Development Education/ Art/ Community Engagement
Theme of the Project: Mural Painting Project / The Lane of Peace and Love.
During this project a group of our first year students together with their Art teacher AJ McConway and Worldwise Global Schools Education officer and Coordinator of Balbriggan Community Murals-Lizzy Noone -will design and create a number of mural paintings to promote well - being in the community. The murals will be painted onto the walls along the Taylor's Hill laneway which is located nearby the school.
To start off the project students participated in a community wellbeing workshop run by Lizzy Noone during which they brainstormed and discussed the meaning of wellbeing from their own perspective. During the workshop they discussed different Sustainable Development Goals and their connection to well being. In next class students will take a part in the walk around the Taylor's Hill Lane where the murals will be painted. This project is supported by Fingal Co. Council!
Pocket Forest / Development Education/ Biodiversity/ Positive Mental Health Activities
The Pocket Forest Team had their first meeting, purchased some gardening equipment, sourced trees, tested the soil they sourced funding and they made some excellent contacts with experts in the field! Their plan is to plant one tree for every child in the school! The team are also working on a Pollinator plan! We have a few more spaces on the team for students so if you want to help out over the next few weeks, just let Kathy know!
Over the next few weeks we will be preparing the soil and the chosen are for planting, it will be hard work but it will be fun!
There’s growing evidence that gardening can benefit our mental health, an important consideration during this time. Research in Sweden*, for example, found that the more people used their gardens, the fewer incidents of stress they suffered. Gardening can be relaxing, it can also be a place where our efforts result in a real sense of achievement, boosting confidence and self-esteem.There’s also good evidence that just looking at a green space has positive effects on people’s mental health, helping them relax and de-stress.