Pupils invited to compete to havegiant wooden art work installed

The Mayor Councillor Elisha McCallion, with children from the Chapel Road PS, attending a launch in the Guildhall, by Derry City & Strabane District Council, of a primary schools wood recycling competition. Included are Elsa Edwards, the councils legacy project officer and Joe Brolly, recycling manager with 4RS, competition sponsors. 0116-1987MT.

The Wood Recycling Competition, aimed at engaging with local primary school children, has been established by Derry City and Strabane District Council in an effort to develop their skills, increase knowledge and interest in the world of industry.

Elsa Edwards, a legacy officer with the Council, said: “We will be encouraging the schools to come up with innovative ideas or concepts for the various categories using the STEM subjects, for example we could see a giant snake and ladders or large pencils being developed as an art installation. We really want to get schools to get creative and show their innovative side on this project.”

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Elisha McCallion, said it’s part of the Council’s Science and Innovation Programme 2015/16, aimed at enthusing children and young people by developing their awareness of the potential of STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths).

The winning design will be commissioned by 4RS Recycling and installed in their school.

The Mayor said: “The Wood Recycling Competition is a great way to get children involved in recycling and maths and to be in with a chance of having a wood installation commissioned by 4RS Recycling and installed within the grounds of their school.”

She said she’ll soon be touring all the schools who enter the competition to have a look at all of their designs.

“As part of the project, I will be accompanied by representatives from 4RS Recycling to visit all participating schools to talk about the competition and to promote the recycling and science and innovation message,” she explained.

The competition runs until 12 noon on Friday, February 26, with school engagement dates being scheduled across the Council area during the week of February 11.

The winners will be announced on Friday, March 4 and the presentation day with the winning school will be held in conjunction with Earth Day on Friday April 22.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the competition and to view the competition criteria and rules are encouraged to contact Elsa Edwards, Legacy Officer, at Derry City and Strabane District Council at 028 71 253253 – [email protected]. For information on the Council’s Science and Innovation Programme visit www.scinnovate.co.

The competition will hopefully achive the dual aims of promoting environmental sustainability and the so-called 4Rs of reduction, reuse, recycling and recovery, as well as getting more and more young people across the Council area interested in science, maths and engineering subjects and topics.

The innovative art, education and environmental project is funded through Council’s Legacy Department and Ilex Urban Regeneration Company.