Dec ‘09Winter

IT Blanchardstown Gets Working It Out!

Newewe slink

EMC² Makes Maths Matter

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A new dynamic and innovative project, M³ Making MathsMatter, was launched in October thanks to the generous support of global technology company, EMC² and is currentlybeing rolled out to 100 students in the Cork area.

The initiative takes Maths out of the textbook and into everydaylife, the business world and sports arena, encouraging youngpeople to realise how practical and valuable this vital subject is inevery area of life. The “M3”Making Maths Matter Project targetsyoung people who are at risk of dropping out of educationprematurely.

During the school year, students 10-12 years from four schools(Togher GNS, Sunday’s Well BNS, Bishopstown Community Schooland North Monastery Boys’ Secondary School), will experienceMaths as a key life skill using their numeracy skills to run their owninternational business.

Students also get to visit Cork IT and take part in team and sports challenges which is followed by a workplace visit in the high-techenvironment of EMC². Students have a tour of the office and takepart in an interactive maths workshop.

Creating a knowledge-based economy starts in primaryschool. As a global technology-driven organisation EMC² isdelighted to promote Maths in such a creative and attractiveway to young students. They are the future and their futurestarts here,” commented Olive-Ann O’Hara, HR ManagerEMC².

More than 60 local primary school students (10 -12 years)honed their maths and sports skills at IT Blanchardstownrecently when they took part in Working it Out. The half dayevent, generously sponsored by ITB, highlights the fun andeveryday use of maths and shows students its importance fortheir future careers.

Students were given a helping hand by volunteers from HSBC,Symantec, Oracle, AIB, ITB and Allianz . The students worked outtheir scores in averages, ratios and percentages while taking part invarious activities: penalty shoot-outs, basketball, skipping, dartsand bingo.

Students from Ladyswell, Mulhuddart

Dec ‘09 Winter

“Sharing our Community”Diversity for Schools in County Louth

3MFuturewise Website Brings Science to Life for Primary Schools Nationwide

Louise Mc Namee from Halifaxteaching at O'Fiaich College Dundalk.

Louth

TV3’s Anna Daly with 3M’s

General Manager Paul Knowles, and students

on 3MFuturewise’s launch day.

Students from four schools in County Louth are benefitingfrom a new diversity project, “Sharing Our Community”which is supported by the European Union’s PEACE IIIProgramme as awarded by Louth Peace and ReconciliationPartnership.

Nine highly experienced volunteers from supporting organisationsare delivering the programme to 200 students. Classroomworkshops cover a variety of topics including friendship,acceptance and rejection, communication skills and conflictresolution.

One of the volunteers delivering the project, Louise McNamee,Halifax, Dundalk, commented that students have responded verypositively to the topics in the workshops. “This diversityprogramme really teaches us that as much as we are different fromone another, in so many ways we are all quite similar to oneanother,” says Louise.

The programme shows students that diversity is very muchwelcomed within the workplace and stresses the importance ofaccepting everyone regardless of their culture and background.

More than 5,000 primary school students nationwide arelogging on to the excitement and wonder of science withthe introduction of the 3M Futurewise website(www.3Mfuturewise.ie). This forms part of the OurUniverse five-week science programme for 10-12 year oldstudents.

The new 3MFuturewise module is currently being delivered in almost 520 schools nationwide drawing students’attention to conserving energy at home and school.Students also carry out a Classroom Energy Audit.

The programme has been welcomed by Discover Science +Engineering and aims to educate students about sustainabledevelopment through featuring an interactive virtual townand showing young people that society needs scientists,engineers and new technology to help solve the problems ofthe future.

The initiative is part of 3M’s wider international campaign tohighlight and improve student take-up of STEM subjects.“We hope to engage and motivate students to choosescience and maths subjects in secondary school, lookingforward to future careers in engineering, technology andscience,” said Paul Knowles, General Manager at 3M Ireland.

Teacher’s Corner Volunteer’s Voice

Student’s Voice

6th class student in Scoil Lorcain

Dec ‘09Winter

Eamonn McDonagh with students from St. Paul’s

Girls Primary School, Greenhills, Dublin 12

oc

Students from Scoil Lorcain,

St John’s Park, Waterford

Tom O’Dwyer, 5th class teacher, Galvone National School, Limericktalks about his experience with JA. Tom has had a JuniorAchievement volunteer in his classroom for the last six years.

“JA programmes cover aspects of life that we as teachers would not coverin the curriculum. The students get an understanding of what goes oninside a company and the challenges they face. The students get anappreciation of what it is like to go out and work in communityand industry.

Also volunteers bring with them their own methodologies which can bea real insight for the teachers. The programmes are really well designed.Also, as they are age specific, students really get activities that they enjoy,and enjoyment goes along way to helping them understand.”

Diageo Engineering Manager, Eamonn McDonagh,Diageo Engineering Manager, shares his experience ofteaching Our Nation at St. Paul’s School in Greenhills,Dublin.

“The school I taught in was fantastic and everyone was very supportive of JA. The students were a little hesitantat the start but it wasn't long before they showed greatenthusiasm.

It was a fantastic opportunity for me to give somethingback. I went into the school in the hope that maybe Iwould in some way interest some students in business, sothey would realise there are a number of options outthere. The students were thrilled to be taking part in theprogramme. I really did not expect such a positivereaction. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was goodto really push the boat out, as teaching the programme isvery different to my usual day.”

As part of National Science Week 2009, 6th classstudents from Scoil Lorcain, John’s Park, Waterfordwere invited to Teva Pharmaceuticals.

Teva employee, Shane Heylin, had taught Our Universe tostudents and for their last class Shane invited the studentsto Teva for a tour of the facility. The students thoroughlyenjoyed the tour and gave great feedback on the scienceprogramme.

“Our Universe Programme was one of the best courses Ihave ever done. I learned a lot about science and it was great fun. Our volunteer, Shane, brought in a cow’s heart for the class on healthy living and it really helped meunderstand how the heart works.”

Dec ‘09Winter

Dublin City Council Innovation Week

MSD Hosts Science Event

Studenttsts t from Queen off Angelsls l Nata ionaalal a Schc ooldururu inini g Scicic encece Week

Students from the Presentation Primary SchoolGeorges Hill at Dublin City Innovation Week

Seventy five students from four schools across Dublin CityCentre took part in Dublin City Councils’ first everInnovationweek thisOctober. Students fromSt.Vincent’sGirls School North William Street, St. Gabriel’s CowperStreet, Presentation Primary School George’s Hill andCity Quay National School created and designed newproducts and developed their business plans as part of theJA 5th class Our Nation programme.

The students then presented their “It’s My Business” ideasin the Civic Offices, Woodquay, to the Lord Major ofDublin, Emer Costello who judged each product andpresented awards in the categories of EnvironmentalAwareness, Communications, Teamwork and Innovation.Students excelled in all areas and there was a high level ofinnovation and creativity from all schools - Dragon’s Denbeware!

During Science Week, Merck Sharp & Dohme held ascience workshop in Queen of Angels National School,Sandyford for 6th class students.

Colm Galligan, Medical Director and Ciarán Collins, Brandand Customer Manager Merck Sharp & Dohme helped thestudents design their own wind turbines using paper, apencil and a drawing pin. Students then delved into the livesof famous scientists - past, present and fictional - answeringquiz questions on their lives and achievements. Prizes werepresented to teams who came first, second and third.Students went on to examine their fingerprints for loops,swirls and arches.

Speaking after the event, Aine McCormack, 6th class teacherat the school commented, “The event today wasa real treat for the students before they finish for mid-termbreak. They thoroughly enjoyed all the activitiesparticularly the fingerprinting exercise! Thanks to bothColm and Ciarán who were great with the students today.”

Dec ‘09Winter

Diversity in Sligo Schools

CAI Sponsors Company Programme Regional Finals

Upcoming Events

Angela Mitchell IDA Ireland volunteer

with students from the UrsulineCollege

Sligo

Company Competition

MARCH

Regionals in Dublin, Cork, Sligo,

and Monaghan

APRIL

RDS National Final in Dublin

JULY

European Final in Milan

In partnership with County Sligo VEC Junior Achievementlaunched a new diversity and cultural awareness project,“Sharing Our Community”. Launched by Sligo GAA footballteam Captain Eamonn O’Hara , the project is supported byPEACE III Programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by Sligo County Council on behalf of Sligo Peace & Recon-ciliation Partnership Committee.

The project has four elements (classroom based workshops, peace &reconciliation project, cross community workshops and a crossborder event). Feedback is very positive and the programme has beenwell received by the 200 students taking part from Sligo GrammarSchool, Ursuline College, Ballinode College and Grange Post PrimarySchool.

“I was delighted that our Second Years were selected to take part in this brilliant initiative. They are really enjoying the workshops and welook forward to the other outings,” commented Mr. Leonard,Principal, Grange Post Primary School.

The second phase in the project takes place inFebruary/March when the participating students will beinvited to a cross community event in County Sligo. Thefinal stage of the project is a cross border event in CoFermanagh in April/May.

Chartered Accountants Ireland are generously sponsoring the five Company Programme Regional Finals to be held in Spring2010. Almost 2,000 students will participate in the JACompany Programme, which involves learning how to set upand operate a real business. As part of the competitionstudents prepare a Company Report, including financialstatements, requiring good financial understanding ofbusiness and enterprise.

Each Regional Final hosts eight to ten mini company teams and onthe day one mini company at each final will be presented with aFinance Award by CAI.

JA is honoured to have such a prestigious organisation as the CAIsponsor the Reginal Finals. The Finance Award helps studentsunderstand the importance of financial knowledge, withoutwhich no company can succeed, regardless how innovative theproduct.

JA has a number of exciting events in the new year. InJanuary JA has a BT sponsored CSI Zone stand at theBT Young Scientist Exhibition showcasing forensictechniques. In May, Challenge Science, sponsored byGenzyme, takes place in Waterford.

C DBLouth

C DBLouth

Dec‘09Winter

Thanks to our kind sponsors...

Feedback & Contact InfoIf you have any suggestions or comments on any of our programmes, please email Junior Achievement at info@jai.ie

Junior Achievement Ireland, 8 Longford Place, Monkstown, Co. Dublin | T 01 2366644 | F 01 2803758

www.jai.ie

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