and students. Board of Management The B.O.M. are informed by the principal and staff representative on the board. 10
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