Award winging its way to champions
Butterfly project scoops award
Pupils at Logierait Primary have fluttered their way to a victory.
Picking up a Change award from the Social Enterprise in Education Awards last year, the Perthshire primary was delighted to be awarded the champions award at the virtual ceremony this year.
Pupils at the rural primary were rewarded for their successful enterprise project selling bespoke handmade rearing kits for butterflies and moths.
The Logierait youngsters sold kits to some local schools and held two street-promotion stalls last summer in Pitlochry, as well releasing butterflies during their annual visit to the elderly residents at nearby Rivendell Care Home in Dunkeld.
The school first began rearing and releasing butterflies back in 2015 as part of an eco project to increase the number of orange tip butterflies which were declining due to habitat loss.
Since then, the children have spread their wings and added significantly to their butterfly collection with small tortoiseshells, peacock, commas, the whites and moths including the emperor, puss, elephant hawk and many more.
The eco project metamorphosed into a social enterprise project in March 2019 with the kids creating cages, collection boxes and a butterfly house filled with food from plants grown in the school’s polytunnel.
And even during lockdown the work has continued.
Head teacher Lorna Barr said: “Caterpillars and butterflies, of course, don’t understand lockdown and so pupils continued to take small boxes of larvae to rear at home.
“Some also were able to release butterflies in their gardens.
“School staff also provided, on request, similar kits for staff and parents from other schools across the authority. The interest and learning gained from this project has been considerable and the pride in achieving this second award has been a very good way to end an unusual year.”
Deputy first minister John Swinney sent a message of congratulations to Logierait and all the winners.
He said: “Across Scotland, it is inspiring to see the innovative social enterprise activity being developed in schools, and by pupils.
“Through responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in such a proactive and supportive way for their communities, these young people have been bringing the Curriculum for Excellence to life in the most creative manner while developing essential skills for the future including resilience, adaptability and curiosity.
“My congratulations go out to all of the successful schools that took part in the Social Enterprise in Education programme this year and thank you for the positive change you are making to Scotland.”