At St. Vincent's GNS we are working hard to achieve our fifth Green Flag. The fifth flag is Biodiversity. The overall aim of the Biodiversity theme is for schools to increase awareness of the importance of biodiversity and for students and staff to come up with ways to help biodiversity.
St. Vincent’s has been involved in the An Taisce Green school programme since 2008.
Since then we are very proud to have earned 4 Green Flags. The flags we’ve earned to date are in the following areas
Since then we are very proud to have earned 4 Green Flags. The flags we’ve earned to date are in the following areas
- Litter &Waste – Reduce , Reuse, Recycle
- Energy – Conserving Energy
- Water – Water Conservation
- Transport - promoting sustainable Transport Modes.
March 2021
March has been a busy month in the school garden. We have finally been able to start planting! The green schools team made sure to pick plants that would be beneficial for birds and insects. So far we have planted some blackcurrant bushes, crocosmia flowers, lavender, foxgloves, cornflowers, rudbeckia and echinacea. We are all really looking forward to watching them grow over the coming months. Two other little projects we completed this month was a new bird bath made from an upcycled wok and a 'human nest' to surround our new bug hotel.
December 2020
In December we had our 'Christmas Raffle'. All the money raised went towards the building of our school garden. Our top prizes were two bikes. There were many other prizes up for grabs. Well done to Bianca and Klaudia who won the bikes and thanks to everyone who bought a ticket! This month the winners of our Biodiversity poster competition were announced. Well Done girls!
November 2020
In November we had our Biodiversity Day! This was a school-wide event where every class were completing activities, planting and learning about Biodiversity. Each class also had a native animal to learn and write about.
Junior Infants were learning about planting seeds.
Senior Infants were learning about the lifecycle of the butterfly.
1st class were learning about the lifecycle of the frog and planting daffodils.
2nd class were learning about the lifecycle of the bee.
3rd class were learning about the lifecycle of the apple tree.
4th, 5th and 6th classes were designing a new poster to promote Biodiversity.
The Green Schools Team also planted lots of wildflowers in the school garden, these wildflowers will hopefully attract lots of butterflies and insects to our garden.
Junior Infants were learning about planting seeds.
Senior Infants were learning about the lifecycle of the butterfly.
1st class were learning about the lifecycle of the frog and planting daffodils.
2nd class were learning about the lifecycle of the bee.
3rd class were learning about the lifecycle of the apple tree.
4th, 5th and 6th classes were designing a new poster to promote Biodiversity.
The Green Schools Team also planted lots of wildflowers in the school garden, these wildflowers will hopefully attract lots of butterflies and insects to our garden.
September/October 2020
Green schools coordinators met to discuss new approach to Biodiversity Theme. The new committee was selected in line with Covid 19 guidelines. The new committee met to discuss what had been achieved last year and how Covid 19 has impacted on our progress. New ideas for school garden/promoting awareness of biodiversity. The Green Schools team dug out and weeded the garden. A native Spindle tree was planted in the school garden for National Tree Day. 1st Class also made a leaf mould pile!
March 2020
This month we have been looking at mini-beasts! We have gathered some materials to make a mini-beast hotel. We are going to construct it in the school garden. Bug Hotels benefit lots of different types of minibeast and insects such as ladybirds, bees, spiders and woodlice. Minibeasts can then use the bug hotel as a safe space to shelter, lay their eggs, raise their young, and seek refuge from predators. We have also gathered tyres and plan to reuse them as planters in the garden.
January/February 2020
Some classes examined food chains and different types of local habitats (canal bank, local park). 5th class have received their certificate of achievement for biodiversity, Well Done! We have started work on our new school garden. The green schools team were out digging and planting. They also marked out a new wildflower zone. Some different classes have begun planting indoors.
November/December 2019
The Green Schools committee met to assess the current school garden and identify areas for improvement/design a new layout. Junior classes planted spring bulbs. Fifth class were involved in a project on biodiversity. Senior classes made bird feeders from recycled milk cartons. The results of the biodiversity survey and the habitat map were displayed on the Green Schools noticeboard.
October 2019
New Green Schools coordinators (Ms. Gaffney and Mr. Carroll) met to discuss new theme. Green schools committee selected with children from 3rd to 6th class. As part of National Tree Day, two spindle trees were planted in the school garden. The Green Schools committee met and created a habitat map of the school grounds. The committee then conducted a Biodiversity survey to assess prior knowledge.