Fun and friendship at Laois school
On a roll at Heywood CS
A BRILLIANT day of fun and friendship was celebrated at the second annual Heywood Unplugged day in September.
The entire school community gathered to enjoy a day of activities at Heywood Community School, ranging from Zumba and a bouncy castle knockout to a time challenge on footing turf and hanging out washing.
Colour-coded year groups enjoyed activities of their choice that included welly throwing, wheelbarrow races, team building challenges, egg and spoon races and lots more.
Principal Eamon Jackman expressed immense pride as he said: “Heywood Unplugged was a celebration of everything that makes our school special - our students’ enthusiasm, our strong sense of community and, most importantly, the unwavering commitment of our staff.
“It was a joy to see students and staff come together in such a positive, energetic and uplifting way. The atmosphere throughout the day was fantastic and it provided a wonderful opportunity for everyone to connect beyond the classroom.”
The aim of Heywood Unplugged is to create an experience where students can step away from the pressures and routines of daily school life, reconnect with one another and strengthen their sense of belonging within the school community.
Mr Jackman said: “We absolutely achieved that. The enthusiasm, flexibility and dedication shown by our staff were central to the day’s success. Events like this can only succeed when everyone works together and I sincerely thank our staff for the positive and wholehearted way they embraced the day.”
The success of Heywood Unplugged provided a fantastic start to the new school year, setting a positive tone for the months ahead and reinforcing the strong sense of community at the school.
The event also served as a powerful reminder of the importance of wellbeing, physical activity and meaningful connections in education. As students returned to their normal timetable the following day the buzz of excitement remained, clear evidence of the lasting impact the day had on the school community.
The Ballinakill school aims to foster a holistic educational environment where academic achievement goes hand in hand with connection, creativity, wellbeing and care for one another.
