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Loreto Pupils are celebrating this week after winning the” Community Champions Award” with their “Tick Kit” Project at the Junior Entrepreneur Project Showcase Day in the R.D.S., Dublin on Monday 18^th June.

According to Mary O’Sullivan (Principal) “Winning a national prize is a huge achievement and this is a proud day for Loreto.  Great credit is due to 5^th and 6^th class and their teacher Mr. Looney for all their hard work with the Junior Entrepreneur Programme.

The whole process was a wonderful experience for the children in how to develop a business – empowering young people to turn ideas into reality.

The idea originated when 6^th class pupil Ali O’Donoghue was bitten by a tick and discovered what little information was available to treat tick bites.  She and her class mates researched the topic and came up with the idea of the Tick Kit.

The Junior Entrepreneur is all about working as a team and this was a great team effort. Every child in 5^th and 6^th class was involved in making the Tick Kits and was well able to explain the product and sell it.

The Budding Entrepreneurs explained:

WHAT IS THEIR JUNIOR ENTREPRENEUR PROJECT IS ABOUT?

• We have developed a Tick Kit for our Junior Entrepreneur Programme(JEP) project.
• The Tick Kit will also ensure that each of us is more aware of what a tick is; how to remove it safely and also teach others while, as entrepreneurs, hopefully making a profit.
• The Tick Kit would be useful on walks, runs and days out. It can be used by people and on pets.
• It only costs €8 per Tick Kit

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN OUR TICK KIT?

The Tick Kit comes in a small plastic container and it contains:

• [x2] tick twisters
• [x2] circle plasters
• [x2] anti-septic wipes
• A pair a rubber gloves
• Instructions on the inside of the lid

From an early stage we saw huge potential in the idea

1. as being of benefit to the community
2. as a future fundraiser for the school.

The children made a presentation to the Muckross Community Association public meeting on Lyme Disease.  People were very interested to note that the correct way to remove a tick safely is to use a tick twister.

The Junior Entrepreneur Showcase Day in the RDS took place on Monday 18^th June.  480 schools took part in the Junior Entrepreneur Programme and 160 schools were represented in the RDS.

We were very proud of our pupils who were well able to handle media interviews, queries and sales on their stand.

There were nine awards and it was a huge achievement for Loreto to scoop the” Community Champions Award.”

We would like to thank David Rea, producer of Celtic Steps  who visited the children and gave them great advice about setting up a business, our secretary Margaret, our SNA Noreen and our parents who also gave great help and support.  It has been a great learning experience for the children in how to develop a business. They have shown initiative and learned skills of teamwork and co-operation.

Looking to the future we are very grateful to parents who have come on board to market the Tick Kit. It will be for sale locally with profits going to the school.

Congratulations again to Mr. Looney and 5^th and 6^th class.  It is a great achievement and a proud day for them and for all of us in Loreto.”

For more information please contact Scoil Bhríde on 064 6632484.

For orders Geraldine McGlynn on 086 6772174