21 Westmeath primary schools receive STEM awards
Minister for Business, Enterprise, and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development, John Halligan TD, have announced the 21 Westmeath primary schools that have received Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Discover Primary Science and Maths Awards (DPSM).
The programme aims to increase interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) among primary school students and teachers.
The awards recognise the achievements of children and teachers in the application of STEM in their curriculums.
This includes keeping a log of STEM activities they have undertaken throughout the school year such as classroom investigations and projects, participating in STEM-related field trips and hosting a scientist or engineer speaker visit.
Minister Humphreys said: “I would like congratulate all the students in Westmeath receiving SFI Discover Primary Science and Maths Awards.
“It is fantastic to see so many young students from Westmeath taking an interest in STEM, and that their teachers are encouraging and enabling this interest.”
Minister Halligan added: “I want to congratulate the students in Westmeath on their hard work. It is excellent to see so many schools getting involved in the SFI Discover Primary Science and Maths Awards.
Every year we are seeing schools really engaging with the programme. The high level of engagement can be credited to the schools and teachers in Westmeath who have really put an effort in to giving their students access to STEM in a fun and educational environment.”
As part of Science Foundation Ireland’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint, a new online application system was rolled out last year as part of the awards with the aim of reducing the amount of paper and postage involved in the process.
Dr Ruth Freeman, director of Science for Society at Science Foundation Ireland, said: “In 2018 we saw 40% of schools submit paper logs of evidence compared to only 12% in 2019.
“This helped us to save more than 1,000 postal journeys which helps in reducing carbon emissions. We are proud of this achievement and aim to build on this even more in the future.”
Science Foundation Ireland, in conjunction with the European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO), offers free continuous professional development in STEM for primary school teachers.
The programme facilitates continuous professional development (CPD) in primary science by providing teachers with a framework and planning tools, through inquiry-based learning and using space to inspire the next generation of innovators.
The Science Foundation Ireland Discover Primary and Maths Awards also aligns with the government’s Future Jobs Ireland initiative, by preparing students for the jobs of the future by promoting interest in science, technology, engineering and maths and thereby ensuring that our economy is well positioned into the future.
Registration for the 2019/2020 SFI Discover Primary Science and Maths CPD courses in STEM for primary teachers is now open.
To register for the SFI Discover Primary Science and Maths CPD programme, and for more information about the Awards please visit www.primaryscience.ie.
The recipient schools from Westmeath are:
• Scoil Náisiúnta Chruimin Naofa
• An Grianán
• Baile Coireil National School
• Dalystown National School
• Diarmada National School
• Loch An Ghair National School
• Mhichil Naofa National School
• Mhuire National School
• Mullingar Educate Together
• Naomh Clar National School
• Naomh Micheal National School
• Naomh Tomas National School
• Presentation Senior School
• Scoil Náisiúnta Bhride
• Scoil Mhuire an Chuil
• St Mary’s National School
• St Paul’s National School
• St. Mary’s Primary School
• St. Oliver Plunkett Boys National School
• St. Peter’s National School
• Streamstown National School
About SFI Discover Primary Science and Maths Awards
The DPSM Awards programme aims to increase interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) among primary school students and teachers.
The goal is to introduce primary school students to science in a practical, hands-on, enjoyable and interactive way.
Since 2010 the programme has been run in conjunction with the European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO) Ireland which uses space to inspire and engage young people in science and technology in the world around them.
To be eligible for the Awards, schools are required to keep logs of STEM activities that they have undertaken in the classroom throughout the academic year.
Schools are awarded credit for visiting Discover Science Centres; carrying out their own experiments; going on STEM-related field trips; using digital technology and maths as part of their science work; hosting scientist and engineer speaker visits and holding a science open day in the school.