Local Schools Unite for Creative Teaching Through FÉILTE Bursary
Scoil Aireagail, Móin Ruadh NS, and Newmarket NS have been working together over the past few months on a collaborative teaching and learning project, supported by the FÉILTE Collaborative Professional Learning Bursary from the Teaching Council.
Scoil Aireagail, Móin Ruadh NS, and Newmarket NS have been working together over the past few months on a collaborative teaching and learning project, supported by the FÉILTE Collaborative Professional Learning Bursary from the Teaching Council.
The initiative brought teachers and students from both primary and post-primary together to share ideas and strengthen professional practice. Over a series of monthly meetings, the participating schools explored inclusive strategies in education, with a focus on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), digital literacy, and lesson study. These sessions provided space for meaningful collaboration, where teachers could reflect on what works in the classroom and learn from each other’s experience.
One of the key elements of the project was the introduction of stop motion animation, guided by creative mentor Shane Egan. Students across the schools learned how to storyboard, animate, and edit their own short films, developing not only technical skills but also creativity and confidence. Teachers were also trained in the process, allowing them to embed this engaging method of storytelling into their future teaching.
The project culminated in a vibrant Showcase Day hosted by Scoil Aireagail on Thursday, 15th May, where all three schools came together to celebrate the students’ achievements. The morning began with a screening of the completed stop motion films, followed by a series of creative activities. Students rotated between stations where they cooked mini wrap pizzas in the Home Economics kitchen, planted sunflower seeds in the school’s sustainability garden, and created colourful handprint messages of kindness and wellbeing for a new Cineáltas display in the school’s entrance hall.
The day captured the spirit of the project – creativity, community, and collaboration. Students shared what they had learned and enjoyed, while teachers reflected on the value of working together across schools. A short video is also being produced to showcase the impact of the initiative, with teachers and principals sharing their insights on the benefits of professional learning, inclusive teaching, and student wellbeing.
This Féilte-funded project has created lasting connections between the three schools and highlighted the power of working together to support learners at all levels.
To view all the resources developed during the project and to watch our short reflection video, visit our collaborative Padlet:
