The Price of Education [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 07 September 2011
Last week, my eldest child started Senior Infants. One of the discussions taking place among parents at the school gate was whether we had enrolled our children for secondary schools. Some had, I hadn’t and a mild panic set in when I was advised to get onto it straight away, otherwise my, now six-year-old, might not get a place in our preferred school when the time comes.
Trouble is, we don’t really know which is our preferred school. As parents who were both educated in non-fee paying schools outside the county we now live in, we have no knowledge or connections to any of the schools in the area.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Make grammar fun and kids will get it says new research [Independent.ie]
- Published: 07 September 2011
Children who are taught grammar in a fun way are more likely to see their writing skills improve, research found today.
Pupils who were shown how to experiment with language saw their marks improve almost twice as much as their classmates over a year.
Researchers at Exeter University conducted an experiment involving around 700 pupils in mixed ability classes at 31 secondary schools in the South West and the West Midlands.
Half the pupils were put into a class following lessons set by the researchers.
The other half followed regular lessons drawn up by the teacher.
Both groups took a test before and after the experiment, and studied the same three topics: the opening of a story, a written speech and three types of poem.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
CBS easing school costs for cash-strapped parents [argus.ie]
- Published: 07 September 2011
THE HIGH cost of kids returning to school is being tackled by one Dundalk primary offering cash strapped parents a flat fee to cover costs.
As the costs for uniforms, books, stationery and travel can run into hundreds of euro for parents, many schools has been looking at ways to provide savings.
At the CBS primary, principal Michael Lambert explained that they have been operating a 'flat fee' scheme which cuts some costs for parents.
' We have a €80 fee which covers all textbooks, writing books and other stationery including photocopies, and insurance,' said Mr. Lambert.
' This system has been in place for a few years new and it seems to be working well, as there has been positive feedback from parents.'
Full Story: www.argus.ie
Scoil Mhuire, Coolcots [wexfordpeople.ie]
- Published: 07 September 2011
THE SILENCE must have been deafening for Wexford mum Lisa Sheppard when she reluctantly left the gates of Scoil Mhuire on Wednesday and returned to her nearby Carricklawn home. For that morning she had left her three
children in junior infants for the very first time. Five year old twins, Jason and
Shawn and their little sister Alisha (4) were good company for each other when they started school together on Wednesday. The siblings may be in two different classes but there were no tears as mum Lisa left her young
family to embark on their new adventure. In Ms. O'Farrell's class little Mollie
Full Story: www.wexfordpeople.ie
St Aidan's Primary School, Enniscorthy [wexfordpeople.ie]
- Published: 07 September 2011
THE biggest group of young children starting school in Co. Wexford last week were the five new classes at St Aidan's NS in Enniscorthy.
St Aidan's is not only the biggest school in the Model County, it's now also one of the biggest in the country, with around 850 pupils.
However, if that conjures up images of chaotic classrooms and corridors you'd be pleasantly surprised to find that they're managing just fine – they are well used to a big intake of pupils now.
'Last year we only had four classes, around 80 children. That was a quiet year though; every other year we have 100 children and five classes,' said vice-principal Andy Doyle.
Full Story: www.wexfordpeople.ie
