Camcloon pupils bring green message home!

THERE was fanfare, delight and pride at Camcloon NS in Ballydangan last Thursday, as the South Roscommon school was officially awarded with an Taisce’s Green Home Flag. The rural school’s 18 young pupils were joined by various dignitaries - including the Mayor of Roscommon Cllr Luke 'Ming’ Flanagan - parents, past pupils and teachers as they marked the occasion in fine style. Firstly, school principal Lucy Wallace told the large attendance that the day was a “very special” occasion for everyone associated with the school, and she also welcomed everyone, including the many past pupils who returned to witness the award of the flag. Ms Wallace praised the various councillors, and also Deputy Denis Naughten for visiting the school, and said that Camcloon NS was “very proud” of its pupils and teachers after receiving the Green Flag. “The objective for the 40 schools around the country who were chosen to participate in the Green Home Flag project was to educate the children in school about several aspects of environmental friendliness and awareness - waste management, energy conservation, efficiency in transport, and water conservation. “The children were taught several things in school and then expected to take these things home and put them into practise with the help of their parents. The children carried out a number of surveys at home two years ago, at the outset of the project, and then did more surveys this year to see what impact their efforts had. We celebrated our centenary year last year and this is a further boost to Camcloon NS. I’d like to thank all the parents, the pupils themselves, and the Board of Management,” she added. Mrs Wallace also thanked Fr Michael Molloy and Fr Sean Kilbane for their ongoing assistance with school matters, and thanked Roscommon County Council and An Taisce - in particular Mieke Scholte and Dorothy Stewart - for their help and support. She also praised the work of fellow Camcloon NS teacher, Emma Carty, and said the work carried out by the Junior Infants and Sixth Class pupils was something the school can be very proud of. Twelve year-old Ciara Forsyth, from the Ballydangan area, said the project was something she and her classmates enjoyed very much. “We learned about lots of things and how to use environmetally-friendly cleaning products in the home. It was great fun and we showed our parents how to do it. It wasn’t too hard work and we’re happy to see the Green Flag here today,” said Ciara. Classmate Jamie Curley, 11, said he enjoyed learning and putting into practise the management of water in the home. “I was very interested in the project and I’d love to do something like it again,” said Jamie. “It was a fun thing to be involved with and I think everyone enjoyed doing it. It’s good for the environment and our future,” he added. The participants from Camcloon NS all received official An Taisce certificates for their efforts, and were invited to an official presentation ceremony at Croke Park in May. Ms Wallace said the input of the children’s parents into the project was of paramount importance, and said the idea of the project is preserve everything that’s good about life and the environment. Following an official ceremony at the school last Thursday, when the Green Flag was raised by the pupils, a series of entertainment shows and a disco was put on by the school for the young pupils. An Taisce is Ireland’s oldest environmental charity founded over 60 years ago to protect the environment and heritage of Ireland for the benefit of the people of Ireland and future generations, and they believe this is best achieved through sustainable development, achieved by a long-term and planned balance of social and economic development with environmental protection.