E-Scéal 78: BoMs to have Ultimate Decision re School Opening / Closing
- Published: 23 March 2005
The issue of whether schools should remain open or closed on Catholic Church Holy Days has been clarified in a letter issued by Bishop Leo O'Reilly, Chairman of the Irish Bishops' Commission for Education received yesterday. IPPN met with the Bishops' Commission for Education in September 2004 at which this issue amongst others was discussed. Please bring this letter to the attention of the BoM, staff and Parents' Association of your school. The full text of this letter follows below.
Is mise le meas,
Seán Cottrell, Director
Irish Primary Principals' Network.
The Irish Episcopal Conference
16th March 2005
Mr Sean Cottrell
Director
Irish Primary Principals' Network
Glounthaune
Cork
Dear Sean
Re: Holy Days of Obligation
The Episcopal Conference at its recent meeting sought to clarify the relationship between the ethos of Catholic Schools in Ireland today and the observance of Holy Days of Obligation.
Holy Days of Obligation, which are days of special worship and celebration, are a valuable expression of the Ethos of a Catholic School.
It is therefore desirable that all Catholic Schools observe, as far as possible, the Holy Days of Obligation as they are entitled to do in accordance with the agreement reached with the education partners in March 2004.
Having consulted with the management Bodies of Catholic Primary and Post Primary schools, and the Religious Trustees, and in view of the variety of conditions which may affect schools in different areas and circumstances, the Bishops' Conference has decided that the ultimate decision about whether or not a school will remain closed on church Holy Days be made at Board of Management level in consultation with the Trustees/Patron of the School.This decision should also be made in consultation with other Boards of Management in the area.
Should a Catholic school decide to open for the instruction of pupils on Church Holy Days we encourage the school community to attend Mass within the school day where feasible. The opportunity should be availed of to provide good Catechesis for preparation and celebration of the feast. The National Catechetical Office will ensure the preparation of age appropriate materials for parish and school communities.
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
_____________
Leo O'Reilly
Bishop of Kilmore
Chairman, Irish Bishops Commission for Education.
E-Scéal 77: IPPN Invited to make Submission on Reducing Principals' Workload
- Published: 22 March 2005
IPPN's views on reducing Principals' administrative workload are being sought by the DES. Minister Hanafin expressed her concern at the impact of recent legislation on schools when she addressed 750 principals at IPPN's Annual Conference last month. As you are aware, a comprehensive Survey of Principals Workload Issues was conducted by IPPN nationwide in October 04. The findings and recommendations of this survey are now being sent to the DES in response to a letter received from the Central Policy Unit today. I want to thank especially the 850 Principals who responded to our detailed survey. This research enables IPPN to provide a instant professional response to this initiative on addressing Principals' Workload.
The letter from the DES as well as an Executive Summary of IPPN's Workload Survey, can be viewed on the homepage of www.ippn.ie
Is mise le meas,
Seán Cottrell, Director
Irish Primary Principals' Network.
E-Scéal 76: School Development Planning Service
- Published: 04 March 2005
Ms Eileen Flynn, National Co-ordinator of the School Development Planning Service (SDPS), has requested that I bring to your attention an important survey which SDPS is conducting. Please note the information provided below.
Is mise le meas,
Seán Cottrell, Director
Irish Primary Principals' Network.
SDPS is currently running an on-line survey at www.sdps.ie The purposes of the survey are to ascertain:
a. Schools' current planning needs
b. Schools' future planning needs
c. Schools' evaluation of services currently being provided by SDPS
d. Schools' ideas as to how current services might be amended/improved
e. Schools' ideas as to new SDPS services that might be introduced
In order that responses will not be limited to those with ICT skills/access, SDPS are also running the survey concurrently in paper form. These will be distributed to a random sample of schools nationally for completion by teachers and return to SDPS Head Office, School Development Planning Support Primary, Drumcondra Education Centre, Drumcondra, Dublin 9
Please encourage all teaching staff to log on to www.sdps.ie to participate in this survey or alternatively to complete and return the paper survey once it is received at school.
E-Scéal 75: Summer Works Scheme
- Published: 24 February 2005
IPPN has contacted the DES to clarify the situation with regard to the Summer Works Scheme for 2005. The following information has been communicated by the DES to IPPN.
Is mise le meas,
Seán Cottrell, Director
Irish Primary Principals' Network.
E-Sceal 74: Teachers' Survey on Principalship
- Published: 23 February 2005
We kindly request all Principals and Deputy Principals to circulate the following notice to all teachers in your school. Please photocopy for teachers' in-trays or place on the teachers' notice board as soon as possible.
The deadline for survey completion is Friday 4th March 2005.
Teachers' Survey - Attitude and Aspiration toward the Role of Principalship
The Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN) and National Association of Principals & Deputies (NAPD) are conducting a nationwide survey of 1st & 2nd level teachers as part of a research project entitled The Challenge of Recruiting & Retaining School Leaders. We welcome your opinion and attitude towards the role of school principal.
The information gathered in this survey will provide an evidence base for a symposium to be held in Cork on March 9th 2005. At this event Prof. John Coolahan, NUI Maynooth, Dr. Seamus Mc Guinness, TCD and Prof. Geraldine McCarthy, UCC, will present papers based on existing literature relevant to the theme as well as current thinking on school leadership.
How can you help?
By logging on to www.educationopinion.ie and completing the short questionnaire. This will take no more than 2 minutes. The deadline for survey completion is Friday 4th March 2005.
Thank you for your help with this valuable research.
