Energy-aware Coosan NS celebrates second green flag

What better way to welcome the end of another school year than by holding a ceremony to celebrate winning a second Green Flag. The pupils and staff of Coosan National School did just that last Friday, when they achieved the energy flag which focuses on conservation and awareness, after two years of projects, trips and poems. The pupils came up with the motto: "Show you care, be energy aware", and this theme will be carried on next September and into the future. The rain kindly held off as Principal Tom Flahive led proceedings while the Army Band entertained the children, teachers, parents and siblings gathered in the school yard. Two pupils Mark Egan and James Carey, sang for the crowd as the Green Flag was being raised, while the fifth class performed a rap song about conserving energy and other pupils read poems. Former Coosan NS pupil Doran Harte had the honour of raising the flag for the children. Teacher Anne Forde is the green flag schools co-ordinator. She explained that a lot of hard work was put in by the school to win the flag. "The whole school took part, they learned about how to conserve energy by turning off lights and turning down the heat. It really raises the awareness for children and they learn where energy comes from," she explained. "Then they go home to the parents and do it at home as well." A committee of 66 children ran the project over the last year and they reported back to their class reps and captains of the sub-committees. "It gives them a sense of responsibility and it builds their confidence," said Ms Forde. "They learn how to run a meeting, take minutes and then report back to the infants." The fourth class pupils made solar-powered pizza ovens, while the committee members visited Largan Wind Farm and Elphin Windmill. The ESB also paid a visit to the school to talk about electricity and how to conserve it. Ms Forde said that the various projects were of a huge benefit to the school and the children's education and that they all put a huge amount of work into achieving a green flag. The committee chairman was Seán Mulvihill, secretaries were Conal Edmondson and Bayode Olayoye, PROs Jennifer Boland and Hannah Doyle, Reps Ciara Egan, Chidera Alozie, Ciarán O'Callaghan, Eoin McGlynn, Chloe Moran, Conor McCready, Eve Conway, Michael Byrne and Kate Faller.