Category: Green School
Partnerships: Orienteering
The children took part in orienteering with Catherine Russell from the Green schools during the week, we were all delighted to be outside and active in our lovely weather. Orienteering is a great opportunity for the children to further develop their team work skills, as well as following instructions.
Partnerships: Road Safety
An education officer from the RSA came to the school this week to advise the children of how to be as safe as possible when travelling.
With the active school initiative the children are often walking on the roads to the hall or with N.C.T. so it was great for them to be given extra tips on how to travel safely.
The green school are also working on their next green flag and their focus is travel. These two committees worked together to ensure the whole school know the best and safest ways to travel.
N.C.T.
We carried out our first ever ‘No Car Thursday’ on the 1st of December 2016 and it was a great success. The children and the staff met at two different locations and walked to school together. It was a fun and safe way (thanks to the Green Schools Committee’s survey and for the high vis jackets) to get active in the morning. Thank you to everyone who took part and we look forward to walking to school together every Thursday from now on.
Walkability Survey
The Green Schools Committee had the pleasure of working with Catherine Russell on Monday, to carry out a walk-ability survey around our school. The children each had different jobs and worked in groups to assess how safe it would be to walk to our school, from two different locations. Not only were the children out getting active, they were also using their measuring skills they had learn in class, to measure footpaths and the different distances around the school, using a trundle wheel and meter stick. It is great to see how the Green Schools Committee and the Active Schools Committee can work together to make our school a healthier environment.
Green School
Green School Co-ordinator Catherine Russell called to the school to introduce the Travel theme which we will be undertaking over the next two years. 4th class are our Green School Team that will try to reduce the amount of travel to and from school.
Raising Energy Green Flag 24/6/14
On the 24th of June 2014 huge celebrations were underway in Ballinacarriga National School. In the midst of a heat-wave, a fancy dress party and fashion show was held in honour of the raising of our second green flag. Pupils and teachers alike went to great efforts to dress up and compete for the top prizes in the show.
Not one, but two young superstars came to raise the flag in front of the school and community. The pupils were in luck when John O Rourke and Brian Hurley (Cork Senior Footballers) arrived early for the ceremony and took part in a football match with the 4th, 5th and 6th Class Children.
Our guests of honour praised the Green Team and the whole school community for their achievement before raising our second green flag to the cheers of the audience.
A truly enjoyable day was had by all.
Sincere thanks to Brian Hurley and John O’ Rourke for giving their time to raise our flag, they made the occasion very special.
Green Day of Action
On October 24th we held our Green School Day of Action. We decided to have a fun and informative day for everyone at school and parents also. After revealing the Green Code winners the Green Team set up games, songs, dances and stories for the younger children in school.
After this we invited 5th and 6th class in to view our projects on renewable and non-renewable energy, to play part in energy-based games and to take part in an energy quiz.
At 1.50 parents began arriving to view the projects, learn about the equipment we had used to see where energy was being wasted in school, they also learned how to read the electricity meter and which appliances used the most energy at home. They received a leaflet with tips on energy-saving and we hope they are putting them to good use at home!
Thanks to all those who attended our Green Day and a big thanks to the Green Team, who made the day a huge success.
Green Code Winner
On Thursday 24th October the Green Team held a ‘Day of Action’ as part of the Energy Green Flag.
We started the day by revealing the winner of the Green Code Competition. Aideen Murphy came up with the very catchy phrase:
‘Don’t waste electricity, Use it with efficiency!’
She received a 25euro voucher for Smyth’s Toy Shop.
As we had so many great entries to the competition we also picked two runners up. Emer O’ Connell was second runner up with:
“The more you burn, the less you earn!”
Niamh O’ Connell was first runner up with:
“Keep the future bright, turn off the light!”
Well done to all those who took part.
Green Code Competition 2013
Competition Time!!
The Green Team are running a competition to find a ‘Green Code’. This is like a motto or a catchphrase based on the theme ‘saving energy’.
Each entry costs 50c, go to Maeve and Margaret in 3rd class, they will give you an envelope to put your code in and you pop it in the competition box.
The winner will be revealed on our Day of Action, Thursday, 24th of November.
The prize is a voucher for Smyth’s Toy Shop… Good Luck!!
Second Green Flag
We are now proudly displaying our first green flag.
Thank you to all those who attended the raising of the flag on Friday 19th October.
We have stated work on the second green flag already. The theme for this flag is energy and it will take two years and seven steps to achieve it.
We have taken the first step which is forming a new committee. Second Class and Third Class are the new ‘Green Team’ and they have started work on step two already, which is performing an ‘environmental review’ of the school. We have focused on lighting so far and have noted areas in the school that will have to be monitired closely to reduce the amount of energy they are using on lighting. Results of our light survey will be on display on the Green Notice board in school next week.
We will use the information gathered so far to help us take step three which is to form an action plan, including spcific goals in energy reduction and how we intend to achieve them.
Anyone who would like more information on the green flag should visit www.greenschoolsireland.org 
Green Flag
Miss O’Regan, Aideen, Ruth and Emma travelled to the Silver Springs Hotel in Cork for the Green Schools Award Ceremony on Tuesday May 22nd to collect Ballinacarriga’s first Green Flag. There were 81 schools present on the day and Ballinacarriga were one of 23 schools receiving the award for the Litter and Waste theme. Well done to all involved!!
Greenest Classroom Competition
Congratulations to 4th/5th/6th class who won the Greenest Classroom for March/April
Green Flag!!!
Ballinacarriga National School has been awarded their first ‘Green Flag’ for the litter and waste theme. Miss O’Regan, Ruth, Emma and Aideen will be attending the Award Ceremony on the 22nd of May in the Silver Springs Moran Hotel in Cork City. Well Done to all involved!
Greenest Classroom Competition!!
Winners of the Greenest Classroom Competition for February is Miss O’Regans class – 2nd/3rd. They get one night off homework!!
Green School Update
We are now reusing 100% of our plastic bottles!! Old mobile phones are still needed for the Jack and Jill foundation so we can claim fantasitc resources for our school! Keep the Green Wheel Turning!!
An Taisce Visitor
Rachel from ‘An Taisce’ visited Ballinacarriga National School on Wednesday 15th of February. She was very impressed by the structure and understanding of the ‘Litter and Waste’ theme within the school. We have reduced our landfill by nearly 44% and our recycling by 32% so far! We will be notified in April if we are to receive our first ‘Green Flag’. Keep The Green Wheel Turning
Day of Action
Pictures from our very succesful Day of Action helping us to ‘Keep the Green Wheel Turning’
