The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has congratulated the staff and students of Craggagh National School on the school's recent nomination for an Eircom Junior Spiders award, based on its online project work and blog posts relating to the Blue Star Programme. These annual awards honour outstanding achievement online and celebrate the successes of the Irish internet and digital media.
The Craggagh NS Blue Star Project has been nominated in the ‘Best Project’ category for the awards. The European Junior Spiders Awards ceremony takes place on Tuesday April 29 in The Foundry at Google Headquarters, Dublin 4. These awards acknowledge the innovation amongst web creators in schools.
The project, focusing on studies of the European Union, was carried out during 2013. The children utilised a variety of the latest computer software and websites in researching and collating their project, the results of which can be found on their specially dedicated blog www.CraggaghBlueStar.wordpress.com
The Taoiseach said of the nomination; “I want to congratulate Craggagh National School on this award nomination in recognition of their online work on the Blue Star Programme. This is a wonderful achievement and testament to the great efforts of principal Danny Charlton, staff, and students. The Blue Star Programme helps students to learn more about the European Union; the different ways in which the country cooperates and integrates with its European neighbours, and the many reasons why EU membership is good for Ireland.”
Speaking about the nomination, school principal and fifth and sixth class teacher Danny Charlton said: “We are thrilled with this nomination. The project involved a huge collaborative effort from children, teachers, parents, and our local community. Our school prides itself on integrating the very latest technology and ideas into our school curriculum.”
The Blue Star Programme aims to foster a better understanding and knowledge of the European Union among primary school children across the EU through various classroom projects and activities. The Taoiseach visited Craggagh NS last November where he officially launched the programme.
Since 1996 the Eircom Spider Awards has honoured Irish individuals and organisations for their outstanding achievements online and celebrated the successes of the Irish internet and digital media. The Eircom Junior Spider Awards were established in 2009 as a parallel programme for students at primary and post primary school level. The idea was originated by Business & Finance magazine, working closely with main sponsors Eircom.
The aim of these awards is to acknowledge the innovation amongst web creators in schools; to provide an exciting programme that will encourage teachers and students to further develop their technology skills in web design; to encourage the use of the internet to teach subjects on school curriculums; and finally to act as a catalyst for those students who wish to pursue a career in this sector by providing access to influential business executives.
