A big thank you to Engineers Ireland Northern Region (EINR) for inviting Shimna to host ‘The Big Bridge’. 60 of our students across years 8, 9 and 10 spent a good part of the day on bridge building, engineering workshops and touring the construction site of our new school as part of this exciting engineering challenge. It was great to see students from three of our local primary schools taking part as well.
Mr McCormick, Head of Science, writes: “STEM is an extremely important subject area in today’s world. It was great to see the pupils of all abilities and demographics working together to literally build bridges. STEM subjects are a thriving area within Shimna, and I am keen that this continues into the future in our new school. The organisers commented to me that our pupils were fantastic, and represented the college so well. Well done to everyone!”
Press release from Engineers Ireland
Engineers Ireland Northern Region (EINR) is celebrating the successful completion of Engineers Week 2024, culminating in a day filled with engaging and educational activities across three venues in Northern Ireland. The final day brought together over 250 children from various schools, emphasising the commitment of EINR to inspire the next generation in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM).
On Friday, activities spanned across Shimna Integrated College Newcastle, St. Mary’s Primary School Newcastle, and St. Malachy’s Primary School Castlewellan, with each location offering unique experiences designed to spark curiosity and excitement among the students. At Shimna Integrated College, students participated in 'The Big Bridge' activity and explored the new college campus build in collaboration with Glasgiven Contracts, showcasing the real-world impact of engineering. Participating schools included Shimna Integrated College, St. Patrick's Primary School Burrenreagh and All Children’s Integrated Primary School Newcastle.
St. Mary’s Primary School and Newcastle Primary School hosted a walking tour of the Shimna Flood Alleviation Scheme, providing a firsthand look at engineering in action to manage and mitigate flood risks, with activities led by the contractor Dawson Wam. Meanwhile, St. Malachy’s Primary School enjoyed 'Scientific Sue' classroom visits, sponsored by Tetra Tech, offering students a dynamic and interactive introduction to scientific concepts.
Laura Duggan from Tetra Tech expressed her enthusiasm for the event: "It has been an incredible week witnessing the curiosity and engagement of the students. Engineers Week not only educates but also inspires, and we at Tetra Tech believe in Leading with Science ® so we are delighted to have played a part in nurturing the next generation of innovators."Clare Morris, from the Engineers Ireland Northern Region committee, reflected on the week's success: "This week has been a testament to the passion and potential of our young learners.
Seeing their excitement and the collaborative efforts of schools, sponsors, and the community reaffirms our commitment to STEAM education. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all participants, volunteers, and especially our sponsors, including Farrans, Tetra Tech and Dawson Wam for their invaluable support."