High flyers get to grips with drones

THERE were some high flyers at the EPA headquarters at Johnstown Castle Estate with drones and a hovercraft among the fascinating science and engineering on show to the junior achievers and their classmates.

The event was the culmination of a learning opportunity in which Junior Achievement Ireland partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the first time in the 2015/2016 school year.

Within weeks of the partnership beginning, nine volunteers from EPA headquarters at Johnstown Castle Estate delivered Junior Achievement programmes in primary and secondary schools in Wexford Town.

The local students - who got the chance to be involved in Junior Achievement programmes because of the EPA volunteers - ranged from senior infants enjoying the ‘Ourselves’ programme to Transition Years who took part in the ‘Metlife Finance Your Future’ programme.

In addition to teaching a programme, six of the volunteers invited their classes to visit the EPA headquarters to see firsthand the work there and further develop their understanding of the correlation between education and the workplace.

On Friday (May 27) 50 students from Kennedy Park NS and Wexford Educate Together visited the EPA Headquarters to witness science and engineering coming to life by means of a hovercraft, a drone, the Office of Radiological Protection and river micro fauna displays.

This was a fantastic end to the contribution of all nine volunteers involved, and a fantastic and fun learning opportunity for the students involved.

‘We were delighted to partner with the EPA this year as it enabled us to reach more students in schools in Wexford,’ said Denise Power, the Area Manager Junior Achievement Ireland South East.

Junior Achievement teaches young people about the world of work and specifically targets those at risk of early school leaving. For more information on the Junior Achievement programme visit www.jai.ie

Kennedy Park NS pupils check out the high-flying action at the EPA headquarters as part of the Junior Achievement programme. Educate Together pupils Anne Kelly, Ben Mythen, Gill O’Grady, Noah Hanton, Isabel Doyle and Keira Crowther, in the hovercraft,...