Lourdes Secondary, the Eco warrior

Lourdes Secondary School in Cardonald, broke up for summer with the vegetables planted and a fast-growing reputation for being an Eco warrior.

Pupils have sprouted green fingers and created two raised beds to grow beetroot, lettuce and cabbage among other produce. When ready, the vegetables will be handed over to the home economics department as Lourdes ploughs on relentlessly, determined to reduce it’s carbon footprint.

The venture was funded by a grant from the Community Volunteer Scheme in recognition of the school’s efforts for the environment.

Last December, led by geography teacher and Eco-school coordinator, Vincent Raeburn, Lourdes joined in the Stop the Climate Change Chaos protest from Bellahouston Park and marched all the way to Kelvingrove.In May, Vincent led Lourdes in a ‘Sustainability Week’.  As well as talks from Heather ‘fae the weather’ and other experts, each school department was asked to come up with imaginative ways to educate pupils to look after the planet.

In drama class, kids produced plays showing the negative effect everyday habits can have on the planet. Geography lessons had the pupils designing and building their own Eco-houses, while a team from Strathclyde University asked pupils to design communities for the future. Here, pupils were made to consider the implications decisions could have on the environment.

Vincent thinks this initiative showed pupils that actions can be taken that are good for both society and the environment.Vincent said: ‘At Lourdes we are working to get pupils to think globally and act locally.” He stressed that environmental issues should be tackled by young people because ‘this planet is their future place of work.’ He added: ‘The whole school is trying to become far more environmentally minded. You can’t just expect the politicians to sort it out. We all have responsibility and that includes the kids.’
Vincent and the pupils’ efforts have already bagged Lourdes one Green flag. Next year he says efforts will be doubled to try to get another. The Lourdes Eco-machine will not rest idle over the summer.

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