Learning for sustainability as a whole-school mission / Practice video

Summary

Ardscoil na Mara in Tramore is on a transformative journey towards sustainability, driven by both staff and students. Principal Padraig Cawley and science teacher Patrick Kirwan lead the initiative, emphasizing environmental education through projects like the ISSN’s climate summit, environmental influencer course, and leadership development program. Students actively engage in planting trees, reducing energy consumption, and promoting sustainable practices. The school fosters a culture of global citizenship, with subjects like peace, justice, and environmental science integrated into the curriculum. Though still a work in progress, Ardscoil na Mara is committed to making long-lasting changes and inspiring wider community transformation.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ardscoil na Mara is a co-ed school with over 1200 students located in Tramore, County Waterford, focusing on sustainability education.
• 😀 The school is actively working towards changing attitudes about sustainability through both staff and student engagement.
• 😀 The Irish School Sustainability Network (ISSN) supports schools in fostering a culture of agency and empowerment through sustainability-focused initiatives.
• 😀 The school has held a Climate and Nature Summit to discuss important topics like biodiversity, climate breakdown, and climate psychology.
• 😀 The 'Five Minutes of Sustainability' videos have been used to encourage meaningful action on environmental issues, with students creating some of the content themselves.
• 😀 Third-year students participate in the ISSN’s environmental influencer course, which covers climate issues, social change, and the connection to media and public opinion.
• 😀 Students can apply for the ISSN’s environmental leadership program in their fourth year, which includes hands-on sustainability projects and discussions on topics like food security and biodiversity.
• 😀 Practical sustainability activities at the school include sowing seeds, making bird boxes, and exploring food security, housing crises, and the importance of biodiversity.
• 😀 Ardscoil na Mara has reduced its reliance on plastics in school projects, instead opting for sustainable materials like plywood and encouraging students to practice the three Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle.
• 😀 Teachers at the school collaborate on sustainability across various subjects, with efforts like the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Award and a global citizenship group fostering awareness of sustainability and peace.

Q & A

What is the main goal of Ardscoil na Mara in terms of sustainability?

The main goal of Ardscoil na Mara is to foster sustainability by changing attitudes and training students to understand their environment and the place they live in. The school is committed to a long-term journey toward sustainability, involving both staff and students.

Who is Patrick Kirwan and what role does he play in the school?

Patrick Kirwan is a science and sustainability teacher at Ardscoil na Mara and the founding director of the Irish School Sustainability Network (ISSN). He plays a key role in promoting sustainability initiatives at the school, including implementing ISSN programs and courses.

What is the Irish School Sustainability Network (ISSN)?

The ISSN is a grassroots movement of teachers and students across Ireland focused on supporting schools in their sustainability efforts. It allows teachers to trial courses and projects in their schools and share their resources and learnings.

What was the climate and nature summit and how did it impact the school?

The climate and nature summit was an initiative to foster conversations across the whole school about critical topics like biodiversity, climate change, and climate psychology. It helped engage staff and students in meaningful discussions and led to further action on sustainability.

How does Ardscoil na Mara educate students about sustainability?

The school educates students through various programs such as the ISSN's environmental influencer course and the environmental leadership development program. Students are also involved in hands-on activities like sowing seeds, making bird boxes, and discussing issues like food security and biodiversity.

What actions has Ardscoil na Mara taken to reduce its environmental impact?

Ardscoil na Mara has taken several actions to reduce its environmental impact, including reducing energy consumption, planting trees, and moving away from plastic use towards more sustainable materials like plywood for projects.

How does the school encourage sustainable practices among students?

The school encourages students to practice sustainability by focusing on the 'three Rs' – reduce, reuse, and recycle. Students are encouraged to reduce the size of projects, recycle materials, and reuse parts such as motors and mechanisms in their designs.

What is the significance of the ‘plant a planet’ campaign?

The 'plant a planet' campaign encourages students to plant trees at home, promoting environmental awareness and action. This year, the school planted 658 trees, contributing to a total of over 1,800 trees planted in the last three years.

How does Ardscoil na Mara incorporate sustainability across different subject areas?

The school incorporates sustainability in various subject areas through the work of different teachers. For example, religion teachers work on global citizenship values, while science teachers engage students in environmental initiatives like the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Award.

What is the role of Ashlee Hally in the school’s sustainability efforts?

Ashlee Hally is responsible for education for sustainable development at Ardscoil na Mara. She is mapping out the school's sustainability initiatives across various subject areas and is also developing a sustainability policy to strategically plan for the school’s future progress in sustainability.