On behalf of the Environmental Committee of 2020/2021, I am delighted to announce that HCK has succeeded in gaining our Biodiversity Action Flag by Green-Schools, Ireland’s leading environmental management and award programme.
Despite lockdowns and uncertainty last year, a number of crucial initiatives were launched to raise awareness about biodiversity and its vital role in sustaining a rich and healthy environment. We raised awareness through a school-wide Biodiversity quiz and a photo collage in which all CSPE students shared photos of biodiversity in their area. Transition Year students did art projects with the theme of recycling, calculated the carbon content of the trees on our school campus and created a habitat map. Second Year students took a trip to Dublin Zoo and learned about conservation. First Year students used recycled materials to make bird feeders.
Throughout the school, we have been busy promoting environmental consciousness. To mark the 175th anniversary of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus (SHCJ), the order has very kindly offered to fund the planting of two cherry blossom trees as well as a wildflower meadow that has flourished over the summer (see photos). The winning design for the plaque, made by Sixth Year Student, Laura Reynolds, is to be placed by the meadow. A bird bath, kindly donated by Grace Kelly’s Mum, bird feeders, and herbs and plants in flowerpots (hand painted in our house colours!) have been installed by the meadow and on the school grounds. We hope these rewilding initiatives will add further to the diversity of nature in HCK.
Thank you to Ms Byrne and all those involved. We hope that the success in earning the flag will be a source of pride for HCK and an inspiration to everyone to practice our motto, “Actions Not Words”.
Georgina Dowling (Environmental Prefect 2021-2022)