The DEIS Literacy and Numeracy Summer Camp is an annual, two-week camp specifically designed for pupils attending DEIS schools. The DEIS programme, launched by the Department of Education.
Our summer camp plays a vital role within this broader DEIS framework, focusing directly on enhancing core literacy and numeracy skills. It offers a unique opportunity for pupils to:
Boost Confidence: Through targeted and engaging activities, the camp helps build pupils' self-esteem and enjoyment of reading, writing, and maths.
Strengthen Foundations: The curriculum is carefully crafted to reinforce key concepts learned during the school year and address any learning gaps in a supportive environment.
Prevent Summer Learning Loss: By keeping minds active and engaged, the camp helps combat the common "summer slide" in academic progress.
Promote Interactive Learning: Unlike traditional classroom settings, the camp incorporates fun, hands-on, and often play-based activities, such as maths trails, creative writing exercises, and practical projects, to make learning enjoyable and memorable.
Prepare for the Next Academic Year: By solidifying foundational skills, pupils return to school in September feeling more prepared and confident to tackle new challenges.
Ultimately, the DEIS Literacy and Numeracy Summer Camp is about providing additional, tailored support to ensure that every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to achieve their full educational potential. It's a blend of focused learning and summer fun, designed to foster a positive attitude towards education and empower students for future success.
Week 2: Adventure Continues!
We had another fantastic week filled with fun, creativity and learning:
Active Maths – measuring, estimating and exploring length through hands-on activities and games.
A walk along the beautiful Riverwalk – connecting with nature and sharing stories along the way.
Art inspired by amazing collections – and we made special art folders to keep all the fantastic work from the two weeks!
Crab soccer and other fun games with Majella – keeping everyone active, laughing and working as a team.
Oral language activities – building vocabulary, confidence and enjoying lots of lively conversations.
Making Rice Krispie buns – adding a sweet creative twist to the week.
Play dough fun – encouraging imagination and fine motor skills.
Group challenge: building the tallest tower – teamwork, problem solving and lots of excitement!
It’s wonderful to see the children so engaged, curious and creative.
Week 1 of our DEIS Literacy and Numeracy Summer Camp was a huge success! Our pupils had an incredible time boosting their skills through hands-on activities.
They became little chefs, making delicious pizzas and then writing down their own recipes – a fantastic way to combine practical maths with creative writing! They also got to be bakers, making delicious cookies and carefully measuring ingredients – another sweet way to practice their numeracy skills. We also took learning outdoors with exciting maths trails, where children discovered shapes and numbers all around the school. And for a touch of art and geometry, they painted stunning symmetrical butterflies, reinforcing an important maths concept.
To top it all off, we had a special visitor: Rosemary from Glin Library! She told the children all about the fantastic reading programmes on offer over the summer, inspiring them to keep their literacy journey going.
It's been wonderful to see their enthusiasm and hard work! On to Week 2!