Join Us in Honoring Environmental Achievements at the Clean Green Awards – East Ayrshire Council News!

Recently, St Joseph’s Academy hosted a special event to celebrate students from East Ayrshire who are making a difference in their communities and schools through environmental projects. The Clean Green Awards showcased the impressive efforts of schools, highlighting key themes from the climate change strategy: energy, transport, waste, and the natural environment.

This year marked a milestone as a school achieved the Gold award for the first time. Obtaining this award is no small feat; it requires schools to show that their climate initiatives are embedded across all areas and that they have a positive impact both inside and outside the school.

Gold awards were given to Kilmarnock Academy for their Green Health efforts, Netherthird Primary and Early Childhood Centre for their commitment to climate action, and Park School, which also received the Chair’s Award for Outstanding Achievement for their exceptional efforts. Five other schools, including Annanhill Primary and Hurlford Primary, received highly commended silver awards for their innovative projects like gardening and anti-littering initiatives.

Samantha Torbet, a teacher from Kilmarnock Academy, was recognized for her outstanding commitment to climate education. The new Planet Protector Awards were given to several early childhood centers, emphasizing the importance of environmental stewardship at a young age.

Participating schools in the Nature Nurture initiative received a special Tree of Life trophy made from a tree felled in Dean Castle Country Park. To earn this trophy, students completed tasks that included becoming "Green Guardians" and "Caring Conservationists."

Councillor Graham Barton spoke at the awards, expressing pride in the projects, such as "Dinnae Forget Your Caddy" and "Power Down," which significantly improved community food recycling rates and reduced energy usage in schools by up to 11%. He highlighted the creativity shown by students, who presented poems, songs, and artwork that furthered the commitment to sustainability.

Recent statistics show a noteworthy increase in food recycling across all East Ayrshire communities, reflecting the hard work of students and staff. The positive energy at the event was palpable, demonstrating that when young people get involved, real change can happen.

Awards were presented in various categories, including:

• Bronze Award: Galston Primary School
• Bronze Highly Commended: Bellsbank Primary, Catrine Primary, and others
• Silver Award: Hillhead Primary, Drongan Primary, and more
• Silver Highly Commended: Hurlford Primary and others
• Gold Award: Park School, Netherthird Primary, Kilmarnock Academy

This celebration is a testament to the commitment of East Ayrshire’s youth in addressing climate issues and making meaningful changes in their communities. Their efforts not only shape their own futures but also contribute to a more sustainable world. For additional insights into successful school environmental programs, visit the Green Schools initiative.

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