For Students

Green School

TY Green School Class Visit Botanical Gardens.

The 4th year Green School group were on a biodiversity talk and walk in Botanical Gardens last Friday.

“As part of the green schools module we visited the botanical gardens on the second of may 2025 . we attended a guided tour by mathew who talked about biodiversity .

we learned that

Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth. It is essential for sustaining the natural living systems or ecosystems that provide us with food, clean water, fuel, health, wealth, and other services we take for granted in our everyday life.

The way humans use the land and sea has dramatically reduced Ireland’s natural ecosystem

our once native oak forest, which covered 80% has been reduced to 1% today. The sea around us is seriously overfished many of our rivers are polluted and most of our bog land have been damaged through afforestation with non-native conifers.

Bees and other insects are struggling because there are so few flowers in the landscape, particularly on farmland. We know that 120 species of plants and animals have already gone extinct in Ireland .We saw first hand a tropical plant that is now extinct and is only surviving in 5 botanical gardens across the world .we saw the inside of a real Banana which has not been modified for the consumer . The seeds are like black hard stones, too difficult to digest !

we loved the connection with nature from the squirrels to the beautiful wild flower the orchid .

I am really happy that our class had this opportunity to go on this trip as we learned so much about the environment and how important it is to take care of it .

Regards

Lily Rose”

Maryfield Awarded Green Flag For Transportation ’23-’24

We are pleased to announce the award of green flag for transportation ’23-’24

In 2024, the Green Schools Achievement program recognized outstanding efforts in sustainability and environmental awareness , culminating in the prestigious Transport Flag Award.

This award highlights that we have successfully implemented eco-friendly transportation initiatives, such as promoting walking, cycling, and the use of public transportation among students and staff. By fostering a culture of sustainability, our school not only reduced our carbon footprint but also encourage healthy habits within our community.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff and students of Maryfield for their support and effort involved in achieving our third green flag award

Ms Coleman

Green Schools’ Sustainable Travel Theme (3/5/’24)

Photos of 3rd year work for Green Schools’ sustainable travel theme . The three girls did powerful work. Isabella Kessie Kehoe , Heidi mcHale and Taniya Justin.

Here is some recent Green Schools activity (23/4/’24)

collection of wood for bug hotel

bike committee

cardboard sustainable city three pictures

bug hotel and fairy garden

student bike week

student library display

Here is our December winner of the Green Schools Nature Competition… Katie Walsh from 1K. Well done, Katie!

Maryfield College gets the Green Light

Maryfield College Green Schools Committee is delighted to announce that we have been awarded our second Green Flag under the theme of energy. For the past two years the Green Schools Committee along with the whole school community have been attempting to reduce the amount of energy that we use in the school through 5 simple steps.

turning off the lights when they are not needed
pulling up the blinds to allow natural light into the room
switching off the data projectors and P.C.s when not in use
turning down the radiators if the room gets too hot
closing all windows and doors to avoid draughts

To achieve this award, the Green Schools Committee, with the assistance of the Transition Year Green Schools classes and the rest of the school community, had the difficult task of completing all of the 7 steps to getting a Green Flag.

form a Green Schools Committee
complete an environmental review
put into place an ongoing action plan for energy reduction
monitor and evaluate the action plan continually
inform and involve the school community and the wider community of our action plan and achievements
write a green code

On the 2nd of March 2016 Audrey Duff from Dublin City Council visited the school and met with the Green Schools Committee to ask them about the 7 steps that had been completed and to ensure that the school had met all of the criteria necessary to achieve a green flag. Ms. Duff was very impressed with the committee and the work that the school and completed. As the Green Schools Coordinator I would also like to compliment all of the members of the Green Schools Committee on their participation during the Green Flag renewal visit. Each committee member was keen to show off our school and explain to Audrey all the work that we had done in relation to both our Litter and Waste Theme and Energy Theme.

The official application for our second Green Flag was submitted on 11th of March to An Taisce and I am delighted to announce that our application was successful and a group of representatives from the Green Schools Committee will be attending The Green Flag Award Ceremony on May 24th in The Helix.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the staff, students and parents of Maryfield College for their contribution to the work involved in achieving our second Green Flag. The Green Schools Programme can only work if the whole school community get together to implement change and sustain good environmental habits. Congratulations to us all and I look forward to starting work on the third flag under the theme of water conservation.

Ms. Rebecca Carroll

Green Schools Committee 2015/2016

Back Row L to R: Juste Rusteckaite, Julie Dory, Charlotte Cashel, Kesenja Ustimenko, Alannah Grace, Bronwen McDonagh, Samantha Balandevituite Alexandra Ciolan, Catriona Murray,
Middle Row L to R: Chiara Patton Fea, Michaela Castro, Sayeh Mohamedi, Julia Grezlak, Marielle Bernardo, Olivia L’estrange, Mairead McHugh
Front Row L to R: Sinead Bala, Amber Madden Doyle, Sophia Downes, Eve Boyle.
Not pictured: Andrea Lafford, Anna Ando, Mikee Astudillo