At Waterford Educate Together National School, environmental awareness has been at the heart of our vision from the very beginning. We are incredibly proud to be a Green School, and as of June 2023, we have been awarded yet another Green Flag — this time for Biodiversity!

Our journey reflects years of commitment, teamwork, and a whole-school effort to protect and care for our environment.

Our Green Schools Journey

Environmental responsibility has shaped the ethos of WETNS since we first opened our doors in 2002. By September 2007, we formally began the process of applying for our very first Green Flag — a goal driven by our vision of creating a sustainable, environmentally conscious school community.

That first Green Flag held special meaning:
it was achieved before our very first group of junior infants (who joined us in 2002) graduated from 6th class in June 2010.

On Thursday, 10th June 2010, we proudly hoisted our first Green Flag over Waterford Educate Together National School.

Growing Our Green Flag Collection

Our environmental efforts didn’t stop there.

• 2011–2012: We worked towards — and achieved — our second Green Flag, awarded for our whole-school “Switch It Off” energy campaign.

• 2012–2023: We continued our commitment by achieving additional flags for Water and Travel, embedding sustainable habits throughout our school community.

• 2023: We proudly earned our latest flag for Biodiversity, celebrating the incredible work taking place both inside and outside the classroom.

Our school garden has become a real point of pride, thanks in no small part to the ongoing support and hard work of our Parent Association. It continues to grow each year as we add new planting areas, encourage wildlife, and create green spaces that support learning and wellbeing.

Looking Ahead

Although we have already achieved multiple Green Flags, our environmental journey is far from over. We are committed to continuing this important work, helping our pupils understand environmental responsibility and playing our part in caring for our planet.

With the enthusiasm of our pupils, the dedication of our staff, and the support of our families, we look forward to developing our Green Schools programme even further in the years ahead.