Green-Schools Week of Action

Green Party T.D.Ciaran Cuffe (class of 1981) visited the school on Friday September 26. He spoke to Transition Year students about environmental issues and answered their questions before taking part in a tree-planting ceremony which was conducted by Fr. Joe Brennan SJ. The winner of the Green Schools slogan competition, Charlie O’Kelly (S1C, pictured here with Ciaran Cuffe and the Headmaster), also helped plant the trees – two cotoneasters. The ceremony was held to mark the school’s participation in the Green Schools programme.

Green-Schools Week of Action

Gonzaga has enrolled in the Green-Schools programme. This is an international environmental education programme and award scheme that promotes and acknowledges long-term, whole school action for the environment. Schools that implement all the steps in the programme are awarded the Green-Flag. The Gonzaga Green Schools committee which consists of both students and staff has implemented a number of changes to reduce Gonzaga’s negative effects on the environment, one of the most visible of which is the new recycling system in the dining hall.
In order to achieve the Green-Flag we need to take a number of steps, including a Day of Action. We have decided that we are going to have a Week of Action from the 23rd-27th of September in order to promote an environmentally friendly attitude throughout the school. Everyone can play a part in this week by ensuring that all litter is disposed of correctly and corridors and classrooms are kept litter free, and everyone can make an effort to walk, cycle or get public transport to school.
We have also planned a tree planting ceremony and we have invited past pupil Ciaran Cuffe T.D. from the Green Party to come and talk to the TY students.