Junior Entrepreneur 2012

Junior Entrepreneur 2012

Ballyheigue turns the tide on unhealthy lunches!

The pupils of 5th and 6th class Glenderry National School Ballyheigue(Scoil Naomh Erc) are taking part in the Junior Entrepreneur Programme again this year. This year their product is a recipe booklet to make lunch boxes healthier. The health promoting schools committee had a day named “Dine-a-bite.” All the pupils from 5th and 6th class tasted and gave their opinions on the food that the committee had generously made. This is how the Health Promoting school committee decided on the recipes for the  booklet . After a nailbiting pitch of various ideas to dragons den ,the children began working on producing the booklet.

The teams that were  involved in this entrepreneur program were public relations, finance, sales, design and production, marketing all the aspects of a real business enterprise. The children learned how to work successfully as a team using enterprise skills to get the product to the market. They fundraised, learned how to budget, how to publicise and how to promote their business. They discovered that market research is essential to the success of any venture.

The 23rd of March was launch day. Food tasting, Cookery demonstration, healthy eating talk all took place on the day. Kerry Footballer Mark ó Sé was in the school to help promote the booklet. Mighty Mikey Milk from Lee Strand also came along . A cake sale was organised by the parents association and cakes baked by children and parents sold. Everybody who bought one of the “Dine a Bite” booklets  got a ticket for a raffle and the prize was a home made (designed) cake by Judy’s Cakes. It was real community effort and a great day was had by all. Booklets are available from the school and local shops.

The Entrepreneur Team were very grateful to everybody who contributed on the day, Healthy Eating Committee, Chef Barry Linnane , Dietician Sheila Harty, Parents association ,Lee Strand and the HSE. It was a huge undertaking on everyones behalf but the success of the day made it all worthwhile.  See Gallery/Junior Entrepreneur 2012 for some pictures.