Pride of Place for Schools Competition

Pride of Place for Schools Competition 2013

The aim of the 'Pride of Place Schools Competition' is to support pupils, teachers/school gardeners in bringing nature, wildlife, plants and colour into the school garden/grounds in County Meath.

Duration of Competition:

The competition runs between February and end of May 2013.

How to Start:

The school decides on the participants for the competition, this will consist of 30 pupils and 5 adults, which could be members of one class or representatives from a few classes, as well as 5 adults (teachers/ school gardener/ parents).

Once you have your school POP group set up, the principal/school contact sends a completed application form to us by 5pm Friday 1st February 2013. Please feel free to include a photograph of the school grounds - the before shot! (optional).

Judging:

An expert judge will visit all of the school entries from Monday 13th May to Friday 24th May to judge the projects. POP groups will have the opportunity to meet with the judge. The judge will be keen to chat with the children involved and find out what they have learned about their experience in this competition eg gardening or the environment etc. Interaction with the children is of uppermost importance to the judges. See judging criteria below.

Award Ceremony

There will be an evening of fun and celebration at the award ceremony on Wednesday 19th June 2013 at 3.00pm in Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, Co. Meath. Solstice Arts Centre is located on Railway Street, Navan, next to the library and the Council Headquarters. Parking is available in the Council carpark and on the Fair Green.

School Grants

All participaing schools, who have had their entry judged, can claim a grant up to a maximum of €100 from Meath County Council.

Payment of Grants

At the end of the competition the school principal or POP Group contact person may send in receipts as proof of plants and materials purchased during the Pride of Place for Schools competition. The closing dates for claiming grants is 5pm Friday 8th November 2013. No late claims can be accepted.

Judging Criteria

GRADING CRITERIA	MARKS
Presentation - The judges will look for a high quality standard of presentation in the garden. Creativity and imagination in use of themes, colours, ideas, plants and materials is important too. Many projects will not include use of plants and colour - e.g. water collection systems, worm compost units etc. It is important to present all these types of projects in an easy to use, attractive manner too.	30
Environmental Management - The judges will look out for any project which include features or measures which aim to prevent damage to the environment including water conservation, companion planting, use of recycled products and energy awareness in the garden. All sound environmental practices - composting, rain water collection systems, worm farming - will gain points in this area.	30
Involvement and Awareness of POP Group and Wider School Community - The judges will look to see what impact the competition has on students, and what level of knowledge and understanding has been achieved by the POP group and the other students in relation to their activities in the garden. Have they learned something new about the environment, about planting, sustainability, food growing? This is your opportunity to show the judges all that you achieved and learned.	40
Total Marks	100
Comments

Garden Themes, Categories and Prizes

In addition to an Overall Winner and Runner Up, the following categories and prizes will be allocated. If you are not sure which category suits you best, you don't have to enter a specific category and when the judge visits your school, they can decide which one suits your school best.

CATEGORY	1st Prize	2nd Prize
Best Sustainable and Energy Garden Use of compost and worm tea, recyling of plants from home, use of rain water collection systems, solar energy	€400	€200
Best Biodiversity/ Wildlife Garden Protection and enhancement of habitats - log piles, bird boxes, bug hotels, wildflower planting, butterfly gardens.	€400	€200
Best Edible Garden What can you grow that would be good enough to eat right off the plant or when cooked - oh what a treat?	€400	€200
Best Use of Science in School Garden Can you dazzle our judges with science and impress them with your knowledge?	€400	€200
Most Innovative Garden / Best New Idea / Invention Originality, exotic themes, play and accessibility.	€400	€200
Judges Award The judges will award special recognition awards at their discretion.	€400	€200
Overall Winner Best overall winners from all categories	€500	€250

Download Forms

Schools Application Form 2013 doc, 130kb

Schools Newsletter 2013 doc, 131kb

Schools Declaration 2013 doc, 121kb

Parent or Guardian Declaration 2013 doc, 121kb

Contact Details

For further information please contact:

Bernadine Carry
Pride of Place Initiatives
Meath County Council
Abbey Mall
Abbey Road
Navan
Co. Meath
Telephone 046 9097410

bcarry@meathcoco.ie

Past Results

Schools Competition Results 2006 | Schools Competition Results 2007 | Schools Competition Results 2008

Schools Competition Results 2009

Schools Competition Results 2010

Schools Competition Results 2011

Schools Competition Results 2012

Schools Pride of Place Winners 2010

SUSTAINABLE GARDEN

1^St Place. Navan Educate Together

2^nd Place. St. Finian’s N.S., Clonalvey

BIODIVERSITY GARDEN

1^st Place - Dangan N.S.

2^nd Place - Rathkenny N.S.

BEST USE OF ART

1st Place - St. Paul’s, Ratoath.

2^ND Place - Duleek Boys N.S.

BEST TRADITIONAL

1^st Place - Whitecross N.S.

2^nd Place - Gaelscoil na Boinne

BEST INNOVATION

1^st Place - Kilskyre NS

2^nd Place - St. Mary’s, Enfield

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

1^st Place - Moynalty N.S.

2^nd Place - Dunboyne Junior N.S.

BEST NEW SCHOOL

1^St Place - St. Peter’s, Dunboyne

2^nd Place - St.Dymphna’s, Kildalkey

JUDGES AWARD

1^st Place - Ballinlough N.S.

2^nd Place - St.Joseph’s Mercy Primary, Navan.

CRANN WOODLAND AWARD

Winner - Bellewstown

OVERALL WINNERS

1^st Place - Stackallen N.S.

2^nd Place - St. Mary’s Special School, Johnstown.

Schools Results 2012

Best Sustainable/Energy Garden
1st Prize – Ratoath Snr NS
2nd Prize – Kilskyre NS

Best Biodiversity/ Wildlife Garden
1st Prize – Rathmore NS
2nd Prize – St Patrick’s NS, Slane

Best Edible Garden
1st Prize – Duleek BNS
2nd Prize – Kildalkey NS

Best Use of Science in School Garden
1st Prize – Whitecross NS, Julianstown
2nd Prize – St Colmecille’s BNS, Kells

Most Innovative Garden / Best New Idea
1st Prize – Dunboyne Jnr Primary
2nd Prize – St Louis NS, Rathkenny

Judge’s Award
1st Prize – Navan Educate Together
2nd Prize – Scoil Mhuire, Robinstown

Best New School
St Anne’s NS, Tierworker, Moynalty

Crann Award
St Finian’s NS, Clonard

Special Endeavour Award
Scoil Mhuire, Moylagh
St Patrick’s NS, Ardcath

Overall Winner 2012
Kilmessan NS
Lismullen NS

Winners 2012