Primary school students show Entrepreneurial talent - June 2012
Primary School children were recently applauded for their enterprise skills at the Bi Gnothach Awards Presentations 2012 - an enterprise education initiative of South Dublin County Enterprise Board
More than 40 primary school children and their teachers flocked to the County Library Tallaght recently, for the annual celebration of Primary school enterprise organised by South Dublin County Enterprise Board.
Each year, with materials and support from South Dublin County Enterprise Board, 5th and 6th class students in participating schools study what makes a business succeed, idea generation, market research, finance and production culminating in setting up their own business ( in some cases more than one business) and trading both inside and outside of school.
This year 41 schools, representing more than 1600 students, within South Dublin County took part in the programme and got down to work producing a range of delectable food products, recycled candles, Lucky stones & clever craft projects. School calendars and magazines were designed and sold while market research was first undertaken to determine the preferences and purchasing habits of the target market. Car wash enterprises were established while the young entrepreneurs also focused their attention to design and sale of school play memorabilia.
Up to 20 participating schools submitted colourful posters, materials and samples depicting their efforts as well as enterprise diaries recording their market research, sales and finances. Samples of this work were on display in the County Library Tallaght.
Students usually opt to donate their well earned profits to charities of their choice or / and their own school. This year charities such as Make a Wish Foundation, Irish Cancer Society, Down Syndrome and many more are hundreds of euros better off as a result of the childrens efforts. Well done to all!
8 finalists were selected for awards this year - St Colmcille’s Knocklyon, Scoil Treasa Firhouse, St Rose’s Tallaght, St Joseph’s Special School Tallaght, St Anne's Fettercairn, St Joseph’s Boys Clondalkin, Archbishop Ryan Lucan & St Bernadette’s Quarryvale.
The awards were as follows:
Overall Enterprising School of the Year 2012 – went to St Colmcille’s Senior National School for their multiple enterprise projects. Two classes of 6th class took part this year demonstrating great creativity and enthusiasm for enterprise. Flower Pens, Handy Holders, Clippies, Looky Rocks as well as Bake a Wish Cake Sale – these students had their fingers on the pulse of the purchasing habits of their target market. Their clever back story about Looky Rocks show how it is possible to build an enterprise out of the imagination.
Enterprise Diary Award -went to Scoil Treasa, Firhouse with their project Calendars 4 Cancer. These students produced and sold themed school calendars to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society. Their diary detailed excellent idea generation, allocation of tasks & team work.
Marketing Award – Students from St Rose’s National School, Tallaght took this award withTriple S producing a range of 3 products / services – Toasties, Choc Marshmallows and Stressy Messies. They also included a promotional DVD as well as attractive posters, samples and diary.
Eco Business Award –went to St Joseph’s Special School Tallaght for their beautiful candles made from recycled candle materials sourced in the community and parish.
Special Merit Award - four schools received this award – St Bernadette’s SNS Quarryvale who set up and ran a School supplies shop, St Anne's National School Fettercairn who made clever succinct Learning Aids known as St Anne’s Maths Glance Cards, Archbishop Ryan SNS Lucan who organised a Cake Sale and St Joseph’s Boys NS Clondalkin with their colourful bookmarks known as Joey’s Bookstoppers.
South Dublin County Enterprise Board Primary School Enterprise Education programme started in 2005 and has run annually since then. The aim is to promote enterprise education in 5th & 6th class at primary level. Since the programme started in 2005, nearly 10,000 primary school students have been introduced to enterprise education. For more information on this programme or any of our other Enterprise Education activities, please contact Ena Coleman @ 01 405 7073 or email ena@sdenterprise.ie
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