Top marks for Ballina's school of the future ^Featured

Friday, 17 February 2012 13:20 Posted by The Editor

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
E-mail

Students from Culleens NS., Ballina, pictured at the presentation of the school's third Green Flag pictured with Sharon Cameron Mayo Co Council Environment Officer, former Green Flag committee member Caoimhe Rouse, Brendan Mullins Ballina Beverages, Noel Beattie Green Star, Michelle Mulherin TD., School Principal Clair Cooke, former Green Flag committee member Joshua Geoghan, An Taisce's Laura Heneghan and School's Green Flag co-ordinator Dierdre Quinn. Members of the school's Green Flag committee include Tara Wong, Cathal Rogers, Catherine Harley, Austin Bourke, James Egan, Cora Cunningham, Caoimhe Gibbons and Oliver Feeney.

Scoil Naomh Brid, Cullens, Ballina, had lots to celebrate this week and was lauded for giving a lesson in how to conserve water - a topic that is going to become more relevant to all our lives in the years ahead. The school celebrated being awarded a third green flag, the award of Excellence in Science and Maths and the prestigious Digital Schools Award for having achieved excellence in the integration of Information and Communications Technology into teaching and learning. .

Pictures Henry Wills

The guest speaker was Michelle Mulherin T.D.

Also addressing the gathering were Sharon Cameron, Environmental Officer Mayo County Council, Art O’ Súilleabháin, director Mayo Education Centre, Eileen Ward, National Centre of Technology in Education and Noel Greally, engineer.

Clair Cooke, Principal, welcomed members of Mayo Co.Co. as well as the other invited guests.

John Carroll, Chairperson of the Board of Management, thanked all who made the awards possible, the school staff and management and particularly the hard-working Parents Association.

The third flag was awarded from An Taisce for water conservation. This was achieved by raising awareness of the importance of conserving water at home and at school. Monitoring the water metre in school highlighted a problem where just one leaking toilet cistern used over 1,200 litres of water each night. This was repaired. Hippo bags were installed to reduce the amount of water used in each flush.

Sharon Cameron, Environmental Officer Mayo Co. Council, congratulated the children and the school on achieving this award. The schools journey through the Green Flag process was led by Deirdre Quinn and involved all the teachers and pupils in the school.

Discover Primary Science and Maths is a flag ship project of the Irish Government’s Discover Science and Engineering (DSE) awareness programme.

The programme helps children understand that Science and Maths are also about fun, discovery and adventure, and are fundamentally relevant to their everyday lives. Schools that take part and meet certain criteria of participation are recognised with an Award of Science and Maths Excellence.

Delighted pupils Ciara Carroll, Shantelle Clarke and David Feeney, were thrilled to show their IT expertise at the award presentation in the school attended by from left to right, Chairman of the school's Board of Management John Carroll, the school's IT teacher and co-ordinator Emma Hallinan, Michelle Mulherin TD, School Principal Clair Cooke, Eileen Ward National Centre of Technology in Education, and Mayo Education Centre Director Art O'Suilleabhain.

These criteria change each year to help broaden the experiences of the children and keep the project alive. Initially it was only focused on Science, but in recent years it has incorporated an integrated maths element. Since its inception in 2003/04 Cullens school has participated.

Said School Principal, Clair Cooke "We have kept a log of experiments carried out in different classes, visited Discover Science Centres, taken part in Science initiatives organised by local secondary schools, had working scientists visit us in school and met the criteria set annually to obtain our Award of Excellence.

"The teachers and pupils of Culleens together with the Science Coordinator, Ms. Mary Melvin, have worked hard to renew this award annually. Digital Schools Award “The Digital Schools Award is an initiative of the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE), in partnership with the Computer Education Society of Ireland, the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation and the Irish Primary Principal’s Network."

Going digital

The Digital Schools Award aims both to build on the excellent progress already made by schools in ICT integration and to give recognition to schools who have achieved exceptionally high standards in this area.”

The citation received by the school from the accrediting body is impressive indeed. Much credit must be given to the teachers and pupils who worked towards this award for 4 years. This was made possible through the expertise of the school’s ICT coordinator, Emma Hallinan.

Very few schools in the country have achieved this award.

Check the school blog for extra information.

Eileen Ward of the NCTE congratulated the whole school community on this achievement.

The pupils’ projects are most impressive. School ICT Culture There is a very strong, visible ICT culture in the school. The school website and blog are used effectively as a communication tool and for online projects. The pupils are very confident in the use of the interactive whiteboards and laptops. Digital storytelling software, comic strips and digital cameras are used to great effect.

Professional development

The staff members have participated in many ICT courses in the school. These include Web 2.0 for Learning, ICT in Teaching and Learning and Using the Interactive Whiteboard. Resources and Infrastructure This is a well-resourced school where all equipment is used very effectively. General Comments This school is very successful in its integration of ICT. There are numerous noteworthy examples of ICT integration. The Principal and ICT coordinating teacher deserve great commendation on their approach and organisational skills.