Wicklow Winners for Farm Safe Schools
'It really ticked a lot of boxes for us', explains Alma Jordan, Farm Safe Schools Co-ordinator. 'What I especially loved was how the children completed their submission with a review of what they learnt and what change they intend to make going forward'. 'This programme was all about impact and that is what we witnessed with the children in Scoil Naomh Bríd.
The school scoops the top €2000 prize fund, but there was also a very well deserving runner up, Ballymore NS, in Donegal.
'Ballymore not only carried out the topics, they explored them', remarked Alma. They brought the farm into their class room. Inviting a host of speakers from builders, to gardeners, farmers to animal welfare organisations. There was so much detail in their submission, I was delighted and honoured to review it."
John Cahalan of FBD, sponosrs of the programme had this to say to the winners.
FBD is proud to support the Farm Safe Schools programme, which educates and empowers our children to prioritise farm safety. In FBD, we believe the promotion of Farm Safety is a very important topic and this programme enables children to enact real change on farms. It is great to see the interest that students across the country have shown in this programme and we commend the efforts of all the schools who have taken part. On behalf of the team at FBD I would like to send our congratulations to everybody at Scoil Naomh Bríd, this year’s FBD Farm Safe Schools National Champion and to the runners up in Ballymore National School. We heartily applaud all of the students and teachers who have taken part in this year’s Farm Safe Schools programme and encourage you all to keep up the great work.
As partners in the programme, IFA President, Tim Cullian, added “I want to send my congratulations
to those who have been recognised as national Farm Safe School winners, and to
every pupil who participated and took the message of farm safety from the class
room, to their homes and into their communities.
Farm safety remains a key priority for IFA. It’s very encouraging that so many of our children are now more capable and competent on the topic. This means we are proactively working together to instil a culture that makes farms a safer place.”
The plaudits were wrapped up by Agri Aware Chairman, Alan Jagoe.“We have been delighted and inspired by how many children have engaged with this pilot programme. The quality of submissions and the evidence of learning we have witnessed over the past three months is a testament to the commitment and importance teachers have placed on this programme. We thank each and every one of them for no not only introducing these modules into their classrooms also working to create a safer future on irish farms by empowering tomorrow’s farmers today.
On behalf of Agri Aware, I would like to thank FBD Trust for its support of this dedicated farm safety programme,” said Mr Jagoe.
The programme has been running since March 15th and saw over 21k children registered to take part.Pic L-R: David Bermingham, FBD, Lisa Jackson, Principal Scoil Naomh Bríd, Minister Martin Heydon,
Back L-R: Anne Jennings, IFA, Alma Jordan, AgriKids and Eilís Greene, Agri Aware.