Pupils from St Joseph’s Boys School in Derry were among invited guests being honoured this week by the Environment and Heritage Service for Northern Ireland for their contribution and commitment to the environment.
Pupils from St Joseph’s Boys School in Derry were among invited guests being honoured this week by the Environment and Heritage Service for Northern Ireland for their contribution and commitment to the environment.
This is not the first time that the pupils have been recognised for their work. In May 2007, the pupils travelled to the Mansion House in Dublin to showcase one of their projects entitled ‘Increasing Biodiversity in an Urban Area’.
The project involved planting native trees in newly established mini woodland and building a “willow dome”-a living structure designed in an igloo shape. For this they were awarded the Junior Biodiversity Award.
This commitment to the environment can be found elsewhere at St Joseph’s Boys School. Over the last few years the school has been actively involved in environmental initiatives including campaigns to recycle mobile phones, telephone directories, postage stamps, books and old clothes.
The school has worked closely with organisations such as the Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland and have been involved in an Adult Education Programmes such as “Green Gym”.
Such is the commitment of all of the pupils to the environment that even the problem of litter is being taken seriously. The school has developed a rota for litter picking in the yard, as well as working with the Hollywell Trust to conduct litter picking in the community.
Commenting on the pupils success, Maryjo Gill, head of Geography said:
“The boys worked extremely hard on this project, in all kinds of weathers, and did so with enthusiasm and dedication. This award is a wonderful achievement and is a credit to the support of parents and staff as well as the talent of our young people.
With environmental issues becoming more and more important in our society, St. Joseph’s recognises its role in developing environmental awareness in our students. We will strive to continue this work in the future.”
ENDS