PUPILS from Creeslough National School have celebrated a highly successful year after earning a series of prestigious awards through the Junior Entrepreneur Programme.
Children from third, fourth, fifth and sixth classes achieved the Platinum Award for STEM Excellence in the Research Ireland Curious Minds Awards. The achievement followed a year of engaging Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics activities, with pupils working collaboratively across class levels on a range of projects.
PRAISE
Research Ireland judges praised the school’s approach, highlighting the strong collaboration between classes and the way pupils shared their learning through Science Show and Tell events.
Creeslough National School was the only school in Donegal and one of just 18 schools nationwide to achieve platinum status in the Curious Minds Awards this year.
The school also received the Creative Pioneers Award, which recognises classes that demonstrate ingenuity and creativity from the outset of their JEP journey.
The award reflects the originality shown by pupils in developing ideas, presenting concepts at Meet the Dragons, selecting their business venture and carrying that creativity through product design, production and the overall running of their class company.
In addition, the school’s submission received merits in four categories: Star Submission, Community Champions, Dynamic Designers and Genius Product.
As part of the programme, pupils worked together to choose, invest in and produce their own product, carefully considering production costs and market appeal.
Guided by teacher Marianne Rodgers, they established their company, Wild Atlantic Drift Keyrings.
The students create handcrafted keyrings using driftwood collected from local beaches along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Families, friends and pupils helped prepare the raw materials by cutting the wood, while the finishing work, including sanding and varnishing, was carried out at the school.