School entrepreneurs design Loreto’s new top
FIVE FOURTH CLASS pupils in Bunscoil Loreto have designed a half-zip top with a personalised crest for the school in aid of their pitch and playground area.
After receiving approval from their principal to go ahead with the tops, Ronan O’Grady, Jamie Purcell, Alex McNamara Bent, Pádraig Roche and Casey Kavanagh negotiated a price with Wexford footballer Ben Brosnan from sportswear company Bodibro. They reached an agreement and the boys jotted down the details for Ben to sign their contract.
‘We have received more than 100 orders already,’ said Ronan. ‘Anyone can buy them from our school. They come in sizes age three to four right up to adult 2XL and cost €35.’
When they approached principal Aileen Kennedy, she agreed with the idea as long as they were responsible for all of the work involved, including initial concept meetings to distribution.
‘I am immensely proud of the five boys and all they have achieved,’ said Ms Kennedy.
The five pupils carried out market research and visited other classes within the school to see which material and colours they would like to see.
‘The half-zip is very popular,’ said Ronan. ‘Everyone in the school voted for the fleece-lined top with maroon and grey colours.’
Meanwhile, they set about creating a badge design which represented their school and through assembly they organised a competition called ‘Quest for a Crest’.
‘We had more than 500 entries,’ said Casey. The final badge was an amalgamation of three COURTOWN Adventure and Leisure Centre recently received gold at the Ireland Active white flag awards. This is the fourth year in a row Courtown has received the award which recognises its commitment to high standards in safety, hygiene, customer services and human resources. The centre also received a gold award for accessibility. Centre manager Margaret Quinn paid tribute to the voluntary board of directors, and the professional team which helps maintain the standards. entries and includes a harp with eight strings, two hurls, a globe, children holding hands and the Mary Ward values: love, freedom, justice, sincerity and joy.
The boys explained the harp symbolises music, the hurls represent sport, and the eight strings stand for the years spent in school.
‘The harp is on the globe and it shows we have pupils from all over the world,’ said Padraig.
Alex said ‘children holding hands around the world shows friendships made in the school’ and the Mary Ward values surround the crest.