St. Laurence's National School

St. Laurence’s pioneering the way towards a GREENER world.

Welcome to St. Laurence’s Primary School where our long established, three pronged approach to maintaining a high standard of “Green-ness" through Reduce, Reuse, Recycle makes us worthy of flying the coveted Green-Flag (Our third).

A. REDUCE

What have we reduced?
1) Reduced waste
Less waste was our initial target and our major success in this department was achieved through
Individual and whole-school commitment to the use of re-usable lunch-boxes and bottles, re-usable plastic-packaging and tin-foil not to mention composting our organic waste. The end result…we ceased to be a commercial customer in 2006 and have surpassed all our expectations in reducing waste with a domestic bin-full being collected per week. Considering our staff totals 45 and the fact that we have 517 children on our rolls we consider this no mean achievement.

Complimenting this Lunch initiative in our endeavour to reduce waste is the huge emphasis we place on using both sides of the paper when photocopying. Our unwanted used paper is shredded and fed to our composter.

2) Reduced energy consumption
Embodied in our Green-Code revisited annually is our commitment to turning off unwanted lights and radiators, closing windows, blinds and doors to reduce heat loss and the unplugging of electrical equipment when not in use.
A significant move towards sustainable energy policy was made in June 2007 when the school changed over to Airtricity as our electricity provider. Renewable energy resources accounts for eighty nine percent of or all resources used in electricity produced by Airtricity ..Ireland’s number one Green-Renewable-Energy-Provider.

3) Reduced water consumption
In St.Laurence’s we ensure all sinks have stoppers to ensure precious water is not flowing down the drain.
All rooms display notices in sink-area to remind children to turn off taps.
Rather than pay for bottled drinking water in our staff-room we have engaged “Advanced Water Coolers” to fit a filter to our existing water supply.

4) Reduced paper consumption
Check out St.Laurence’s book-lists and you will notice a significant reduction as the school is committed to a library/lending system reducing the cost to the environment as less and less books are purchased every year.
We also text a parent frequently instead of sending home letters.

5) Reduced car-use
Walk the walk
2006-2007 was a busy year for St.Laurence’s Green Committee who muscled in and achieved tremendous results in the area of “Travel”…reducing car-use to and from school and raising the awareness of the need for same in the community at large. The Park & Stride initiative launched by the then minister for the environment Mr. Dick Roche literally took legs and continues to attract huge number. This has had a knock-on affect where traffic congestion around the school is concerned with a twenty percent reduction. OurW.O.W. Walk on Wednesdays sees up to 50 children with accompanying adults take to the roads in all kinds of weather.

*A walkability audit on other possible routes, taking place on November 20 may see an increase in the number of walkers.so watch this space as one of those routes may be in your locality and may suit you."

Cycling Workshops 2007 gave fifth class children much enjoyment and practical skills and safety technique.

B. REUSE …the flip side of reduce.

1. Save the trees
The afore-mentioned library/lending system where a book which hitherto served one individual is used year after year is very successful.
Children and adults are encouraged to use both sides of the paper.

2. Postage Stamps
We also collect used postage stamps which we present to the Guide Dogs Association on an annual basis.

3. Ringo
Our fifth class children annually take part in the Ringo Scheme taking their duties very seriously.

4. Junk-art
Junk art has always been a popular part of our art programme and children are encouraged to collect items of a recyclable nature for all kinds of art projects throughout the year. One of the highlights of our calendar is the Wicklow County Council Christmas Decoration Competition which we have taken part in since its debut and our two winners Ciara Byrne and Sarah Matthews did us proud last year.

C. RECYCLE

1. Bin-busters
When it comes to recycling, no small credit is due to our “Bin-Busters” who have been known to begin their Friday “Bin-Busting” to the theme-tune of Ghost-Busters. This dedicated team check the three bins in all classrooms
making sure that only paper, card and clear plastic is put in our large bin,
only compostable waste is put into classroom compost bins(emptied on Fridays) and
that only floor-sweepings and last resort rubbish goes into our small pedal bins.
They also oversee the collection of the milk-cartons which for hygiene purposes are binned separately. Being a domestic customer of…………. the school is entitled to a green-bin collection where previously recyclable waste had to be carried by car to The Murrough Centre in Wicklow.

Green Flag…..Our Achievements so far

2000-2002…….Green flag awarded for work done in area of Waste ….Reduce, Re-use,Recycle

Green Flag…..Our Achievements so far

2002-2004…….Green flag awarded for work done in area of Energy.

Green Flag…..Our Achievements so far

2004-2006…….Green flag awarded for work done in area of Water……reduction of use.

Green Flag…..Our Achievements so far

2006-2008…….We are currently working towards our 4 Green flag for work done in area Travel……
How can you help?

Join our Green Committee.
“Walk the walk”….Join us on Wednesdays.
Car-pool…….If you are interested in Car-Pooling and would like us to pass on your details to other interested parties in your area……..e-mail your wish to be involved, your name, address and contact number and/or e-mail address for the attention of Triona to
Support our Reduce, Re-use, Re-cycle….by supplying your child with re-usable lunch box and bottle.


Credit for achievements is due to the hard work done by past and present green Committees.

Green Committee 2007-2008

Third class:
Room 15: Kristian Kasakov
Richael Browne

Room 16: Alanah O’ Carroll
Maeve Ní Nualláin

Fourth Class:
Room 17: John O’ Connor
Daisy O’ Caoimh

Room 18: James Delahunty
Emily Croke

Fifth class
Room 19: Aaron Horan
James Brosnan
Emma Finn
Alannah McDonnell
Orlagh Connor
Kate O’ Brien

Room 20: Joe Moran
Ailish Doyle

Alice Brennan
Michaela Kelly

Sixth Class
Room 12: Sally Cahill
Seán O ‘Leary

Chloe Goeghegan
Ciara Byrne

Room 13: Deborah Powell

Erin Horan
Robin Kavanagh

Adult Committee

Colin Acton
Deirdre Brooks
Deirdre Blankansee
Catherine Colbert
Patricia O’ Regan
Justin Ivory
Catherine Coveney
Michael Whelan
Triona Hassett