PICTURES: Primary school in Kilkenny recognised for huge strides in eco-awareness!

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The pupils and staff of Scoil Bhríde, Goresbridge were delighted to welcome Malcolm Noonan (Minister of State for Heritage & Electoral Reform) to their school recently.

The visit recognised the many strides the pupils and staff of the school are making to become more active citizens and stewards of their local community and the environment.

During his visit to the school, all classes presented some of their project work.

Fr James Kelly (Chairperson of the Board of Management and Parish Priest) was also in attendance along with Collette Breen from the Goresbridge Community Development Association.

Class teacher Peter Fitzpatrick and the pupils from 5th and 6th class introduced Minister of State Noonan to the work of the Green Schools Committee and explained how the school has earned five Green Schools flags.

They are now currently working on their sixth Green Schools flag to reduce waste on a global level.

Deputy Principal, Catherine Moore de Ruiz then outlined the school’s participation in the Global Village Pilot Project this year.

She told Minister Noonan how pupils are being encouraged to become active global citizens committed to building a fairer and more sustainable world.

Some pupils then presented their Power Point projects based on reducing plastics in the environment and helping to save sea life in our oceans.

Minister Noonan congratulated the pupils on their project work and told them that Ireland is responsible for an area of the ocean equivalent to 10 times the size of Ireland.

Earlier this year, the pupils of 3rd and 4th Class wrote a letter to Minister Noonan expressing concern at the level of litter in Goresbridge Community Park which is situated behind the school grounds.

The children asked for Minister Noonan’s help in erecting more signage and they also requested that the rubbish bins be lowered as they felt the bins were too high for children to access.

Minister of State Noonan visited the park and agreed that these bins do need to be reduced in height for easy access by children.

Finally, infant teacher Mary Murphy and the Junior and Senior Infants invited the Minister of State on a walking tour of the school garden.

They told him of their various gardening projects, how they had prepared the soil, germinated seeds, planted spring bulbs, flowers and vegetables in the school grounds.

They also showed him the wildflower area and asked for some advice in managing the bug hotel.

While walking through the school grounds, Minister Noonan also examined the progress of the many fruit trees and fruit bushes which he helped to plant some years ago, telling the pupils about their significance.

Principal Nora McDonald thanked Minister Noonan for his visit to the school and assured him that he would be invited back again to keep an eye on the progress of the school garden!