Number of Students: 120
Location: Whitehall, Co. Dublin
School Type: Co-Educational
Clonturk CC opened its doors in September 2016 and were quick to join the Green-Schools Programme in 2017. With a keen interest in the areas of stewardship and sustainability, the schools Development Education theme, they decided to complete their 2nd year CSPE Project in these areas. Clonturk therefore registered for the Neat Streets programme to establish themselves in this way and began their work on the overall goal of tackling litter in their school. Students from ‘Rang Markievicz’ class were all to be involved in the Neat Streets programme. The task for the committee was to complete the baseline survey to identify litter black spots. Once the class was established the Neat Streets programme officer visited their school for the introductory presentation.
Introduction Workshop:
Following on from completing the baseline survey the students invited the Neat Streets Programme Officer out to the school to deliver the introduction workshop. The students presented the findings of the baseline survey, a brainstorming session was then undertaken to develop and propose ideas to tackle the issues highlighted; such as the lack of any recycling facilities in the school.
Recycling Bins:
One of the first steps in the action plan devised during the introduction workshop was to introduce recycling bins into the school to reduce the levels of waste to landfill.
Neat Streets Project ‘The Junkyard’:
Students found that one of the litter black spots was in a wasteland area of the school where students eat lunch. During Stephens visit to the school he helped the students to come up with an idea called ‘The Junkyard’. The idea was to create an urban haven in the wasteland area of the school. The idea was that the area would be transformed reusing waste materials. The overall goal was to cement a long lasting anti-litter and waste message in wasteland area accessible to all who visit the refurbished space. Students were split into 4 sub-committees; media & advertising, design & decoration, fundraising & events, and media production. Using a collaborative space online, students generated a list of tasks to be completed. The students put together a mood board containing images, materials, pieces of text, etc. intended to evoke or project a particular style or concept.
Green Week:
During their Green Week, the entire student body took part in the National Spring Clean. Rang Markievicz focused on cleaning the Junkyard by picking up weeds, rubbish, and getting top soil for the old beds. They also painted tin cans and tires, donated by parents and students.
Fund Raising:
The students needed the Neat Streets grant of €200 for their plans to proceed as the school didn’t have funds to purchase the required supplies. From the grant, a sum of €50 was allocated to each of four the sub committees working on the project. A letter was also written and sent to the wider community stating outlining all the surplus items that the school needed. The response to this letter was overwhelming and they received more than enough items for the project. The students also organised a bake sale in the school which raised over €500.
Social Media:
Clonturk CC embraced social media as a method to communicate and involve others in the school. A new Instagram account was created by the school with images and videos uploaded of the schools Neat Streets activities. All their competitions, events and information were also shared through this platform and others.
Neat Streets Instagram Competition:
Students from Clonturk entered the Neat Street Instagram Competition #Instabin. One of the entries succeeded in becoming one of the daily winners.
The Future:
Clonturk CC excelled throughout the year on the Neat Streets Programme. They took advantage of every opportunity provided by the programme and sought out all available resources and supports.
Clonturk CC are only just beginning on their adventure and plan to make the Junkyard appeal to many more students. For example, the students hope to add a volleyball court, to use the space as a yoga centre, and to also add a location for chess tournaments and many more extracurricular events. The school plan to actively continue to reduce litter and waste in the school as they hope to apply for their first Green-Schools flag for litter and waste. We’re very excited to see how this school progresses in the future!
Neat Streets Awards:
Clonturk attended the Neat Streets Awards 2018 held in the Woodquay Venue, Dublin. After presenting their work on the Neat Streets Programme students were presented with the Neat Streets Award.
