A rural Laois primary school has picked up no less than three national awards to put a happy end to their school year.
A STEM award, a European Union award, and a Pushkin Award for exploring reforestation, have been scooped up by the clever kids at Scoil Fionntáin Naofa, Shanahoe. Full story below pics.
For the new Curious Minds award, the entire school - about 70 children including the Sonas ASD Class had all worked under the guidance of their teachers to deep dive into the STEM elements of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths and held a memorable whole school ‘Show and Tell Day’, in April.
The teachers also upskilled to deliver the new ‘Curious Minds’, doing workshops on Biodiversity, Gravity and Air Resistance and Forces.
The school is one of four in Laois to receive a ‘Curious Minds’ Gold Award for 2022-2023 for ‘deep engagement with STEM learning and teaching’, at the online national awards ceremony in June.
The Principal is Barry Whelan.
"I highly comend the pupils and teachers for the commitment and enthusiasm that they showed. We can engage even more deeply with the technology side of Curious Minds next Autumn thanks to our new IT infrastructure, funded by a successful fashion show organised by our supportive Parents’ Association," he said.
He thanked his Deputy Principal and Digital Learning co-ordinator, Johnny Watson, who sourced the best IT equipment and resources ready for use by the pupils when they return to school.
For the award in the Blue Star Programme on the EU, pupils in 5th and 6th Class explored the EU through different lenses including historical (World War 2), geographical (Italy), cultural and creative (Italian Cuisine/artists and composers), institutional with a visit from Laois TD and Minister for State in the Department of Foreign Affairs Seán Fleming, and finally a Celebration of Europe Day on May 9 to mark the 50th Anniversary of Ireland’s accession to the EU.
The Principal Mr Whelan is also the 5th & 6th Class teacher and is very proud of his pupils who showed "high levels of interest and engagement".
Finally, it was onto the interesting Pushkin Trust Programme.
For 30 years the Pushkin Trust has been encouraging schools across the entire island of Ireland to unite in cross-curricular, cross-community and cross-border projects involving primary, secondary, Irish medium and special needs schools.
The Pushkin Trust began during the height of the troubles in Northern Ireland aiming to ‘unite children and adults in the common bond of creativity which transcends all the factors which otherwise might divide them’.
What began as a creative writing project has branched out to encompass music, dance, sculpture, the visual arts and the environment.
This year its theme was ‘Reforestation of the Imagination’ and the pupils in 5th and 6th Class in Scoil Fionntáin Naofa worked collaboratively to explore this theme.
"It was an extremely worthwhile experience for the pupils and high levels of engagement, imagination and creativity really came to the fore in their learning," Mr Whelan said.
With the support of the trust, the school had a visit by environmental educator and ‘Heritage in Schools’ expert Dr Paddy Madden who facilitated a forest schools workshop in Dunmore Woods in Durrow.
They also welcomed Laois dramatist and playwright Frances Harney who facilitated process drama workshops relating to different native Irish trees jockeying for supremacy to become the king of the forest.
Shanahoe yoga teacher and wellness practitioner Eleanor Merriman of Elm Studio engaged the pupils in movement and meditation activities on the day of the Summer Solstice.
"Working with these professionals really enhanced the pupils’ engagement with the programme and opened up many new entry points to learning. They were delighted to be awarded a Pushkin Award in recognition," the principal ended.
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