Green Schools awards ceremony for our sixth Green Flag for Global Citizenship: Litter and Waste. The awards ceremony took place in Kilkenny in May 2026.

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Green Schools awards ceremony for our fifth Green Flag for Biodiversity. The awards ceremony took place in Kilkenny in April 2024.

Background to the Green Schools initiative 

Green Schools, known internationally as Eco-Schools, is an international environmental education programme and award scheme that promotes and acknowledges long-term, whole school action for improvement for the good of the environment.

Unlike a once-off project, it is a long-term programme that introduces participants (pupils, teachers, parents and the wider school  community) to the concept of an environmental management system that is underpinned by core values and concepts such as sustainability, conservation and preservation. 

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Green Schools in Scoil Fionntáin Naofa, Shanahoe 

A Green Flag is awarded to a school every two years for being environmentally friendly and aware and Scoil Fionntáin Naofa has been awarded six Green Flags to date. The flags achieved to date include:
1. Litter; 
2. Energy and Waste;
3. Water;
4. Travel. 
5. Biodiversity;
​6. Global Citizenship: Litter and Waste 
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All of the initiatives undertaken pertaining to each of these Green Flags really fosters an increased awareness of and respect for the environment around us. To this end, our participation in the Green Schools programme integrates very well the Environmental Awareness and Care strand of the Science and Geography curricula. 
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 We have a very active Green Schools committee in the school who actively encourage and promote environmental awareness and care in its many forms in and around the school.  The Green Schools Coordinator is Mrs. Kris Cahill (Assistant Principal 2).

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The Seven Steps of the Green Schools process as documented by the Green Schools committee 
Step 1: We had to set up a Green Schools committee;
Step 2: We had to do an environmental review;
Step 3: We had to devise an action plan;
Step 4: We had to evaluate and monitor our progress;
Step 5: We had to integrate environmental issues into different; subject areas and lessons in each classroom;
Step 6: We had inform and involve the wider community;
Step 7: We had to create a green code

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Pupils in the school have participated in the 'Picker Pals' environmental awareness and care initiative in conjunction with Laois County Council since 2021.

Green Schools Noticeboard 2025-2026

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Biodiversity Pledges made by the Middle Room pupils

'The 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' mural designed by pupil Julie Rohan  serves as a lovely backdrop. The mural competition was organised by our Green Schools committee. 

Our 'Bee Garden' for Biodiversity which was planned and planted in Spring 2023 and which  came to fruition over the  Summer months of 2023. 

Green Schools Creative Christmas Challenge 2025, as part of which pupils were tasked with making constructions from recycled materials

This wonderful girl from Senior Infants in 2022-2023 was the recipient of a national award for her poster entitled 'Save our Water' in a competition which was jointly organised by Irish Water and Green Schools. She is pictured here at the national awards ceremony which took place in Athlone in May 2023. We are all extremely proud of her!

Biodiversity Map of our school grounds completed by our senior room pupils

Extremely civic minded junior pupils hard at work, having volunteered to clean up the school grounds with the principal during breaktime

2nd to 4th Classes in 2023-2024 worked with professional artist Monica O'Meara to create a large clay installation as part of the 'Blast Artist in Residency' awarded by Laois Education and Support Centre. They explored the theme of biodiversity through the medium of clay and used the rich flora and fauna of the natural environment around the school as the stimulus for their creative endeavours.

Sustainability Policy Statement
(June 2026)

Sustainability Policy Statement