Green Schools

Balbriggan Educate Together embarked on the Green School Programme just a few months after our school opened its doors in 2005, and the school was awarded it’s very first Green Flag for ‘Litter and Waste’ on 24th April 2007. Since then, the Green Team has worked tirelessly to achieve flags for Energy, Water, Travel, Biodiversity, Global Citizenship Litter and Waste, Global Citizenship Energy, Global Citizenship and the Marine Environment, and most recently, our 9th Green Flag for Global Citizenship Travel.

So, how do you get on the Green Team in our school?

The Green Team is open to all children from Senior Infants to 6th Class who are interested in environmental issues. Children who would like to be on the team write up manifestos in September, or if in the younger classes, they can say a few words instead. The children give their reasons for wanting to be on the team, and what they would do if they’re elected.

What is the role of the Green Team?

Once elected onto the team, children are given a variety of roles including; monitoring recycling, inspecting energy and water usage, encouraging sustainable travel, as well as carrying out jobs in the school gardens, wormery and polytunnel. The Green Team has also been involved in many projects over the years including Picker Pals, Balbriggan Beach Clean for Tidy Towns, Globe Climate Action and Spongy Schools for which they won a European Award.
The team meets every couple of weeks to discuss ways in which they can get the whole school involved in Environmental Action. They have organised Feet First Friday events and had some great Art competitions over the years including ‘Boat for a better ocean’ and ‘Fantastical Travel’.

We will have a Celebration Day for the school’s 9th Green Flag during Get Active Week this June. We look forward to raising the flag and celebrating the school’s success. Well done to all Green Team members, past and present, for what they have achieved to date!