We are very excited to announce that Scoil Naomh Eltin has achieved our first ever Research Ireland Curious Minds Platinum Award. We are one of only 25 schools nationwide to achieve this award. This award gives recognition to schools for their dedication to hands-on, curiosity-driven learning in STEM disciplines.
We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone in our community who helped us achieve this award. Thank you to the students and teachers for their hard work and commitment to the project. Thank you to our caretaker Mark, parents and members of the community who shared their time and expertise with us.
Please see the feedback from the judges:
Your school has provided evidence of children's engagement with STEM in the following areas:
- Science
- Technology
- Engineering
- Maths
- STEM Showcase
Congratulations to all teachers, pupils, parents and caretaker in Scoil Naomh Eltin on achieving your Research Ireland Curious Minds Platinum Award. Your focus on the local area particularly the Archdeacon Duggan Bridge was a great way to foster whole school collaboration and interest in STEM particularly Engineering and it was great to see how this translated through the school through bridge design challenges with a wide range of materials in different classes and with the 3D printing of a bridge at home. Having the bridge as inspiration for external STEM visitors and also a local historian was a great way to connect with the local community, and it is fantastic that the pupils will be able to display their own work in the Local library increasing that local engagement. Having the 5th and 1st classes visit the bridge together for peer learning was another nice idea. Of course you also completed a wide range of other STEM activities. It was especially good to see a range of activities on Living Things and Environmental Awareness and Care, your visits to the seed library and the technology link involved in growing plants with hydroponics. Also the 3rd class models of local buildings another fantastic local link.
It is fantastic to hear that some parents have come in to present to the children and to organise other external speakers and that more parents have been encouraged to volunteer their services as a result. Your reflections clearly show an increase in teacher confidence with STEM as a result of your initiative. It would have been nice to see a few more reflections from a broader range of pupils but those that you have provided, along with the reflections from parents and teachers show the increase in learner enthusiasm for Engineering and interest in their local area. It is particularly good to hear that you plan to replicate the whole school approach by investigating a different aspect of the local area.
