Celebrations at Silvermines NS
Momentous day as fourth Green Flag awarded
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Pictured at the Green Flag ceremony in Silvermines NS last week are the Silvermines NS Green Schools Committee with Mr James Hayden (Principal) and Ms Marguerite Sutton (Teacher and Green Schools Committee Co-ordinator).Image 2 of 2
Parents attend the ceremony to mark the attainment of the fourth An Taisce Green Flag at Silvermines NS on Friday afternoon last.Silvermines NS recently celebrated the awarding of their fourth An Taisce Green Flag with a special ceremony in the school.
Last Friday week was a momentous day for the school as the Silvermines NS Green School's Committee unveiled their recently awarded fourth Green Flag in front of assembled pupils, staff and parents and members of the Board of Management.
Ms Marguerite Sutton, Green Schools Co-ordinator in Silvermines NS, thanked all for their hard work and dedication over the past year in the school’s bid to attain a fourth Green Flag award for travel, and paid special tribute to the school's Green Schools committee, which comprises of students from every class in the school.
Principal, Mr James Hayden, also praised the ongoing efforts and support of all pupils, staff and parents and lauded the work of Ms Sutton and school's Green Schools Committee for their efforts over the past two years.
The Green Schools Committee highlighted the need for a reduction in carbon emissions from the return to school in September 2023 and used a catchy slogan ‘Be Seen Be Green, - Join the Carbon Team’ to encourage the whole school community to come on board with ‘Walk/Roll to School Days’ and a ‘No Engine Idling’ campaign as well as undertaking a campaign to promote cycling, scooting and walking to school with a number of cycle/scooter training days.
A school competition was organised to come up with the slogan with former Sixth Class pupil, Christopher Ryan's slogan chosen as the winning entry. Obtaining the school’s fourth Green Flag proved an enormous achievement, and together with a focus on carbon reduction in the school but there also continues to be an added focus on waste recycling and energy reduction.
Ms Sutton, together with the committee members, appraised all assembled of the steps involved in preparing a submission to the Environment Section of North Tipperary County Council and thanked all the pupils from the dedication and hard work over the past year.
Chairperson of the school's Board of Management, Thomas Hickey, also paid tribute to all staff, pupils and parents for the efforts in espousing the ideas of An Taisce and the Green Flag initiative for schools and thanked Ms Sutton and the Green Schools Committee for all their hard work and endeavours over the past year before their final submission to An Taisce's Green Schools Co-ordinator.