Tiarnan Lyons and Rebecca Walker, P3 pupils at Loughview Integrated Primary School, helping Environment Minister Mark H. Durkan launch the Belfast Harbour Green Teacher of the Year Award.
The search is on to find the North’s “greenest teacher.”
Derry school pupils are being asked to put forward teachers for the Belfast Harbour’s Green Teacher of the Year Award, a unique competition which aims to reward primary school teachers for taking responsibility for the environment and eco issues.
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan is supporting the environmental competition.
Speaking at the launch, he said: “Belfast Harbour’s Green Teacher of the Year Award is a fine example of the fantastic work being carried out with schools and I would strongly urge any pupils whose teachers have paid particular attention to environmental issues to nominate them for the award.
Organised by Belfast Harbour and Action Renewables, the competition has been revamped this year with two winners set to be crowned – one for Greater Belfast and a winner selected from schools throughout the rest of Northern Ireland.
In a further change to previous years, this year’s finals event will involve an arts-themed challenge day in Belfast which will be delivered by Young At Art, one of Northern Ireland’s leading children’s arts charities.
Pupils are asked to nominate a teacher for the hard work he/she does to look after the environment and educate children about ‘green’ issues.
All entries must be made to Action Renewables by Friday, 17 October, when they will be judged by a panel of experts
Twelve finalist teachers and their classes – six from Greater Belfast and six from the rest of Northern Ireland – will be invited to take part in the all-expenses-paid fun Challenge Day, where they will meet Webster, Belfast Harbour’s environmental guardian, and engage in art projects which focus on recycling and producing pieces of art from a wide range of daily household materials.
The challenge day will conclude with two teachers being awarded the coveted Belfast Harbour Green Teacher of the Year title and winning a trip to the RSPB Reserve in Belfast Harbour Estate and free entry to W5.
Last year’s award was won by Mr Beattie from Belleek Controlled Primary School.
Any primary schoolchildren who think their teacher deserves the Green Teacher of the Year title should send their entry, which should consist of no more than 100 words, to “Belfast Harbour Green Teacher of the Year 2014.” Action Renewables, Boucher Business Studios, Block C, Unit 1, Glenmachan Place, Belfast, BT12 0PL or email [email protected] by Friday, 17 October to ensure their teacher doesn’t miss out.
