Words by Addison Noble & Grace McGrath S3 students
Photos from Our Lady & St Patrick’s High School
Our Lady and Saint Patrick’s High School in Dumbarton is one of many establishments working to make a difference in our environment and to our world.
The many eco-friendly programmes, partnerships, and activities the school provide and take part in, encourage pupils and members of the community to stay sustainable and take care of their surroundings.
The hard-working eco-committee and involved teachers, inspire, and encourage pupils to take action in fighting climate change and staying sustainable.
From the first Eco Flag secured in 2022, to the eco-friendly activities the school take part in, Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School always has something to offer when it comes to saving our planet and educating pupils and their families on how to do their part.
Working Together
OLSP has collaborations with the local nurseries ‘Andrew B Cameron’ and ‘Bellsmyre’, where pupils regularly took part in sustainable, informative and enjoyable activities with the younger children.
In December, a group of pupils played Christmas songs on instruments as part of a small ‘around the campfire’ performance.
This was an outdoor experience which helped the children and our young people make use of and enjoy our surroundings.
It was thoroughly enjoyed by the pupils at OLSP and the nursery alike.
It allowed OLSP pupils to practise skills and develop their leadership skills.
Good Role Models
On other visits, pupils helped the nursery children to plant trees and an assortment of plants teaching them about gardening and sustainability.
The company of the older children is influential for the nursery pupils, encouraging them to take part in volunteering and eco projects in the future to save their home.
At the nursery, pupils also helped with literacy activities about litter pollution, discouraging harm towards our environment while also teaching the children great life skills.
“We loved this opportunity to link with our local partners and developed a shared partnership focused on raising awareness on environmental and sustainability issues,” Mrs Jennifer Sharkey, Principal Teacher at OLSP said.
Active Community Care
Pupils at OLSP also regularly take part in litter picks around the school.
Groups of pupils are selected to spend some class time cleaning the school area and protecting our environment.
Clubs in the school, such as the Cooking and Gardening Club, have an area of the school garden where they plant ingredients, fruit and vegetables as an affordable and viable source of food.
The members enjoyed growing their own vegetables, and cooking with it.
The Cooking and Gardening Club visited Bellsmyre Community Gardens with guides who took them around and inspired the pupils.
The school has also set up an eco Twitter account with sustainable activities, and created a video to submit to a Climate Champion Competition.
These small changes can make a big difference in our environment when it comes to stopping climate change.
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