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Local school leading the way in digital technologies for teaching and learning

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PROBLEM SOLVERS: Pupils from Holy Cross Mercy Primary School are enjoying a new STEM club in their school. Pictured at the front were: Seán Looney, Amelia Spillane, Caelan Prendergast and Sadhbh Collins from senior infants with their classmates.

By Michelle Crean

Local school children are becoming logical thinkers and problem solvers at a much younger age thanks to the introduction of a new after schools programme.

Holy Cross Mercy Primary School hosts an afterschool STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) club for Senior Infant pupils where children are introduced to science experiments including making slime and building electrical circuits and engineering by designing and building various structures such as bridges and houses using maths.

Principal of Holy Cross, Ursula Coffey, welcomed the announcement of funding for all schools for the purchase of key technologies including iPads, smart displays and airplay devices for the school.

“It will allow us to build on and expand the amazing work being done in our school in the area of digital technologies for teaching and learning,” she said.

Holy Cross is a school of Digital Distinction with Technology and STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) playing a central role in learning throughout all classes in the school, she added.

“All classes have access to iPads with over 100 devices in the school. Parents and teachers communicate through their child’s Digital Learning Journal Seesaw and are updated daily with snapshots of their child’s learning. Children from Junior Infants right through to Sixth class learn 21st century tech skills within their classrooms with every child having access to iPads daily. The students will also work together on different aspects of coding including Scratch and Beebots to enable them to become logical thinkers, problem solvers, collaborative learners and to foster and encourage creativity.”

 

The Holy Cross Mercy also has a STEM Club for the older classes and  the new funding will provide resources for the club.

“The students will learn skills such as animation, coding, robotics and engineering with LEGO.”
Further information is available on their website www.mercyholycross.ieor their Facebook page. If you are interested in school enrolment for September 2019 please contact the school office on 064 663141.

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Community College TY students become qualified baristas

School Dayz Transition Year students at Killarney Community College spent last Tuesday learning the skills to become baristas. They completed a full-day training course and are now qualified to make […]

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School Dayz

Transition Year students at Killarney Community College spent last Tuesday learning the skills to become baristas.

They completed a full-day training course and are now qualified to make coffee, which could make them very employable in local cafes and restaurants this summer.
Their teachers, who are described as the school’s “resident coffee experts,” were impressed with the students’ hard work and enjoyed the lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos the students made throughout the day.
In addition to their barista training, the TY students also took a trip to Mallow. There, they learned about the rules of the road, practiced the driver theory test, and many got behind the wheel of a car for the first time. They also learned about the dangers of speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

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Rising stars Amano and Lillie Foley to share stage in ANAM

Two of Killarney’s rising musical talents, Amano and Lillie Foley, are set to perform their first ever joint headline concert at the ANAM Cultural Centre. Singer-songwriter and sean nós singer […]

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Two of Killarney’s rising musical talents, Amano and Lillie Foley, are set to perform their first ever joint headline concert at the ANAM Cultural Centre.

Singer-songwriter and sean nós singer Amano will bring her ‘Mythilligocial Meitheal Tour’ home for a special live performance of both her contemporary and traditional music.

Joining her on the night is local rising star Lillie Foley, making it a special event to celebrate two young Killarney songwriters making their mark on the Irish music scene. The event is supported by Kerry County Council Arts Office.

Amano, described by Hot Press in 2024 as an “idiosyncratic talent” is comfortable performing in both English and Irish, draws influences from alt-folk, R&B, and traditional sean-nós singing.

Her project THREAD was nominated for Irish language Album and Song of the year at the Gradaim Nós in 2024.

Her recent singles, ‘Burn’ and ‘The Birthing House’, have received airplay on RTÉ Radio 1, Radio Kerry, and Raidió na Life.

Lillie Foley, a 22-year-old singer who recently graduated from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance with a BA in Voice, has released two debut singles in 2025, ‘Someday’ and ‘That’s Life’, which blend pop, soul, and folk genres.

The event is supported by Kerry County Council Arts Office.

The concert will take place on May 23, at the ANAM Cultural Centre in Killarney, starting at 7:00pm. Tickets are available from €15 plus a booking fee on Ticketpass.org.

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