LOUTH SCHOOLS GROW AWARDS
The primary schools of the county gathered at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dundalk to attend the ‘ GROW’ Awards. An acronym for ‘Green, Renewable, Organic and Waste Minimisation’, this competition serves to reward our local schools for all that they are doing to make their environment cleaner, greener and more sustainable.
‘The GROW awards are an acknowledgement of the amazing environmental work taking place in the schools throughout Louth’, according to Aisling Sheridan of Louth County Council. ‘ the pupils excel not only in terms of waste prevention, conservation of resources and biodiversity but we value their role in communicating this message to the wider community, thereby making Louth a more sustainable place in which to live’.
Cllr. Conor Keelan, Leas Chathaoirleach of Louth County Council, presented the award for ‘School of the Year’ for the Municipal District of Dundalk to St. Mary’s National School in Knockbridge. Cllr. Keelan was also on hand to present the ‘School of the Year’ award for the Borough District of Drogheda to Aston Village E.T.N.S.
The school continues to develop consistently year on year and has benefitted greatly from the addition of a polytunnel. Aston Village is the school which impressed the judges most significantly in the south end of the county.
Cllr. Liam Reilly, newly elected Chairman of the Municipal District of Ardee, was on hand to present ‘School of the Year’ to St. Finian’s N.S. in Dillonstown, a school which clearly values environmental excellence which can be demonstrated by the number of awards they have won in recent times.
The award for the ‘Best Special Project’ went to Monastery N.S., Ardee for their topical project entitled ‘Electrical Waste’. The project investigated the effects on the planet of disposing of electrical waste and also details the correct way to recycle waste.
Ms Joanne Moran of Scoil Bhride, Dunleer and Mr. Ambrose Mc Ginnity of Callystown NS were awarded ‘ Teacher of Year for 2017’. Both of these are exceptional role models having shown admirable levels of leadership and dedication to deliver outstanding results, motivating and inspiring their young pupils and delivering excellent environmental programmes in their schools.
Two exceptional pupils were delighted to win the overall award on the day with Nathan Carroll of Monastery N.S., Ardee and Ashlin Aji of St. Finian’s N.S., Dillonstown receiving the coveted accolade of Junior Environmentalist of the Year for 2017.
With 35 schools from throughout Louth participating in the competition, the work being carried out around the county is admirable and all participants were delighted to receive plaques for their efforts at the ceremony. It was St. Francis N.S., however, who scooped the top prize and were awarded the coveted 5 Star standard again this year.
The participants in the ‘ Eco Tribes’ competition were also awarded for their work on the outstanding community gardens which they created in partnership with their local Tidy Towns groups. This year it was the tribes from St. Patrick’s N.S., Harestown, St. Francis N.S., Blackrock, St. Peter’s N.S., Dromiskin, Aston Village ETNS, Drogheda, Monksland N.S. and Presentation N.S., Drogheda who were awarded for their outstanding efforts.