Looking at the seven steps that need to be followed before we can make our application for our next Green School Flag for Biodiversity, here is the progress that we made in LSP this year 2017-2018.
Step 1 – We established our Green School Committee for year one of the programme.
Step 2 – Environmental Review – We created our habitat map, documenting signs of Biodiversity on our school grounds.
We completed our first set of Biodiversity Questionnaires in November. Below you can see the questions asked and results obtained. We repeated the questionnaires in June and it is very obvious how our knowledge and understanding of Biodiversity has soared. Many thanks to the Green School Committee who made top-class presentations in all classes last year. They really helped the children in our school gain a deeper understanding of what Biodiversity is and also helped to instil in the pupils the importance of protecting and appreciating all living things on Earth.
Step 3 – Action Plan – completed. Will be on display on Notice Board later on in September.
Step 4 – Evaluation and Monitoring. Our big plan is to create a Biodiversity Garden on the St Gerard Street side of the school In September 2018. We are making every effort to increase Biodiversity in our school environment. We would be so grateful if parents/family members could volunteer some time later on in the month to help all classes with the planting of their section of the garden. See previous Green Schools Post to see the signs for the different beds in our new garden.
The Green School Committee will build a Bug Hotel in September 2018.
The PTA have done such a fabulous job on creating gardens in our yard. We now have newly laid gardens in both the senior and junior yard. This not only increases biodiversity but it also gives us something beautiful to look at. Being an inner city school with limited options for greenery, they really have added a lovely injection of nature into our school yard.
Step 5 – Curriculum work – ongoing work in classes
Step 6 – Informing and Involving. This happens through Green Schools Noticeboard, school website etc
Step 7 – New Green Code. This will be created in the first term of the next academic year. Action Day for Biodiversity will happen in Term 2.
We are now in our 11th year of the Green Schools Programme. We have learned so many important lessons along the way. We have completed detailed studies on ‘Waste and Waste Management’, ‘Energy’, ‘Water’, ‘Travel’ and now ‘Biodiversity’. Green-Schools is holistic. It aims to make environmental awareness and action an intrinsic part of the life and ethos of a school. This should include the students, teachers, non-teaching staff and parents, as well as the local authority, the media and local business. In LSP we endeavour to extend environmental learning beyond the classroom and to help the children develop responsible attitudes and commitment to the protection of Planet Earth, both at home and in the wider community.