Faughart Community National School celebrate Europe Day

Pupils and teachers at Faughart Community National School had a special reason to celebrate recently as they joined millions of Europeans in marking Europe Day.

This year's celebration was particularly meaningful for Faughart CNS as the school approaches the end of its fifth year since it opened.

The day was a great opportunity to invite the school community into the classrooms to experience the wonderful learning that has taken place this year.

Blue Star Programme
Throughout this year the school has been participating in the Blue Star programme, which aims to instill a sense of EU citizenship and foster a better understanding and appreciation of the benefits of the EU among the next generation of Irish citizens.

The Blue Star Programme in Ireland is organised by the European Movement Ireland (EM Ireland) and is supported in its efforts by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Office of the Minister of State for European Affairs, and the European Commission Representation in Ireland.

As part of the Goodness Me! Goodness You! curriculum that is covered in the multidenominational community national school, a range of engaging activities were completed to help the young learners from junior infants to 6th class understand and appreciate the rich diversity of cultures, languages, and traditions that make up the European Union.

Ár nAmhrán/Our Anthem EU50
As part of this unit of work, the school also participated in the Our Anthem EU50 project.

This EU50 programme (a partnership between the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Education and the Royal Irish Academy of Music) celebrated Ireland’s membership of the European Union over the last 50 years and invited schools to learn, rehearse and perform our EU Anthem.

Europe Day Celebrations
All pupils had the opportunity to interview Minister for European Affairs and Defence, Peter Burke, about his work in Europe. He visited Faughart CNS with Senator John McGahon and Councillor John Reilly on Thursday 4th May.

The children performed the EU Anthem ‘Ode to Joy’ while Minister Burke raised the European Flag in celebration of Ireland’s 50th anniversary as a member of the European Union. Friends and families enjoyed an afternoon in the school learning about European countries, landmarks, food and culture from pupils in all the classes.

A wonderful five years of Faughart CNS
The Europe Day celebration was a wonderful way to mark five years of Faughart CNS, a school spokesperson said.

The only Community National School in Louth has experienced a steady increase in pupil numbers since it opened its doors in August 2018 and continues to lead the way particularly in the area of STEM, she continued.

Faughart CNS was one of only three schools in Louth to receive Science Foundation Ireland Badge of STEM Excellence last year and is on target to receive the SFI Platinum Award this year.

Four 5th class pupils received the Runner Up award in Maynooth at the Intel Mini-Scientist National Competition, achieving second prize out of 6300 pupils nationally, for their project involving coding microbits, electronics and coding in scratch.

Open Afternoon
Faughart CNS are hosting an open afternoon for parents and pupils interesting in enrolling in September on Wednesday 31st May from 12 – 4pm. Call 0867807512 for more information.