Caught in the Act

On the last staff training day, 9B arranged to present Derek Bailey with a bar of Green and Black's in recognition of him picking up corridor litter as he went along, giving a very good example to the rest of us. On the next training day, two more staff members will be presented. Watch this space to see who and what for!

Bit of Broadcast Excitment

Hugh Curran, a student of Media Studies, heard about our red squirrel monitoring through the Environmental Link. He made contact with Jean Forbes of our Board of Governors, and both came in to record for broadcast. They interviewed Georgia Forde, Matthew Rooney, Nathan Allan and Timothy Annett, along with environmental bursary winner Stephen Hanna. In the event, the interview went way beyond squirrels and the group discussed our whole Green Flag bid and the experience of the students who all live in the countryside, three of them on farms. All of the Eco group in 9B were delighted to find somebody out there who was so interested in their environmental plans.

We're going Bats

Two bat boxes have arrived which will be going up in our grounds. The Wildlife Group will be keeping an eye on them for residents.

Welcome Back Janet

Janet McIlVenna of Down District Council came in today to visit 9 Bearnagh to add to their knowledge of environmental work in the area of waste disposal. She gave a talk, showed slides, answered questions and led the class in a quiz. Janet will return in the new term to work with the class again and to meet up with the Eco Group. Upwards and onwards!

Award for Stephen

Everyone was delighted with the Award for Commitment to the Environment went to Stephen Hanna, staff member, who has joined in the work of our Eco Group. Stephen has looked through all the work already undertaken by the group over the past three years, and is helping us to focus on the work ahead for our Green Flag. The Award is made each year by governor Jean Forbes. So far the award has gone to students who are working or studying on environmental issues. This year we decided that it was right to honour a staff member who does both!

Eco Decoration

As well as our Eco friendly, recycled cardboard Christmas trees, courtesy of the Woodland Trust, we have decorated out canteen this year with the free Christmas wrapping paper distributed by the Guardian. The paper has been commissioned from a range of designers and celebrities and each one of them sparks off controversy about the meaning of Christmas.

Recycled Christmas Trees

Oour Eco group spent today's meeting putting together a pair of Christmas trees supplied by the Woodland Trust and made from recycled cardboard. The trees come with recycled cardboard baubles and look great! Our Eco Warriors also put up a series of seasonal posters in the canteen, which came free with the Guardian newspaper, and which represent the ideas of various artists and celebrities about Christmas. Look out for them!