Green Schools

The Green Schools programme at Catholic University School empowers students to become leaders in sustainability and environmental responsibility. As an extracurricular initiative, it combines hands-on action, student-led projects, and creative problem-solving to make both the school and the wider community more eco-conscious.

Participants work together to tackle key environmental themes, including waste management, energy use, biodiversity, sustainable transport, and meteorology. Through campaigns, audits, and awareness initiatives, students drive meaningful change while developing important skills in leadership, communication, and teamwork.

Green Schools at CUS has gone from strength to strength:

• CUS installed a polytunnel at the Bird Avenue rugby grounds, funded by a sustainability grant from Capital Credit Union. Transition Year horticulture students planted and later harvested a variety of vegetables, promoting biodiversity and local growing.
• The TY Green Schools Committee ran a successful “Skip the Extra Trip” photography competition, encouraging students to walk from Pearse Street DART station rather than taking a short bus journey, helping reduce their personal carbon footprints.
• These efforts contributed to CUS receiving its 3rd Green Flag, awarded for Sustainable Transport, with Loris Bacaoanu, Max Cooke, and Ryan Brazel accepting the award on behalf of the committee.
• The school was approved for the Capital Credit Union’s Going Green Grant, which funded the purchase of a Weather Station. With help from TY Geography students and Ms. Frisby, the station was assembled and integrated into student learning. Two guest speakers were invited to launch the project:
  • Joanna Donnelly, renowned RTÉ meteorologist, spoke about weather, climate, and her career.
  • David Frisby, VP of Engineering at FactSet, shared how AI and meteorology can work together in education.

Ryan Brazel (4th Year) reflected on his experience with the Green Schools Committee:

“We conducted an environmental audit, improved recycling, added more green space, and even helped write a new Green Code. Being part of this committee gave me real-world skills I’ll use for life and I’m proud of what we accomplished.”

At CUS, Green Schools is about far more than recycling. It is about becoming informed global citizens who act, advocate, and inspire change. Together, we are not just learning about the environment, we are protecting it.