IPPN

Published: 05 December 2008

Source : D.E.S

'This event highlights the vital role of all players in the development of family literacy'- Seán Haughey, T.D.

The Minister for Lifelong Learning, Seán Haughey, T.D.,today opened a seminar on family literacy which took place at the Clock Tower Conference Centre, Department of Education and Science Headquarters, Marlborough Street, Dublin.

This important seminar is a timely opportunity for participants to learn from one another, to share experiences and to create new ideas and thinking which will feed into their future family literacy work.

Speaking to participants at the seminar, Minister Haughey said "the needs of the learner and a culture of high expectations must always be at the centre of all our actions. These actions must include a concentration on literacy and numeracy from an early age, strong links between the home, the school and the community.

Today's seminar will provide a rich mix of analysis, discussion and examples of good practice."

Speaking about support for this initiative, Minister Haughey said "the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools - DEIS - an Action Plan for Educational Inclusion - was launched in 2005 and one of its aims is to develop family literacy initiatives. My Department established a Working Group to develop a family literacy project. In 2007, funding of €140,000 was provided for seven projects. I am very pleased that funding has been increased to €200,000 and a further 12 projects across the country have been approved for funding."

Minister Haughey also added "it is especially important that parents are assisted to engage in their children's education. We must remove any potential barriers in order that parents can help their children with homework and actively engage with them.

I believe that there are enormous advantages to be gained through increased joining up of the professional skills available through the schools and other local agencies. I thank all involved for their hard work and commitment in this regard. The learners with whom you have come into contact have benefited enormously from your dedication and enthusiasm."

The Minister concluded by saying "some of you here today are becoming involved in family literacy for the first time and I have no doubt that these new projects will prove to be of great assistance to the people in your localities for many years to come."

END

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Published: 04 December 2008

Schools are advised to be extremely careful and ensure all IT equipment they buy comes with the necessary, appropriate, legal software.

Prim-Ed Publishing's Managing Director, Seamus McGuinness, is urging schools in Ireland to adhere to Activprimary licensing agreements, following reports that the software solution is being used on non-Promethean interactive whiteboards.

"Promethean's Activ software, which comprises Activprimary and Activstudio, is sold independently within the United Kingdom only. In Ireland, the software is exclusively licensed for use with a Promethean Activboard.

"However, some resellers are advising schools to purchase non-Promethean boards and use these with Activprimary. This practice is in breach of the terms and conditions of purchase and could lead to the initiation of legal proceedings against all involved parties," Mr McGuinness warned.

Paul Dean, Director of Partner Management at Promethean, urged schools to be on their guard. Schools are being misled by a handful of people selling cheaper non Promethean boards and urging them to download Activprimary or Activstudio software, claiming it will give teachers the same functionality as a complete Promethean solution.

"This is not the case and to protect themselves - and make the most of Activprimary features - the software should only be used with Promethean hardware. Schools need to be cautious of this sales tactic and anyone that has been approached by a reseller offering a non-Promethean Activboard for use with Activprimary or Activstudio software, is urged to report the incident and reseller details directly to Promethean, to Marie Hamer Account Manager for Ireland 0044 1254 290598 " Mr Dean said.

Activprimary is an award-winning interactive software solution, developed specifically for pupils aged up to 11 years. Designed by teachers, for teachers, it makes thousands of collaborative tools and curriculum resources readily available at the 'chalk face', helping to keep pupils engaged and motivated for longer periods.

The full suite of Promethean collaborative learning solutions, including the Activboard with Activprimary or Activstudio software, is available to purchase in the Republic of Ireland through Prim-Ed - Promethean's exclusive distributor. For further details visit www.prim-ed.com.

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Published: 04 December 2008

Source : Irish Independent

By e GRADE
Wednesday December 03 2008

Golden rule number two for teachers is 'never take up residence where you teach'.

Rule number one is 'never think about any of your pupils or colleagues at the weekend' and this is facilitated by number two.

Years ago I was unfortunate enough to have to rent a flat nearby and would regularly have a run-in with one of the kids or a colleague, resulting in my spending the entire weekend brooding over what they had said and what I should have said back to them.

One such time on a Friday afternoon I was flabbergasted as the principal stormed into my classroom, shouting at me at the top of his voice about how he was finding it impossible to work with the sound of kids talking at the top of their voices next door to him.

Could I not stop them from talking or take them somewhere else? he snapped.

He then gave me a withering look that clearly held the meaning that he would pay me back for this some time and slammed the door behind him.

How I tossed and turned at night that whole weekend and sure enough the following Monday there was a note in my pigeon hole, not actually put there by number one, of course, but by the deputy principal, that overworked but still overpaid lackey, summoning me to number one's office for a dressing down.

The principal wouldn't even admit to knowing that we have pigeon holes; why keep a dog and bark yourself?

The dressing down consisted of a rapid fire question and answer session: Who were those kids?

They were fifth years.

What were you doing with them?

I was teaching them my subject.

Do you have to do it next to my office?

Well, with respect that's where I was timetabled for.

He stared at me with a look that seemed to ask me why I'm hanging around with people half my age.

I promised to keep them quiet in the future (i.e. show them a DVD every Friday afternoon or move to a different room), having received the message loud and clear that no one should disturb the principal for anything less than a TD or a major Hollywood celebrity.

It's only a rare moment when a teacher sees one of their pupils outside of school hours and the blood doesn't chill.

They've shouted at me from across a busy main street, they've walked past me in packs pretending not to see me and just when I think I'm safely away they burst out laughing as soon as my back is turned.

I've seen them with their families at my own kids' communions, pointing at me in the church, whispering and sniggering.

The only place I'm safe is when they serve me in shops where they're usually under the watchful eye of the owner, so they just treat me like everyone else in retail does: surly and resentful.

- e GRADE

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Published: 04 December 2008

Source : Irish Independent

WESTLIFE singer Shane Filan is to bankroll a substantial extension to a neighbouring primary school as "a good will gesture" to help secure planning permission for a multimillion-euro project

In return, the school's board of management will not object to the project by Shane Filan and his brother Finbarr, close to the school, which is currently before the planning authority.

If the development next door to Filan's plush home goes ahead, Scoil Naomh Eanna in Carrowroe, Co Sligo, stands to gain a much needed €400,000 extension. This will include three classrooms, a resource room, toilet facilities and a new play area.

The original plans by Shafin Ltd for a €30m 'neighbourhood centre' development -- which had included two six-storey high tower blocks -- were withdrawn by the brothers after they met with strong local opposition, including the board of management of the 286-pupil school.

Yesterday, school principal Deasun Lyons confirmed that extensive negotiation had taken place between the development company and the school's board since the first application was withdrawn.

"We had concerns about the original size which was a seven-storey apartment block in an L-shape around the school, looking down on the schoolyard. These plans have now been revised and the size has been brought down to three storeys. Most of the windows have also been redirected and there will be an eight-feet boundary wall which will screen the school from the development," he explained.

He added that their fears about an underground car park undermining the foundations of the school had also been allayed. "This time around, we have been widely consulted. They have been in constant contact with the management," he said.

The principal said that the developers had offered to fund the extension as a "good will gesture" to compensate for the disruption and the noise pollution which would be caused during the three-year construction work.

"We are blessed with good neighbours. As a next door neighbour and probably because his own children will be coming to the school in the future, Shane has offered to do this and we are delighted. "This extension is much needed and it will secure the future of the school for 10 to 15 years.

"We are just keeping our fingers crossed that planning permission will be passed and the project will go ahead. If it does, we stand to gain so much," he said.

The proposed new €20m development on a seven-acre site will comprise of 11 shops, 68 apartments, substantial office space and a creche close to the Carrowroe roundabout on the southern outskirts of the town. It will also include a medi-centre and 270 car parking spaces.

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