The great uniform debate [Independent.ie]
- Published: 09 August 2011
LIKE the pupils at her school, Carol Lanigan, principal of the Bray School Project, an Educate Together school in Bray, Co Wicklow, never wore a uniform as a child.
"I haven't worked in a school with a uniform in over 25 years," she says. "I don't have particularly strong views either way but I suppose my preference is for no uniform. I like seeing all the kids expressing themselves through what they wear."
At the Bray School Project children follow a dress code.
Clothes should be comfortable, manageable for the children and appropriate. There is a school tracksuit but that's optional.
"The policy was here when I arrived and everyone seems to be comfortable with it," says Lanigan.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
‘Back to school is almost as stressful as Christmas’ [Independent.ie]
- Published: 09 August 2011
For Marie Bray, mother of three schoolgoing children, the back-to-school period is as stressful, if not more so, than Christmas.
"At least at Christmas you can trim costs, but you can't with schoolbooks," she said.
"They aren't luxuries and finding that extra cash is really tricky these days."
At the moment, three of her four children are in primary school. The most expensive book bill this year has been for Luke, who has just turned 12 and is starting sixth class.
Between books, work-sheets and arts and crafts material, the cost is €140.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
The brave new world of e-learning has changed the game [Independent.ie]
- Published: 09 August 2011
WHEN new students at St Colman's College in Claremorris, Co Mayo arrive for the their first day of secondary school in September, most of them won't be bringing text books into class.
Instead the vast majority of first-years at the school will have iPads, Apple's new tablet computer, loaded with electronic school books (e-books).
Their parents have been able to buy the iPads for €657 under a scheme being offered by the school. The e-books which will be used right through the Junior Certificate cycle cost an additional €200.
"It's received tremendous support," says Jimmy Finn, principal of St Colman's.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Case study: Leftovers are great [Independent.ie]
- Published: 09 August 2011
BEING the child of a restaurateur couple certainly has its advantages when it comes to interesting packed lunches for school, as Dublin resident Adrianna Fiorentino has found.
Growing up in New Jersey, USA, where her parents run a French-Italian restaurant, Adrianna (inset) and her three siblings all got packed lunches that were far more mouth-watering than the norm, judging from her mother, Vivian.
"I often sent leftover dinner ingredients, between bagels, English muffins, or sliced bread, often toasted to prevent sogginess," said Vivian.
"Some of what was sent included chicken Marsala, chicken picante, lemon chicken, leftover meatballs, meatloaf, steak, leftover barbequed meat, and pretty much anything that could be called a sandwich.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
How to save money with food [Independent.ie]
- Published: 09 August 2011
PARENTS, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to make nutritious yet interesting packed school lunches for your kids that they will eat with relish.
The advantage of packed lunches for parents is that it can reduce the amount of lunch money you have to give each of your children by up to €30 a week.
But it's harder than you think, given how picky many children are about food.
It may be 9pm on a Sunday evening and you are still trying to get through the papers before you realise there's little in the way of suitable ingredients for next week's school lunches, never mind bread.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
