Scoil Eoin had cause for tremendous celebrations and great pride on Friday, 18th November, when the school raised both it’s Seventh Green Flag and it’s Healthy Ireland Flag! These awards are the culmination of two years of hard work, commitment and endeavour, which involved the whole school community. As someone who personifies these values every day that she trains and competes, Sanita Puspure was the perfect choice for guest of honour to mark this fantastic occasion. Double Olympian, bronze medalist at this year’s World Rowing Cup and European Rowing Championships, as well as Scoil Eoin parent, she was honoured to be chosen to raise the flags.
Welcoming the pupils, staff and special guests, Principal, Bean Uí Nuanáin proudly said that “Today is a great achievement for Scoil Eoin and a reflection of the fantastic work that is always being done in the school. The journey for both of these flags began in 1999 and is the culmination of years of environmental work and health promotion”. Scoil Eoin was awarded the prestigious 7th Green Flag for Global Citizenship Energy by An Taisce at a special ceremony last June. Scoil Eoin is one of the few schools in the country and the only school in Cork, to have reached this level of environmental recognition, a wonderful achievement for the school!
Green Flags are an international symbol of a school’s environmental sustainability and are awarded to schools for their efforts in reducing waste, conserving water and energy, promoting Sustainable Travel to School, Biodiversity and Global Citizenship. This seventh Green Flag has been awarded to acknowledge Scoil Eoin’s work in environmental awareness, this time for its hard work in the field of Global Energy. Mrs. Margaret Healy teacher and Green Schools Co-ordinator, Scoil Eoin said “A seventh Green Flag for Scoil Eoin is a testament to the enthusiasm and commitment which exists within the school community”.
Eileen Haran the Health Promoting Officer with the Health Service Executive was one of the specially invited guests at the flag raising ceremony. The Healthy Ireland – Health Promoting Schools’ (HPS) Flag is presented by the H.S.E. to schools as an acknowledgement of their work in improving the health and wellbeing of their school communities. She was delighted to attend the “fabulous event” and raise the Healthy Ireland Flag. She praised the many initiatives undertaken by the school and was proud to raise the flag at such a “brilliant school”, one of the first primary schools in Ireland to receive the flag.
The school’s success in the Green Schools initiative in recent years and now in the Healthy Ireland programme, has been attributed to the hard work of the Green Schools and Healthy Eating committees in Scoil Eoin. Both committees have been busy monitoring and encouraging everyone in the school under the dedicated leadership of their co-ordinators, Mrs. Healy and Ms. Appleby. Ms. Jane Appleby, Healthy Eating Co-ordinator said “Scoil Eoin is delighted to receive a Health Promoting School Flag. Staff, pupils and parents work together throughout the school year, to take care of our physical, social and emotional health. We use a policy of inclusion and encouragement to promote a healthy lifestyle for all. We remember the Old Irish saying “Ar scáth a chéile a mhairimid” and also that “our health is our wealth”.
Unhindered by the inclement conditions, Scoil Eoin’s pupils, staff, friends and invited guests enjoyed a wonderful excitement filled day of celebration as they came together to witness the flag raising ceremony. The junior children were bedecked in headbands adorned with fruit and vegetables, others with lightbulbs! The older children were festooned in face paints, badges and waved flags, creating a fantastic atmosphere. The latest Green Flag was raised by Sanita Puspure, herself a parent in Scoil Eoin, who made an inspiring and encouraging speech, “I know it takes a lot of team work and commitment to achieve this. Keep up the good work!” Members of the School Board of Management, including Mr. Kieran Costello, Chairperson of the Board of Management, Fr. George O’ Mahony and specially invited retired members of the Scoil Eoin community were all present to recognize the great achievement. The overriding message from Scoil Eoin on the day is one we can all embrace, that caring for the environment and our health is nobody’s job, but everybody’s responsibility.
