We are delighted to announce that our amazing Mrs Darmody has received this prestigious award once again. She previously won the award in 2018.
Ann-Marie Darmody’s work in promoting eco-consciousness among children, staff and the wider community aligns with the values that this award seeks to honour, and indeed the vision of our school ‘Learn to grow and grow to learn’.
Throughout her teaching career, Mrs Darmody, World Around Us and Eco Co-ordinator, has incorporated environmental education into the hearts and minds of children in St John’s PS. Mrs Darmody’s hard work and passion for the environment enabled the school to achieve Green Flag status previously in 2016 and 2019. We are delighted to receive our third award.
Mrs Darmody has consistently integrated cross-curricular themes and ensured that children understand the interconnectedness of environmental issues and their roles in solving them and taking action towards a sustainable future. She has engaged the Eco Council in initiatives and activities that empower them to:
· Organise environmental awareness campaigns such as Earth Day celebrations, Trocaire campaign 2025, raising awareness on pollution, climate change, and global warming.
· Develop a zero waste, school environment focusing on reusing resources, reducing plastic and promoting recycling. School Council also lobbied the canteen staff to implement improved food waste management strategies.
· Develop energy-saving practices, such as encouraging the use of digital material to reduce paper waste in classrooms and in school administration.
· Engage in the Sustrans Walk to School initiative.
· Develop school-wide sustainability projects such as creating a community garden, by organising tree planting events, developing a biodiversity garden, and a Memorial Pallet Garden in honour of parents and family members lost during the pandemic.
· Collaborate with the local food bank agency Fareshare to source food for midmorning breaks and Afterschool Clubs.
· Work with the Eco Council to develop an orchard, erect a greenhouse, grow vegetables and fruit and adopt the source to table policy of baking our own goods thereby promoting eco-friendly living.
· Engage with local environmental organisations TRIAX, Creggan Country Park to share resources and awareness of the wealth of green spaces within our local, urban, environment in Derry City.
As a reflective and holistic educator, Mrs Darmody strives to foster both environmental sustainability and children’s wellbeing. She combines eco-friendly initiatives with pastoral welfare to grow responsible compassionate and resilient individuals. Mrs Darmody recognises the connection between mental wellbeing, mindfulness and environmental health. She enlisted the help of grandparents to construct wooden planters to attract the lovely bee population and developed awareness of biodiversity and pollination thereby promoting social engagement.
Mrs Darmody recently collaborated with colleagues on the development of the outdoor classroom and the surrounding wooded area to promote learning outdoors and reflection sessions to reduce stress, foster mindfulness and build community.
Children’s voice has been extremely important to Mrs Darmody. The Eco-council regularly discuss environmental issues and lead assemblies with the entire school community on Fair Trade, ethical clothing etc. These projects have all inspired children and teach them that the environmental stewardship of our planet is in their hands. This is why she is our St John’s Eco-hero!
