The Eco House that Gerry Built

9B, with the help of Gerry and Carol, have built from kit an eco dollshouse,, complete with water butt, solar panels, recycling bins, wind turbine etc. The house has already provoked lots of comment. The building materials are quick growing rubberwood, which is easily replaced.

Going Green

• Co-chair of Green Party gives talk to our politics students – On Thursday 5th February Dr. John Barry (QUB) gave a presentation ‘Green politics in Northern Ireland and beyond.’ By all accounts it was enjoyed by both Paddy and the students – and with recent comments from current minister for the environment – let’s hope that seeds of change are allowed to continue to flourish

Good Editing

• A big thank you goes to Emily, Danas, Josh and Glenn from Derek Bailey’s year ten science group who prepared the ‘environmental science in the news’ display for open day. They sorted through four months of newspaper clippings and put together a brilliant piece of work for display in the science corridor along with presenting the work undertaken by those of the wildlife group. Emily deserves particular merit and watch out Piers Morgan – there is an editor in the making there, great work guys!

A Good Example

• Shawlands Academy, Glasgow – setting the standard to strive for. Read the story of how small really is beautiful illustrating some of the activities we can take part in helping Shimna become sustainable.

Click here

Caught in the Act

At a recent staff training day, three staff members were presented with a bar of Green and Black's for their eco habits. Derek Bailey was presented for spontaneous litter picking on his way up a corridor; Rose Murray was presented for telling 9b they should turn off the radiator rather than open the window when they said they were too hot; Gervaise Mullan was presented for telling 9b that he would proofread his reports online so that be using up paper making additional printouts. 9B hopes that they enjoy their chocolate and inspire others.

Sustainable V'Cenza

A level student V'Cenza Cirefice is in the middle of her work experience with Sustainable NI, and year 10 and 9B, the Eco Group and the Wildlife Group will be delighted to hear that everyone in V'Cenza's workplace has heard of the good Eco work going on at Shimna. Fame at last!

Look what Stephen Found

Stephen Hanna keeps a good eye out on eco sites and found this notice of our grant for the Haughian Cottage. We still have some planning to do to make sure that the composting toilets are installed in a way which will meet the approval of Mr Haughian himself. Watch this space....