St. Mary’s Secondary School in Charleville welcomed over one hundred 5th and 6th class pupils from local primary schools recently as it hosted its first-ever Google Day, a special event designed to introduce younger students to digital learning in an engaging and enjoyable way.
The initiative marked an important milestone for the school, which holds the distinction of being one of a small number of Google Reference Schools in Ireland. This status recognises schools that demonstrate excellence in the use of Google for Education technologies to support innovative teaching and learning. As a Google Reference School, St. Mary’s not only integrates digital tools such as Chromebooks and Google Workspace into everyday classroom practice, but also actively shares its expertise with other schools and the wider educational community.
During the visit, primary pupils took part in a carefully planned programme aimed at developing digital confidence and creativity. A highlight of the day was an interactive session introducing students to Google Vids, Google’s new video creation platform. Under the guidance of St. Mary’s staff and students, pupils learned key elements of video production, including planning content, adding visuals, recording voiceovers and using transitions. Pupils also had the chance to design their own website using Google Sites, creating a website on their ideal holiday destination.
Ms Marion Tuohy, Digital Strategy Coordinator at St. Mary’s, praised the enthusiasm shown by the visiting pupils.
“It was wonderful to see how quickly the students engaged with the technology,” she said. “For many, this was their first experience using Chromebooks. The aim was to keep the learning practical and enjoyable, and the response from the pupils was extremely positive.”
Principal Ms Maighread Finn highlighted the wider purpose of the initiative.
“Google Day was about building connections with our feeder primary schools and offering pupils a meaningful learning experience,” he said. “It also reflects St. Mary’s commitment to innovative teaching and to preparing students for a digital future. Developing these skills early is hugely beneficial as students transition to secondary education.”
Following the success of the inaugural event, St. Mary’s hopes to host similar initiatives in the future. The day proved both educational and enjoyable, reinforcing the school’s reputation as a leader in digital learning within the Charleville area and demonstrating its ongoing commitment to excellence in education.