Our 4th & 5th Class Junior Entrepreneurs!

Ms. Fitzmaurice’s 4th and 5th class were recently introduced to the Junior Entrepreneur Programme. This innovative programme opens the minds of primary school pupils to the joy of entrepreneurship at a time in their lives when they are full of imagination and open to new possibilities. The programme helps participating pupils to develop a number of skills including literacy, writing, presentation, drawing, technology, research skills, numeracy, financial, consumer awareness, storytelling, listening skills, creative thinking, problem solving, team building and collaboration skills.

The programme has a significant personal development impact on participating pupils, building confidence, self-awareness and self-esteem, and an appreciation of individual skills and talents.

The first step of this programme involved challenging the children to come up with an inovative idea, the ultimate aim being to become a profitable venture. The children worked hard in small groups; collaboratively thinking, creating and researching until they were finally satisfied with  their respective business ideas. Each group were then faced with the onerous challenge of presenting their idea to some unforgiving ‘Dragons’; local business owners John Murray from Modern Botany and Miriam Pyburn of Barnetts as well as school principal Mr. Duggan! However our budding entrepreneurs took it in their stride as they confidently pitched their ideas and competently answered questions. After listening to all groups, the Dragons deliberated for quite some time before finally announcing the winning business idea to be ‘Pet Pals’! Pet Pals produces homemade dog treats for sale and congratulations to the winning group on this innovative idea! Congratulations also to all of the other groups who contributed so well to the process.

The next stage of the programme will take place after Christmas and will involve the whole classs working together to make Pet Pals a reality and hopefully a lot of money for our budding entrepreneurs!

PS; Our Dragons were actually really nice!!