By Michelle Crean

One local school has been successful in attaining two very important flags by focusing on the environment and promoting the positive mental health of all students.

AMBER: Pictured front from l-r were: Niamh Kissane Jessica Leahy Muireann Ring Tara Donnellan and Aoife O'Donoghue. Middle from l-r: Chloe Clifford Looney Claudia Counihan Alannah Houlihan Kate Horgan Mehek Asgar Ellen Farndon. Back l-r: Alice Boyle O'Sullivan Katie McCarthy and Danielle Gleeson with their Amber Flag.

St Brigid’s Secondary received their Amber Flag for several more years and their Green Flag and certificate this week.

The Amber Flag team is run by both teachers and students from all year groups, and supported by Pieta House to encourage students to raise awareness of the stigmas that exist in their environments and the stressors on the mental and emotional well-being of those in their school community.

Another aspect of this initiative is in raising awareness for those in need. Many fundraisers have been successfully led and run by students this year for the following organisations: Kerry Mental Health, Irish Air Ambulance, Kenya Education Project, Send a Sick Child to Lourdes, Ukrainian Crisis Appeal and Daffodil Day.

This year, an area of need recognised by the Amber Flag committee was the lack of communication between students due to social distancing, mask wearing and having to remain in their class groups.

Therefore, with the easing of restrictions, every Friday different year groups were given the chance to meet in the assembly area for a tea/coffee and a chance to chat.

Green Schools Coordinator Sheree Murphy said it’s the school’s Fifth Green Flag that they have been awarded for their work in promoting long-term, whole-school action for the environment.

“To receive this flag they worked on the theme of Biodiversity while still not forgetting their previous themes of Litter and Waste, Water, Energy and Travel. Green Schools is a student-led programme with involvement from the wider community which we are delighted to be involved in.”