Bright sparks recognised in two county secondary schools
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Principal of Scared Heart Secondary School Anne Marie Brosnan; Deputy Principal Brendan O’Sullivan, Stephen Rowe, Branch Manager at AIB Clonakilty, Brid Hennessy, economics teacher and students as the school was recognised by AIB in its Future Sparks Programme.Image 2 of 2
AIB Kanturk Branch Manager Jennifer Lyons and School Principal Denis Keating at Scoil Mhuire, Kanturk for the AIB Future Sparks Programme recognition. Photo: Daragh Mc Sweeney/ProvisionScoil Mhuire in Kanturk and Sacred Heart Secondary School in Clonakilty are two of 16 schools in Ireland to be recognised by the AIB Future Sparks Programme, which 585 schools registered for.
The programme is aimed at supporting 12-18 year olds in the development and learning of key life skills. The programme focuses on themes including sustainability, financial wellness, health and well-being, globalisation and civic literacy. It also supports the development of core skills including communications, critical thinking and digital innovation.
In 2019, Scoil Mhuire began to explore new platforms and digital technologies. Understanding the importance of digital literacy for students and the key role of technology in the classroom, Mr O’Keeffe, the school's IT coordinator, created bespoke videos to support their teachers and students. The work carried out by Principal Denis Keating and all the teachers in the development of digital skills across the entire school community helped Scoil Mhuire adapt to the new way of working when the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the transition to digital and online platforms in March 2020.
Meanwhile, recognising the many challenges people faced during Covid-19, the Sacred Heart Secondary School students identified areas in which they adapted and learned new skills. One area was digital literacy, increasing their ability to use technology in new ways, such as using Skype and Facetime to meet family and friends and availing of services they hadn’t used before like online shopping. They also took the opportunity to brush up on their financial management skills, noting that the pandemic drove them to consider the difference between ‘wants’ and ‘needs’, reduced their impulse buying and allowed them to save more.
Bríd Hennessy, a teacher at Sacred Heart Secondary School, said: “The AIB Future Sparks programme is giving our students valuable life skills. During the last two years, we had to learn how to turn our bedrooms into classrooms and our kitchens into offices. This gave our students time to reflect on how their lives have changed due to Covid-19 and the skills they have learned along the way.”
Both schools have received a plaque to commemora te their participation and a native Irish tree which to planted on the grounds of their schools.