Third Green Flag for Sciennes Primary’s Eco Work!

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Posted on 22 April 2015 by Children & Families

Miss Kirsty Gallagher with pupil Eco Reps in the Eco Garden

Sciennes Primary School Eco Team was thrilled to be awarded their third Green Flag award from Eco Schools Scotland recently.

Lucy Gallagher, Depute Headteacher of Sciennes Primary School, tells us the full story.

Alastair Davidson and Briony McLaughin from Eco Schools (part of the Keep Scotland Beautiful charity) met with Sciennes pupil eco reps on Tuesday 25 January to assess the eco work of the school over the last two years.

The children were absolutely superb and made an obvious impression, showing their knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, all the various eco projects in and around school.
Alastair gave us some very helpful feedback and advice for taking developments forward, including establishing air-quality monitoring on Sciennes Road, and also had a very positive and encouraging manner with the children.

A very special thank you to P5 class teacher Mr Iain Kearton for all his enthusiasm and drive with eco – our reps from last year were particularly animated in relaying all their achievements with him. Miss Kirsty Gallagher, P3 class teacher, is doing an amazing job of leading the new and old reps this year and brings so much experience of eco from Prestonfield Primary; where she also secured a Green Flag for the school.

Third Green Flag!

The award is also a recognition of all the hard work of P1 class teacher Miss Alison Mackintosh, as well as Mr Kearton, over the last two years and of the whole team effort in supporting eco throughout the school, with

• head teacher Mrs Alison Noble
• business manager Ms Angela Christie
• depute head teacher (DHT) Ms Carolyn Anstruther
• Service Support Officers Mr Neil Scott and Mr John Reid

and the rest of the staff carrying on the great work done by class teacher Ms Emma Kidd in securing our first Green Flag and class teachers Ms Claire Phillips and Ms Mel Ross in securing our second.
Thanks to parent council members Corrine Kirk and Phoebe Cochrane, who have provided such sterling support to the school over many years with the wildlife garden, planting and harvesting vegetables for P3 to make soup, as well as helping pupils create our fantastic eco display board. It was wonderful to have Corrine attend the inspection visit.

Alastair commented favourably on the great work in Food Focus Fortnight by principal teacher Miss Shona Pearmain and thought DHT Ms Carloyn Anstruther’s sensory room was an exciting, innovative resource. Mr Mark McKenna’s science provision in P3-P7 was also credited during the inspection.

Alastair was enthusiastic about plans to focus on the School Grounds and Transport eco topics over the next two years, as we head towards achieving our fourth Green Flag. He acknowledged that our fourth Green Flag would recognise the tremendous existing achievements in cycling and the ambitious, whole school community plans for the playground already in place.

Great team effort from pupils, staff and parents. Well done, Team Sciennes!