Kilkenny Green Schools Programme
Kilkenny Green Schools Programme
Green Schools is an international environmental education programme and award scheme that promotes and acknowledges long term, whole school action for the environment. In Ireland the programme is run by An Taisce and schools are assisted locally by the Environmental Awareness Officer in Kilkenny County Council. Over 70% of all schools in Kilkenny participate in the programme and it proves to be an excellent interactive way to promote environmental awareness among students.
Unlike a once off project, Green Schools is a long term programme that introduces participants (students, teachers, parents and the wider community) to the concept of an environmental management system. It fosters a strong sense of citizenship and leadership among participants that spreads far outside the school into the wider community. It brings children into the decision making process and makes them responsible for their decisions and actions.
The award takes the form of a prestigious Green Flag that can be flown outside the school and has to be renewed every two years. In July 2017 a total of 71 schools have been awarded a Green Flag in County Kilkenny.
The annual teachers training workshop will take place on the 25th of September, all schools have been notified of the workshop times, further information can be got from the Bernadette, the Environmental Awareness Officer on 056-7794470.
Essentially the Green Schools programme is a seven step process. It is also a themed programme with schools initially tackling the issues of waste and litter and subsequently moving onto issues like energy, water and transport.
Bernadette Moloney, the Environmental Awareness Officer offers local support by school visits, organising an annual green school information evening for teachers every autumn and organises different resources for schools through Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Funding and the Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Community Initiative Grant.
If your school would like assistance or further information on the Green School Programme please contact Ms Bernadette Moloney, Environmental Awareness Officer, Kilkenny County Council at 056 - 7794470 or by email at bernadette.moloney@kilkennycoco.ie. Alternatively, check out the Green Schools website.
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