In preparation of this year’s Earth Day Connected Classroom through Educate Magis, students from Gonzaga College in Dublin, Ireland put together a short presentation highlighting some of the key initiatives being carried out in our school to care for our common home and restore our earth. 

Green School’s Committee – highlights from past few months

• Bike stands from DCC (secure parking for 50 more bikes, overall capacity now at 214)
• Distribution of 300 bike lights to students & staff
• Plant-based burgers on Fridays in the Dining Hall
• Siobhan McNamara, Mark Earley and two students took part in TG4 (TV) documentary about All-Ireland Pollinator Plan (screened in 2021)
• 2020 Climate Action Week
• For more visit https://www.gonzaga.ie/single-post/climate-action-week-2020

The Committee, coordinated by Siobhan McNamara, is currently working on their 7th Flag with focus on Global Citizenship / Energy.

Climate Action Week 2020 – Travel Survey, Oct 16th 

Climate Ambassador – Stan O’Brien

As part of a national initiative here in Ireland to train and support individuals taking action on climate change our school has nominated and assigned a Climate Ambassador. 

Our grounds offer ample opportunity to take action and  protect and enhance biodiversity in the city, e.g. walled garden, All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, tree and hedge planting

Gonzaga: Oasis in the City

Located in the capital of Ireland, Dublin, our grounds offer ample opportunity to take action and protect and enhance biodiversity in the city, e.g. walled garden, All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, tree and hedge planting.

Vision for the Future

The above presentation gave you an introduction and overview what we have done to care for our common home. We will continue to involve not only “heads”, but also increasingly “hearts” and “hands”.  We can only protect whom we love. We believe that our efforts will be fruitless unless we restore our relationship with Mother Earth, with all living beings and with God. We need to revive our sense of awe and wonder and marvel at the connectedness of all there is.

Transition Year Program – a year between junior and senior cycle where we don’t have state exams

Horticulture Module

• Includes harvesting and pressing of apples; juice is sold and proceeds donated to charitable causes.

Ornithology module

• Bird watching and conservation

Healing Erth

• We use this online resource in Transition Year and/or during our 5th year Religion module.

Outdoor Retreats

• Contemplatives in Action – One of five retreat options for 6th Year students; directed by Faber Companions with support from alumni
• God in All Things Surf Retreat – Transition Year retreat with the Surf Project in Northern Ireland

“When you send forth your Spirit, you renew the face of the earth.” Ps 104:30