FOURTH GREEN FLAG

In what has been a very busy year since the 1916 celebrations the school was very active developing it’s garden.

It was awarded a fourth green flag for travel and transport. It was awarded active school recognition, renewing the flag that it first qualified for when the scheme was launched in 2010.

Sorcha Brophy from An Taisce was to raise the flag on Wednesday, when a triple flag raising ceremony was to be staged.

Health Ireland has taken charge of the initiative launched by the HSE to promote health and activity. Saint Francis’s was one of the first schools in the country to obtain the flag.

Sorcha has acted as the School Travel Coordinator, promoting alternative healthy travel to school, through walking and cycling over the past two years.

There are plans to provide a bicycle shelter in the school over the summer. The school has also introduced a bicycle recycle scheme whereby pupils with support of their parents pass on their bicycles to younger pupils.

It is all part of a health conscious ethos being promoted within the school, with a particular focus on cycling. The Cuchulainn club has assisted in checking out the bicycles for re-allocating within the school.

Sorcha trained the young boys and girls in road safety, and has conducted “Get Back into Gear” courses to encourage cycling in which parents and staff have taken part.

The senior pupils have been out cycling round the village quite frequently.