Pride of Place for Schools Competition

Pride of Place for Schools Competition 2012

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 2012.

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 3rd February 2012. Please feel free to include a photograph of the school grounds - the before shot! (optional).

Pre Judging Site Visits :

All participating schools will be able to avail of a site visit by the judges by end February. This will be a great opportunity for the judges to offer advice that would be specific to your school.

Judging:

An expert judge will visit all of the school entries from Monday 21st May to Friday 25th 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 Thursday 14th June 2012 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 9th November 2012. 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 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 2012 pdf, 130kb

Schools Newsletter 2012 pdf, 132kb

Child Protection Policy Declaration by School 2012 pdf, 121kb

Child Protection Policy Delcaration by Parent or Guardian 2012 pdf, 121kb

Contact Details

For further information please contact:

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

bcarry@meathcoco.ie or ayoung@meathcoco.ie

Past Results

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

Schools Competition Results 2009