'Mix Your Mode' Sustainable Travel Initiative- March 26th 2014
The following is an account of the various stages involved in planning, conducting and surveying our first MYM day in Colaiste Muire.
Stage 1: Mapping
The Green Schools Committee organised maps to put up around the school. To begin with one big map was printed off, with the school as the centre, showing the surrounding areas. Smaller versions of this map were then used by the students to identify where they live on the map. Students were then called up to mark where they live on the large map. They also had to write how they usually get to school. The total number was counted for every method of transport. We then presented the results on a map which was colour coded.
The colours were: Walk - green
Car - red
Carpool - blue
Bus - black
Cycle - yellow
Finally a student from our school drew a sketch map of the island. This sketch map showed the same information as the large map. This map was put up for all of the school to see. It showed the different routes the students and teachers could take on the Mix Your Mode Day.
Stage 2: Planning
These routes include the walking routes, cycling routes and a park and stride route. Each route had a point where the people would meet up. There were four main walking routes. The Southern Route, The Northern Route, The Eastern Route and The Western Route.
Stage 3: Informing
The third stage of “Mix your Mode” day was informing all students in the school .There was a multitude of methods used .The green schools committee arranged for announcements to be made over the intercom in the school so everyone could hear about the event .They then drew up replica maps which outlined which route you could take depending on where you lived .This way people could simply find out the route they must take .Text were also sent to parents about the event .Sandy McGroarty even came to the school as a guest speaker to inform us on the damage caused by cars on the atmosphere.
Stage 4: Cross-curricular
In order to make students and staff of the school more aware of the event that was taking place a PowerPoint presentation was made and put on the Green Schools website which could be accessed from the schools website. The cspe teachers were asked to show this presentation to students from 1st to 3rd years while religion teachers presented this PowerPoint to students from 4th to 6th year. This made students aware of the work that Green Schools members were doing that would help them to achieve another flag
Getting the whole-school involved was very important for the Green Schools initiative. As such, 1A3 Maths were tasked with analysing the data collected on the ‘Mix Your Mode’ day. They worked very hard to input, collate and present the data, which highlights the dramatic drop in carbon dioxide emissions compared to the school’s usual travel emissions and also the significant increase in more sustainable modes of transport, like walking, cycling or even parking and striding.
Stage 5: The Morning of the Event
The event was held by each school on the island. There were four walking routes for people coming from the north, south, east and west, so that people could meet and walk together in groups into school. Members of the Green Schools committee and student council helped to steward the walking groups. There was also a cycling route, led by the principal, which met at various points, roughly following the railway line into town. As a result the school carpark was practically empty.
Stage 6: Photographs and Videos
On the morning, students and teachers were asked to document the event. Students and teachers at each route took pictures, and some recorded videos of it. Teachers were waiting at the entrance to the school, so that they could take pictures of students coming in from each route. Students and teachers were asked to send their pictures to the Green Schools committee.
Stage 7: Survey
On Wednesday morning first years were sent around to each class to survey the classes. Each teacher was given a survey to fill in all the results. The survey asked about each person’s usual mode of transport and how they travelled that day. It also ask the distance students usually travel.
Stage 8: Results
After this information was collected, it was brought together to see how many people walked, cycled etc. This information was sent to an Taisce to decide which school in Cobh would be the winner. Walterstown won because they had the lowest number of drivers but Colaiste Muire were also awarded a prize for having the highest number of walkers (77%). This prize was given to a first year class because they had 100% walkers. At 8.50am there were only 5 cars in the car park.
Open Night 2012
On the 11th of September our school had its open night. We set up the room in order to make it welcoming and appealing for the incoming first years. Our aim was to encourage them to join the Green Schools Committee and to inform them about our many achievements and outings.
We greeted the guests and explained to them who the Green Schools Committee are and what they do. We also had a power point presentation informing the incoming first years on how they can join. We showed them how to get into the Green schools website through a link on the School website.
They seemed very enthusiastic and wanting to join next year.
When the night came to a successful end we put the room back as it was before.
Time to celebrate
These are a few pictures of Jack's surprise party that we held for him the day before we went on the trip to the Dam. We also celebrated the work we have done this year and how much progress has been made towards obtaining our next Green Flag.
Welcome to the Green Schools Blog!
We have had a great start to the year with several new members. Two of our members are also on the Cobh Tidy towns Committee.
Water:
- We take water readings every Monday morning & Friday evenings
- The Tech Committee meets every Tuesday and Friday at 13:20 in the computer room to update the website on our progress
- Other sub committees meet to organise trips and events within and outside of school
- We are pleased to announce that our Tidy Towns won a bronze medal at this years awards for their catagory & recieved a €400 prize.
- They have been helping us work to making the school and Cobh a cleaner town. They also helped us to get our energy flag last year.
- Community Care works in school and in the wider community to keep Cobh looking clean and green
- The Students Council address any environmental issues that arise and liaise with the committee to find solutions quickly and promptly
- The Caretaker assists the Committee with meter readings and general upkeep of the premises
If you have any issues or ideas you can contact us on our e-mail address which is cmuiregreencommittee@hotmail.com
Green Flag Renewal Visit
On Thursday the 10th 2012, Birgit O’Driscoll came in to talk us about Water Conservation. She asked us about what we had done as a group. We showed her our website which she said was AMAZING! We told her about what we did on World Water Day. We told her about the quiz that was made for the day. We showed her the graphs that were made from the information we collected. She told us that she could hold a workshop with us for making our own cleaning products that could be used in our school by our cleaners. We thought the idea was good and we will probably do it some time next year.
A visit from our school plumber
Recently, we had a visit from our school plumber - Mr. Sweeney. He came in to talk to us about our plumbing and how we can save water.
He showed us a number of devices that are used to keep our water usage at a minimum. He talked to us about the current plumbing in the school.
At the moment the taps and toilets have automatic timing. The taps are regulated according to Department of Education policy and run for about 10 seconds. The temperature has been set to 43 degrees Celsius which Mr. Sweeney showed us how to check with a very cool laser gun! This temperature ensures no one gets burned - apart from the germs, such as E-coli. The taps flow at a rate of 5.4 litres per minute(1 litre).
Over five years ago new toilets were put in that used 6 litres of water per flush. Last summer, a dual flush system was put in place. This means that a user can select the quantity of water needed. The smaller button uses 3 litres of water and the larger button uses 6. The urinals operate using a motion sensor system.
We are now currently looking for new ways to conserve water. Mr. Sweeney spoke to us about work and proposals for other schools in the area and we are currently conducting research into these.
European Week for Waste Reduction at Fota Wildlife Park
On the 26th of November four students from Coláiste Muire were accompanied by Miss Lenihan to Fota Wildlife Park for a Waste Reduction Day. When we arrived, we were met by representatives of EPA and Cork County Council and were provided with Fota t-shirts.
On the way to the Marquee, we saw Ostriches, Giraffes and some Bison. We saw nature in action!
At the Marquee Gavin and representatives from the ESB were setting up the cinema and there were 6 bikes. We got to test them for the first time.
The equiment was home-made. The bikes were attached to a scooter engine on a bracket. We had to keep the dial as close to 1400 watts as possible. This was no easy task. Cycling for only 5 minutes works up a sweat!
When the dial dropped below 1100 watts there was a blackout! After that, we realised how hard it was to make electricity. I’d never watch telly again if I had to power it by cycling! People from the crowd took part too. It was a really fun, interactive event.
ESB Electric Ireland demonstrated some very modern cars – run by electricity. We were amazed that they are simply plugged in – like you would with your kettle. What shocked us was the little time they take to charge. This can take anything from 20 minutes (power charge) to 4 hours (full charge). Some of the representatives even got a lift – they cruised along silently!
Afterwards, we went around Fota and we fed the ducks, saw the seals, the eagles and the giraffes. The most exciting part of the day was when we saw the baby chick hatching from its egg in the Hatchery.
Last but not least, we saw the litter puppet show. It thought us to reduce, reuse and recycle. The composting sent the same message and provided us with ideas for the school.
Coláiste Muire Green Schools Annual Poster Competition - Energy Theme
Well done to everyone who participated in the Colaiste Muire Green Schools poster competition. The posters which had to have a visual element and a slogan were of a very high standard. There were over 110 entries. First prize went to Helen Geary, joint second prize went to Rebecca Bourke and Hollie Tighe. All entries are now displayed on the school corridors as a reminder to the whole school to make every effort to reduce their energy consumption.
Congratulations also to the winners of the Colaiste Muire Green Schools
Energy Quiz. The whole school took part in the quiz and prepared themselves for several days beforehand by observing THE GREEN SCHOOL’S MILE. This consists of twenty three points on the energy theme which are posted on the school corridors; by walking every step of the school corridors with an “eagle” eye it was possible for pupils to find and memorise the answers to the planned quiz. The interest and competition was keen. The winning prizes went to Alex Keane Murphy, Ian McCall and Thomas Stafford.
