{"id":532,"date":"2020-08-22T13:21:23","date_gmt":"2020-08-22T12:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pres.doll.ie\/?page_id=532"},"modified":"2022-11-17T01:47:17","modified_gmt":"2022-11-17T01:47:17","slug":"creative-schools","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/presprimarytralee.com\/initiatives\/creative-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"Creative Schools"},"content":{"rendered":"

Creative Schools<\/strong><\/p>\n

Presentation School is part of an initiative by the Arts Council called Creative Schools. Creative Schools is a flagship initiative of the Creative Ireland Programme to enable the creative potential of every child. Creative Schools is led by the Arts Council in partnership with the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. It aims to put the arts and creativity at the heart of children\u2019s and young people\u2019s lives and to reinforce the impact the arts and creativity has on student learning, development and wellbeing.<\/p>\n

Initiatives and Projects<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u201cTaking Down Walls\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0As a creative school, we began our creative journey with a project called \u201cTaking Down Walls\u201d to highlight awareness of the diversity that exists in schools and beyond and the potential for prejudice. This was a wonderful process where we engaged the expertise of the whole school community, including visiting teachers, parents, grandparents and relatives of our pupils, to explore and celebrate diversity through many art forms, such as dance, music, singing, mime, drama, visual art, film and creative movement.<\/p>\n

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\u201cNo Barriers\u201d- Siamsa T\u00edre<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0It culminated in a show in Siamsa T\u00edre called \u201cNo Barriers\u201d, which was a celebration of diversity and undoubtedly was a night that will be etched on our memories for many years to come.<\/p>\n

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RTE Documentary \u2013 \u201cCreative Kids\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0Based on our project we were chosen to take part in an RTE Documentary called \u201cCreative Kids\u201d which aired in May 2020 and is available to view on RTE Player. This was a huge achievement for our school, as there were just 5 schools from the whole country selected for this documentary. We are very proud of everybody who took part.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u201cShape and Space\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In Year 2 as a creative school we looked at the space we occupied and the shape it was in. We then looked at creative ways to improve that space with a STEM focus in mind. Our main aim was to encourage the children to develop creative skills, critical thinking skills, higher order and problem-solving skills.<\/p>\n

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\u201cNo Home for Plastic\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This led us to a programme to reduce plastic called \u201cNo Home for Plastic\u201d in conjunction with Voice Ireland. Through this programme, we conducted audits at home and in school to create awareness of the volume of plastic we use every day. It forced us to look at ways to reduce this.<\/p>\n

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The \u201cListen\u201d Programme – Build an Orchestra<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

We found a way to reuse discarded, once-off plastics and other materials creatively by building an orchestra of percussion and pitched instruments with the help of creative practitioners Andrew Scattergood and Donnchadha O\u2019Connor in partnership with Kerry ETB.<\/p>\n

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Junk Kouture<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Wallpaper, plastic bottles, discarded scraps of fabric, old t-shirts and other materials were used to create junk couture and were then paraded on the catwalk during our fashion show fundraiser.<\/p>\n

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\u201cSave Our Planet\u201d \u2013 Drama and Drumming Workshops<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This initiative explored two important themes \u2013 caring for our environment and respect for other cultures. It also engaged the expertise and talent of renowned percussionist Martin Scharer and Speech and Drama director, Sharon Costello. The children really loved their drumming and drama workshops and benefited enormously from them.<\/p>\n

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Save the Park<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

For this project, we looked at extending our \u201cgreen\u201d initiatives to the community. We expressed our ideas through art mediums, such as paintings, posters, construction, dance, singing, poetry and writing to create awareness. We linked with the \u201cSave the Green\u201d committee and with Kerry County Council to take part in a local initiative to improve Tralee Town Park. Every month a different class is responsible for litter-picking in the park as part of our effort to give back to the community and to make a difference.<\/p>\n

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\u201cA Short Hopeful Guide to Climate change\u201d by author Ois\u00edn McGann<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Inspired by Greta Thunberg and the strong vibrant school strike movement for climate change, our girls have been busy submitting their ideas to help make this first of its kind<\/strong> environmentally friendly Irish book. This book will be unique<\/strong> \u2013<\/p>\n