All Embracing Science Week 2023 at Presentation Castleisland

Pres Science Week Biochem quiz winners from fifth year, from left: Fiona Mc Sweeney, Erin O’Connor, Lucy Mc Kenna, Colene O’Callaghan, Cornelia Mangan, Amy O’Sullivan, Charlie O’Keeffe, Caitlyn Swanser and Charly Meier.

Science Week took place nationally and in Presentation Castleisland from November 13th.

An action-packed week of activities defied even Storm Debi’s efforts to put a damper on the fun as each year group got a sample of the world of STEM.

An excellent team of Transition Year students coordinated and facilitated all activities, they put a tremendous amount of work into the preparation for this week to make it an enjoyable and memorable week for both students and teachers.

Sixth year students took a trip to the Tralee Bay Wetlands to investigate a wetland for their habitat studies in ecology.

Scavengers Hunting

The first year students grouped together to participate in a scavenger hunt around the school, students had to race to a certain door, read and answer the question on the door and repeated this process until all questions were answered.

The team that got the most questions correct in the shortest time was comprised of: Sophia Fleming, Tessa Reidy and Katie Crowley.

There were science quizzes for some year groups, the junior science quiz consisted of general

knowledge questions and questions based on the science junior cycle syllabus. The senior science quiz was based on biology and chemistry scientific questions.

Some Great Prizes

The lucky winners in each year group were presented with some great prizes.

First year: Orla O’Connor, Sarah Walsh, Tessa Reidy and Amy Roach. Second year: Natalia Kedziora, Leah Griffin and Amaia Torres. Third year: Aibhe O’Connor, Kristen O’Connor and Aisha Padon. Fifth year: Colene O’Callaghan, Cornelia Mangan and Charlie O’Keeffe.

Every lunchtime there was a science question, dingbat, guess the teacher and count the elements competition on the science noticeboard.

The daily winners also received some wonderful prizes and they included: Ava McGovern, sixth class and Amber Foley.

Lucky and Victorious

Fifth class; Alicia O’Connell, third class; Bridín Hickey, second class and Marguerite Herlihy, first class who were lucky enough to be victorious in these challenges.

The school held a science competition on the open day for any fifth and sixth class student who visited the school.

During the week, transition year students visited the primary schools of the lucky winners.

First stop was to Gaelscoil Aogáin, where Erin O’Connor and Lucy McKenna presented Cameron with her science pack, then onto Kilmurry National School where Roisin received her prize from Wiktoria Brzozka, Fiona McSweeney and Lauren Coffey.

Transition Year Escape Room

Science week concluded with a transition year escape room, where they had to solve some scientific

puzzles and games in order to ‘escape’ the science lab. Amelie Kerin and Caitlyn Swanser escaped the lab the fastest therefore were our champions.

There is always such a buzz around the school during science week. It is a great week for students to participate in scientific challenges outside the classroom. It gives students the opportunity to showcase the knowledge and skills they have learned in the months or years they have spent at the school.

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