Pupils hard work pays off as they are awarded the Active Flag and Green Flag
By Aimee Walsh
STUDENTS at a local school have had their hard work and resilience pay off as they are awarded two important flags for the school – the Active Flag and the Green Flag.
Edmondstown National School in Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, have achieved their third Active Flag and their sixth Green Flag which were raised by Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD on June 25.
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media - Ms Catherine Martin TD and Philomena Cleary with Student Council, Green School and Active Club Members
The school’s first Active Flag was achieved in 2017 and has been renewed again following the Active Committee’s hard work in organising daily active lines, distributing equipment to the other children during play time, organising running challenges, Halloween bowling and a Santa dash.
The Active Committee, co-ordinated by Mr. Michael Dunne and made up of pupils Jamie, Dara, Niamh, Ruairi, Maya, Spencer, Lucia and Charlie were also involved in helping their teachers assess children for Fundamental Movement Skills by organising an Active Week.
According to Principal of the school, Ms Philomena Cleary, it was an “incredible week” with plenty of activities taking place, including live cricket by Naomi from Cricket Leinster, Rugby from Leinster Rugby and a HIIT class delivered by ACE Performance.
The school will also raise their sixth Green Flag, after the Green School Committee put in fantastic work to promote and increase biodiversity. The committee, made up of pupils Alexandra, Rebecca, Connie, Evan, Finola, Leon, Maya and Rhiannon took part in planting native trees, a bumble bee corridor and vegetables and were co-ordinated by teacher Ms Andrea Burke.
Principal Ms Cleary told The Echo: “Each class learned all about the rainforest and its importance for the environment. We learned that our actions locally have an impact globally.
“Children have influenced their parents to reduce their purchase of items containing palm oil, for example, they also now buy organic Nutella.
“The children are very proud of our school and they litter pick each day and water the vegetables and the fruit bushes in our little orchard.”
Ms Cleary went on to commend the children on their resilience and determination throughout the tough year that has been affected by numerous school closures due to the pandemic.
“For the past 18 months, we have lived through the Covid 19 pandemic, but the children in Edmondstown National School have been undaunted.
“They have continued in their Active and Green School endeavours – they have shown us the way with resilience and hope, and I couldn’t be prouder.”
