Irish Comenius School recognised for creativity and innovation, Brussels [leargas.ie]
- Published: 29 June 2009
| Irish Comenius School recognised for creativity and innovation, Brussels, March 2009 2009 has been designated the European Year of Creativity and Innovation (EYCI). In March of this year, an EYCI conference in Brussels highlighted some exemplary projects related to creativity and innovation in a variety of fields: education, entrepreneurship, culture, administration, science or others. The conference and exhibition: Creativity & Innovation - Best Practice from EU Programmes was organised by Directorate-General for Education and Culture and provided an opportunity to explore and identify examples of best practice among projects that have received funding through several European Union programmes and funds. An exhibition of 20 examples of best practice supported by the EU programmes was organised in parallel, as a source of inspiration for other projects to be developed during the Year and beyond. In total 35 projects were chosen, by a panel of ten independent experts out of more than 100 proposals. A Comenius School Partnership project carried out by Mater Dei Primary School, Basin Lane, Dublin 8 was showcased at this conference. You can find out more about their project, entitled LEADERS, in the conference booklet, which you can open here (PDF, 4.0MB): Creativity and Innovation: Best Practices from EU programmes. To find out more about the European Year of Creativity and Innovation, please consult the official website: |
|
| Web link | create2009.europa.eu/ |
First Meeting of Board and New CEO at the Equality Authority Offices in Roscrea [equality.ie]
- Published: 29 June 2009
First Meeting of Board and New CEO at the Equality Authority Offices in Roscrea - 16th June 2009
Dr. Angela Kerins, Chairperson, and members of the Board of the Equality Authority, held their first Board meeting at Birchgrove House, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary on Tuesday 16th June, 2009 . This was followed by a reception for clients and stakeholders of the Equality Authority at 2.30 p.m.
The reception marked the inaugural meeting of the Board at the new offices of the Equality Authority at Birchgrove House. It provided an opportunity to meet Members of the Board and the newly appointed CEO of the Equality Authority, Renee Dempsey.
- Read the press release here
- Address by Dr. Angela Kerins, Chairperson, The Equality Authority
- Address by Renee Dempsey, CEO, The Equality Authority
New school to open in Rochestown as Minister O'Keeffe marks handover [education.ie]
- Published: 26 June 2009
Speaking at the school, Minister O'Keeffe said: 'I'm delighted to officially hand over the new school to the board of management.
'The move will come as a huge relief to the school's 35 pupils and two teachers who've been working out of temporary classrooms on the grounds of Douglas Hall AFC.
'The school's projected enrolment for September is 94 and it has been granted two extra teachers because Rochestown is a developing area here in Cork.
'I'm delighted that the extra pupils and teachers will have a permanent school in Rochestown in the new term.
'I want to acknowledge the support of my two Dáil colleagues in this constituency,TDs Minister Micheál Martin and Michael McGrath, whose support for this project has been unflinching,' said Minister O'Keeffe.
The project includes eight mainstream classrooms, three special education rooms, staff room, office, car park and play areas.
'It's a fine example of the Government's ongoing school-building programme which has been ramped up over the past decade to meet the accommodation needs of students and teachers.
'Despite the severe economic downturn, the Government has earmarked €614 million this year for school building projects.
'The target for this year for primary and post-primary schools is 9,475 permanent places in new schools, 3,900 permanent school places in existing schools and refurbishments to benefit over 2,400 pupils.
'We expect that our capital programme for schools and colleges will create some 5,000 much-needed jobs in the construction sector,' said Minister O'Keeffe.
Buntáiste breise na Gaelscolaíochta - taighde nua [irishtimes.com]
- Published: 26 June 2009
TUARASCÁL: TUGANN GAELSCOLAÃOCHT buntáiste breise oideachais do dhalta agus tá cruthúnas na téise sin le fáil i dtaighde nua a rinne an Dochtúir Réamaí Mathers, feidhmeannach le hIontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta i mBéal Feirste, a scríobhann PÓL Ó MUIRÃ, Eagarthóir Gaeilge
Dúirt Mathers gur léirigh staitisticí ó Roinn an Oideachais, Tuaisceart Éireann, go raibh leibhéal cumais Béarla agus Mata na bpáistí i scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge ní b'fhearr ná scoileanna Béarla an Tuaiscirt.
Dúirt sé gur scrúdaigh sé torthaí Roinn an Oideachais le trí bliana anuas do pháistí bunscoile eochairchéim a dó (páistí idir ocht mbliana agus bliain déag d'aois) agus go raibh na Gaelscoileanna chun cinn ó thaobh an Bhéarla agus Mhata de le linn na tréimhse sin.
Thug an taighde sa Tuaisceart le fios go raibh ag éirí le páistí sa chóras Gaelscolaíochta bíodh is gur as cúlra íseal eacnamaíochta mórán acu. "Eolas tábhachtach," a bhí ann, a dúirt sé, nó bhí cuid de lucht cánta na Gaelscolaíochta sa Deisceart den tuairim gur éirigh chomh maith sin leis na scoileanna siocair gur bhain na daltaí leis an mheánaicme.
Lena chois sin, léirigh an taighde ní amháin go raibh Gaeilge ag na páistí ach go raibh siad ábalta Béarla agus Mata a thabhairt leo fosta.
Mheas sé nár cheist a thuilleadh í an raibh maith sa Ghaelscolaíocht ach an raibh páistí nach raibh ag fáil oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge faoi mhíbhuntáiste.
Dúirt sé, ámh, go raibh sé "tábhachtach na comparáidí cearta a dhéanamh agus chuige sin chuir muid na Gaelscoileanna uilig, a raibh céatadán ard de pháistí i dteideal béilí saoire, comhartha ar chúlra sóisialta na bpáistí, i gcomparáid le scoileanna sa chatagóir céanna.
"Nuair a rinne muid sin bhí na Gaelscoileanna chun cinn níos mó fós. Bhí sé suntasach tabhairt faoi deara go raibh na scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge chun cinn sna torthaí seo sa dá leibhéal is mó, is é sin leibhéal a ceithre agus a cúig."
Bhí sé den bharúil gur thaispeáin an dá mharc sin dhá rud shonracha: bhí níos mó páistí sa chóras Gaelscolaíochta ag baint leibhéal sásúil amach agus bhí níos mó acu ag baint na dtorthaí is airde amach.
Bhí Gaelscoileanna ag feidhmiú "go fíormhaith agus ar an leibhéal céanna is a bheimis ag dúil leis nuair a chuirtear sinne i gcomparáid le torthaí thaighde idirnáisiúnta".
Léirigh an chomparáid idir torthaí an dá ábhar sa dá chóras oideachais go raibh lucht na Gaeilge ag déanamh níos fearr ná daltaí na scoileanna eile, rud a thaispeáin go raibh "sáréifeacht" leis an luath-thumoideachas: "Tá an éifeacht seo le feiceáil chan amháin maidir le teangacha dúchasacha a chaomhnú agus a fhorbairt ach maidir le buntáistí móra oideachasúla agus pearsanta a sholáthar. Go dtí seo tá obair mhór déanta ag pobail ar fud na tíre seo an Ghaelscolaíocht a chur chun cinn agus is minic nach mbíonn tacaíocht cheart tugtha do na grúpaí seo."
'Dóchasach'
BEIDH CRUINNIÚ eile ag Foras na Gaeilge agus lucht Foinse inniu, féacháil teacht ar réiteach faoi chúrsaí maoinithe an nuachtáin sheachtainiúil.
Dúirt urlabhraí thar ceann an Fhorais go raibh siad "dóchasach" gurbh fhéidir leo teacht ar réiteach.
Bhí sé riachtanach go mbeadh "nuachtán uile-oileánda, seachtainiúil ann agus rinneadh an polasaí sin a athdheimhniú ag an gcruinniú".
Thuig siad go raibh deacrachtaí ag foilsitheoirí an nuachtáin, Móinéar Teo.
Dúirt príomhfheidhmeannach Mhóinéar Teo, Seán Clancy, go raibh siad féin "dóchasach" go bhféadfadh siad teacht ar réiteach sa mhéid is gur aithin an Foras go raibh gá le páipéar Gaeilge.
Tá sé beartaithe ag Móinéar Teo éirí as foilsiú an pháipéir i ndiaidh an deireadh seachtaine seo mura dtagann siad féin agus an Foras ar réiteach faoi chúrsaí airgid.
Áis úr
IS IONTACH na háiseanna teicneolaíochta atá ann anois do scoláirí Gaeilge, a scríobhann Máiréad Ní Chinnéide.
Tráthnóna inniu ag 4pm in Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann, Baile Átha Cliath, seolfaidh Aire na Gaeltachta, Éamon Ó Cuív, ceann nua, bunachair bhibleagrafaíochta Fhoclóir na Nua-Ghaeilge.
Beidh na bunachair le feiceáil ar líne, ag www.fng.ie. Tionscnamh fadtréimhseach de chuid an Acadaimh é Foclóir na Nua-Ghaeilge.
Is é is cuspóir dó foclóir stairiúil a chruthú don Nua-Ghaeilge don tréimhse 1600-2000.
Tiomsaíodh an dá bhunachar a sheolfar de theidil a cuireadh san áireamh ar an CD-Rom "Corpas na Gaeilge 1600-1882" (a foilsíodh sa bhliain 2004), agus teidil a d'fhéadfadh bheith oiriúnach chun corpas don 20ú haois a chruthú.
Is mór an áis "Corpas na Gaeilge 1600-1882" do scoláirí staire chomh maith le scoláirí Gaeilge mar ní amháin gur féidir a fháil amach uaidh cén uair a tháinig focail áirithe isteach sa teanga ach is féidir a fheiceáil chomh maith, ón chomhthéacs ina raibh na focail, an t-athrú a tháinig ar an chiall le himeacht ama.
Tá obair ar siúl faoi stiúir an Dr Úna Uí Bheirn chun an rud céanna a dhéanamh don 20ú haois. Tá idir fhicsean agus neamhfhicsean san áireamh le mórúdair agus mionúdair agus saothar as canúintí éagsúla agus as irisí agus nuachtáin.
Táthar ag súil go gcuirfidh baill an phobail leis an liosta don tréimhse 1882-2000 má fheictear dóibh foilseacháin bheith in easnamh a bheadh chun leasa an tionscnaimh.
Colm Cille
TÁ GLÓR na nGael ag reáchtáil comórtas náisiúnta, Duais Cholm Cille, leis an nasc idir lucht na Gaeilge in Éirinn agus lucht na Gà idhlig in Albain a fhorbairt. Tabharfaidh an t-eagras teanga gradam don ghrúpa deonach is fearr a láidríonn an caidreamh idir an dá phobal teanga. Tá Gael Linn ag iarrraidh go gcothóidh an caidreamh trasna Shruth na Maoile cumarsáid idir cainteoirí an dá theanga a bheadh le leas an dá thír.
- Eolas: 046-9430974 nó fiosru@glornangael.ie
Blas na hEorpa
TÁ TIMIRÃ Chonradh na Gaeilge le cuairt a thabhairt ar choláistí samhraidh le daoine óga a chur ar an eolas faoina gcearta teanga in Éirinn agus san Eoraip mar chuid dá bhfeachtas feasachta, Glac Leis.
Cuirfidh cinnirí an Chonartha ceardlanna ar siúl le labhairt leis na scoláirí faoi stádas oifigiúil oibre na Gaeilge san Aontas Eorpach agus faoi na seirbhísí teanga atá ar fáil faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla.
áis aid - buntáiste advantage - canúint dialect - cúlra background - deonach voluntary - dóchasach hopeful - éifeacht effect - míbhuntáiste disadvantage - nasc link - réiteach solution - suntasach noticeable - tábhachtach important - taighde research - todhchaí future - torthaí results
Pupils enjoy the fruits of their labour [irishexaminer.com]
- Published: 26 June 2009
PRIMARY school children who planted seeds in their classrooms last February yesterday enjoyed the fruits of their labour.
The pupils grew a selection of potatoes, lettuce, cabbages, scallions and strawberries, and by doing so, learned a valuable lesson about the source of the food.
The green shoots of Ireland's farming future gathered at University College Dublin for the final of Agri Aware's Incredible Edibles growing challenge.
The 10 finalists relayed the highlights of their farming quest with poetry, drama and a host of other activities, including a mini-election.
Almost 1,300 growing diaries and scrapbooks documented the nutritional and horticultural knowledge gained by the children.
More than 100,000 pupils in 2,200 schools took part in the adventure which started with the sowing back in February and continued to the harvesting this month.
But only 10 schools were shortlisted for the final which had prizes of more than €10,000 in educational funds.
Horticulture and Food Minister Trevor Sargent, who announced the winners, said two in three of all primary schools in the country now have a greater appreciation of growing food.
"Just like real farming there were difficulties along the way ; some plants produced more than others, some died for no obvious reason.
"But this wasn't going to hold the children back. Having read their scrapbooks I know many of their teachers decided to replace those dead plants with new plants so their adventure could continue," Mr Sargent said.
Agri Aware chairman Mairead Lavery said the future is very promising for farming and food.
The pupils had illustrated the hard work and pride the sector takes in providing quality Irish fruit and vegetables to consumers nationwide, she said.
Incredible Edibles committee chairman, Mike Neary, said the pupils have gained knowledge about the growing of produce, the role the grower plays in its production and most importantly the part it plays in a healthy, balanced diet.
Winners and Runners-up
- Munster: St Mary's Convent, Nenagh, Co Tipperary; (Glanworth NS, Co Cork).
- Connacht/Ulster: Niall Mór NS, Killybegs, Co Donegal; (St Brighde Naofa, Kinvara, Co Galway).
- Dublin: Pope John Paul II NS, Sea Road, Malahide; (Stanhope Primary School, Manor Street).
- Rest of Leinster: Sacred Heart, Portlaoise, Co Laois; (Rathfeigh NS, Tara, Co Meath).
- Special Needs: St Christopher's Special School, Battery Road, Co Longford; (Scoil An Chlochair, Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath).
