Laois school named as Ireland’s Sustainable Travel School of the Year
Students from Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise Abi Leonard, Daisy Chivers, Lucy Gallagher and Megan Kavanagh pictured with their trophies after the school was named as Ireland's Travel School of the Year for the sustainable travel efforts at the Big Travel Challenge awards. Photo: Bryan Brophy
A PORTLAOISE secondary school was named as Ireland’s An Taisce Sustainable Travel School of the Year at a ceremony in Dublin recently.
The judging panel said that Scoil Chríost Rí, with its 850 students excelled and embraced the challenge.
Throughout the Big Travel Challenge initiative a record number of students actively took part in the challenge, and managed to double their park and stride numbers, and had almost half of the school walking or wheeling. They also organised a 'Galentines' WOW (Walk on Wednesday) Day, linking in their walking with friendships, positive relationships and forming healthy habits.
Congratulating Scoil Chríost Rí on their achievement the An Taisce Green-Schools Travel Programme Manager Allison Phillips said: “It was truly inspiring to see students taking on the challenge to ‘love our health, love our planet’ by supporting active and sustainable travel to school through the Green-Schools Travel’s Big Travel Challenge. Your work is testament to the collaborative work of the students, teachers and whole school community, as well as our partnerships with local authorities, the National Transport Authority and Department of Transport.”
The top schools from each county were awarded for their part in promoting green travel modes to school as part of the BIG Travel Challenge, with a regional winner chosen from them.
The Staffroom Challenge was back by popular demand as well, extending the competition to school teachers and staff to travel more sustainably, and get creative in doing so.
Other initiatives included best carpool karaoke, most creative classroom workshops and best social media post.
