StJoseph’scentreholdsschoolartcontest

St Joseph’s in Shankill has launched an art competition for its primary schools dementia awareness programme.

The ‘Cherished Memories’ competition aims to establish local connections within the community, promoting St Joseph’s as a place for all the community to be involved, and to begin a conversation with young people about dementia.

40 schools have been invited to take part, offering nearly 10,000 students the chance to be part of the programme.

The competition will focus on cherished memories, and what memories mean to primary school children. Children will take part by drawing their cherished memory and write a few words about that memory explaining why it is important to them.

Lidl Shankill and Explorium; The National Sports and Science Museum are showing their support by sponsoring this initiative.

There will be different categories spanning junior infants to sixth class and special education classes.

There will also be a best class prize, for a class that has made the best effort collectively.

They will be awarded a day pass for the whole class to Explorium: The National Sports and Science Museum.

Saint Joseph’s Shankill has provided some classroom discussion tips on their website saintjospehsshankill.ie, for teachers to help their students delve a little deeper into what dementia means and the affects it may have on people and their lives, and ways to help them.

This is the only primary schools initiative promoting awareness about dementia in Ireland.

Schools will have received their pack last week, and the closing date for entries is April 12. Judging will take place throughout April and a prize giving ceremony will take place in Explorium in May where all the winders and their teachers and families will be invited to attend.