Parents
WEEE Ireland is working in partnership with the Green School Committee in Coláiste Lorcáin to promote an awareness of the collection of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment.
During the period 19th Octiober to 6th November students and their families are encouraged to bring in, for collection, any of the items listed on the information poster or any other electrical equipment.
More information can be got at the WEEE Ireland website or by contacting WEEE at info:weeeireland.ie
Green schools Committee.
Visit www.weeeireland.ie
Students! Separate Your Trash!
Aims of the Green School Committee
• To provide information for students, parents and teachers on issues related to care of our environment
• To encourage students to follow the waste minimisation policy of the school
• To produce an energy policy for the school
• To introduce a water policy for the school.
• To examine possible energy transport saving initiatives for the students.
Programme Coordinators
Lorraine Dalton
Ciarán Byrnes
Syl McEvoy
Administration Structure
Green School Committee selected from green representatives from each class.
Meeting every Monday – minutes recorded by secretary and placed in green cabinet.
Facilitators Meet each week to plan the activities.
Phase 1
Phrase 1 of the programme involved working in partnership with Mr Dara Weir the environmental Officer with Kildare County Council. The following steps were completed
(a) The forming of a green schools committee.
(b) The forming of a litter monitoring committee
(c) Holding information meetings for the students
(d) Placing of a green schools notice board the school
(e) Organising a litter awareness week
(f) Hold a cake sale to raise funds
(g) Produce a final document for the Parents Council, Board of management, and staff of Colaiste Lorcain.
In May 2004 Mr Emanon Kane raised the green .The immediate target was to focus on the energy component of the green schools programme.
Phase 2
The targets for phase two were discussed and agreed on by the green representatives from each class group. The following activities were used to create awareness both at school and at home by the students.
All first years visited recycling yard at Silliot Hill.
• Class room survey was completed by the students to collect data on room temperatures.
• New wire holders were purchased to contain the recycling bags.
• The school waste is divided into recyclables and non recyclables.
• Kildare County Council supplied collection bins for the school waste.
• Flag poles were erected.
• Students were appointed to raise the green flag, the EU flag, and the National flag each morning and remove the same in the evening.
• Clean up days were selected.
In April 2006 the Estonian Charge d’Affaires’ Ms Lilis Variksaar raised the green flag for the second time in Colaiste Lorcain.
Phase 3
Targets to be achieved for renewal in February 2008
• Adoption of the school water policy.
Colaiste Lorcain Water Policy 2007
• All students report water wastage to the green school committee.
• Students encourage water conservation in their homes.
• Spillage of water by students at water fountain is a serious offence.
• In the Science room students must not turn on the water taps.
• In the Home Economics room wash with full loads in the dishwasher.
• Cleaners use water efficiently for mopping.
• The water meter must be checked once each week.
• Management to investigate the use of low water volume in the toilets.
• Signs to be placed around the school by the green school committee to create awareness of water conservation in the school.
• The green school committee will monitor the school stream for water quality.
• Spring clean up day.
• Creation of a carbon credits area for the school.
• Invite in guest speaker on Transport.
• End of year evaluation of the programme.
• Tour to recycling plant in Carlow.
• Thank you tour for members of the green school committee.
Outside of the requirements set out above for the retention of the Green Schools flag in 2008, the Green Schools Committee is preparing to measure the carbon footprint of the school. To help mitigate the effects on the atmosphere resulting from the generation of CO2 the committee has devised a number of measures outside of those outlined in the above phases. Examples of such measures include:
• The confirmation of the school’s carbon footprint
• The planting of trees in a dedicated grove on the school grounds
• The implementation of the traffic light system to label classrooms depending on their efficiency of energy use