Holy Faith girls go green

ST MARY’S Holy Faith Covent secondary school in Glasnevin is paving the way to healthier lifestyles and a reduction in local traffic congestion thanks to a new scheme.

The school’s Park ‘n’ Stride project is encouraging pupils to be less dependent on car transport and that means less traffic outside school gates.

A survey carried out by the St Mary’s Green-Schools team found that 44 per cent of pupils travelled to school by car, resulting in heavy congestion on the Old Finglas Road.

In response, the Park ‘n’ Stride scheme was launched in February by teacher and Green-Schools Coordinator, Peter Montague, and his Green-Schools Pupil Committee.

The scheme encourages pupils who travel to school by car to get dropped off ten to 15 minutes early and walk the rest of the journey.

The short walk reduces congestion and emissions near the school and has many health benefits for the pupils. 

Research has also shown that children who are active in the morning have better levels of concentration in the classroom.

The Green-Schools team have already held multiple campaigns inside the school and outside of the gates to raise awareness.

They also commissioned and hung a large Park ‘n’ Stride banner across the entrance to the school. Principal Bernadette Bourke and the school’s Parents Association are supportive of the measure as the scheme benefits pupils, parents and the local community.

The campaign has already been very successful with the numbers of pupils travelling to school by Park ‘n’ Stride increasing from 29 to 87 pupils in a matter of weeks.

A marked improvement in congestion on the Old Finglas road can also be seen.

As the weather gets warmer, this number of pupils using Park ‘n’ Stride is expected to rise even further.

St Mary’s aims to continue promoting sustainable travel to school as part of the Green-Schools Travel Programme and is hoping to be rewarded with a fourth Travel Flag in 2017.

For more information on the Green-Schools programmes visit www.greenschoolsireland.org.