"They did us proud': Laois principal praises students on Junk Kouture final

Fifth year students Sasha O'Keefe and Isabel McDonald represented Heywood Community School at the Dublin final of Junk Kouture this week.

This international competition sees students design and model their own creations made from recycled materials. The aim of the competition is to encourage sustainability in younger generations.

Ms O'Keefe and Ms McDonald opened the ceremony with their design ‘Freezin’ Friesan’ in the RDS on Tuesday October 1.

The pair placed highly in the competition, yet sadly were not selected for the final ten places.

The pair designed and created the creative outfit themselves, using only recycled materials. The girls used recycled meal bags and old welding rods to hold the piece together. The outfit placed in the Dublin final, yet sadly were not selected for the international heat of the competition.

Heywood Community School principal Mr Eamon Jackman warmly congratulated the girls on their excellent design, and praised them for representing their school so well.

Pictured: Fifth year students Sasha O'Keefe and Isabel McDonald

“We have been absolutely over the moon with how the girls represented the school, they did us proud,” Mr Jackman said.

“The girls placed highly on a national level, we were disappointed for them that they didn’t win, but we are still very proud of their achievement,” he said.

The students first began this project while in transition year, over a year ago.

“Both girls are from rural backgrounds, that’s where their idea for ‘Freezin’ Fresian’ came from,” Mr Jackman explained.

“Everything was reused, they even used old hair straighteners to straighten out the fabric. A lot of time and effort went in to it on their side, and the outfit’s name is a great play on words!” he said.

Principal Jackman said that the girls received ‘great positive feedback’ from the judges, and praised them for their excellent theme of sustainability. They undertook this task under the mentorship of art teacher Ms Sharon Webster.

Pictured: The outfit designed by the Heywood students.

“We see a lot of single-use products in farming, it’s a great topic to pick upon, and great for the farming community to pick up on,” Mr Jackman said.

“Our school is as rural as you can get. Every part of this design was embodied by the students, but at the end of the day all students need some expertise, and Ms Webster certainly gave them that. 

“We are so grateful for her mentoring, and the patience of other teachers while the girls needed time to work on this project. Projects like these don’t happen without a teacher falling behind it,” he said.

Heywood Community School are currently practising for their upcoming November musical, ‘Thank you for the Music’, an ABBA based performance.