Details of this year's Committee can be seen on the page opposite.
Colm Agnew has stepped down after several years as a Committee member.
The Committee would like to acknowledge the fantastic work and commitment given by Colm during his years as a member of the Parents' Association Committee. He served for several years as treasurer and gave an immense amount of his own time to help administer the smooth running of the Comittee and to keep its finances in good order. The Committee wish to thank Colm for his input and to wish him well in the future.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Educating Irish People to Live & Work Successfully
In today's Irish Times Innovation Magazine - an article by Ed Walsh.
Click on the link below to view the article...
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/innovation/2011/1125/1224307877743.html
Monday, October 17, 2011
Debs 2011
_________
Congratulations to the Class of 2011 who celebrated their Debutantes' Ball on Tuesday 11th October. The Parents' Association, as in previous years, hosted a reception at the school for the debutantes, their partners and families providing non-alcoholic drinks and nibbles. The evening was a great success enjoyed by all and it was wonderful to see all the beautiful girls and handsome boys looking so happy and united. They are indeed a fabulous group of young people, a credit to the school and were were all so proud of them.
The hall was packed and buzzing with atmosphere. It was a very successful evening as you can see from the sample photographs .... everyone looked amazing. A big "Thank You" to Ms. Coulihan who was on hand to take the official debs photographs, Ms Loughman who provided us with her beautiful candelabras and painted vases, the 5th year students who gave of their time voluntarily and all who helped set up the hall in preparation for the special occasion. A special thanks to Alan O'Connell and his school debs committee who organised the hotel venue, tickets and buses in such a smooth efficient manner.
The debutantes themselves enjoyed meeting up with their teachers again and it was an evening to be remembered and treasured always. We wish them every success in the future.
_________
Congratulations to the Class of 2011 who celebrated their Debutantes' Ball on Tuesday 11th October. The Parents' Association, as in previous years, hosted a reception at the school for the debutantes, their partners and families providing non-alcoholic drinks and nibbles. The evening was a great success enjoyed by all and it was wonderful to see all the beautiful girls and handsome boys looking so happy and united. They are indeed a fabulous group of young people, a credit to the school and were were all so proud of them.
The hall was packed and buzzing with atmosphere. It was a very successful evening as you can see from the sample photographs .... everyone looked amazing. A big "Thank You" to Ms. Coulihan who was on hand to take the official debs photographs, Ms Loughman who provided us with her beautiful candelabras and painted vases, the 5th year students who gave of their time voluntarily and all who helped set up the hall in preparation for the special occasion. A special thanks to Alan O'Connell and his school debs committee who organised the hotel venue, tickets and buses in such a smooth efficient manner.
The debutantes themselves enjoyed meeting up with their teachers again and it was an evening to be remembered and treasured always. We wish them every success in the future.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Class Directory
Please see below a message regarding an initiative from the Parents' Association to assist parents in building up a list of parental contacts, particularly for those whose children are joining the school for the first time and who may not know any of their child's new friends.
So far we have received 59 responses for 1st year, 45 for 2nd, 43 for 3rd, 25 for TY, 34 for 5th and
13 for 6th.
If parents find it easier, the information sought can be emailed to the PA and we will populate the relevant directory.
We would stress that this information will be used solely for the purpose of creating a class directory for each year and is being compiled for the benefit of parents.
Class Directory
When children move from primary to secondary education many new friends
are made. At the same time boundaries are pushed back and our children do new
things and go to different places with their new friends with more freedom than
they may have had before. Many of us will not have any contact details of the
parents of these new friends as the link with the school will have changed from
those earlier years.
The Parents Association believe that a listing of all children in each
year showing name, address and phone numbers for their parents would be a
useful tool when making contact with other parents while trying to arrange
lifts to discos, pictures, matches or confirm sleepovers, parties etc.
Some other schools have operated similar directories and parents have
found them to be very useful.
The Parents Association will collect and use this data for the sole
purpose of creating a class directory for each year in the school. This
directory will be distributed to every family with a child in that year. By completing
and returning the form overleaf you are consenting to have your details
included in the directory.
Please see the sample below and note that where no contact details are
received the fields remain blank apart from the student name.
Please complete and return the form overleaf in the envelope enclosed if
you would like to have your contact details included in this directory.
Yours sincerely,
Parents Association
I would like the following information to be included in the directory.
Student #1 _______________________ __________
Name Year
Student #2 _______________________ __________
Name Year
Student #3 _______________________ __________
Name Year
Student #4 _______________________ __________
Name Year
Parent/Guardian Name #1 ________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name #2 ________________________________________
Parent/Guardian #1 Mobile No ________________________________________
Parent/Guardian #2 Mobile No ________________________________________
Address* ________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Home Phone No ________________________________________
* If the student’s normal residence is divided between multiple addresses you can include more than one.
Signed _______________________
Date _______________________
Monday, August 01, 2011
Viewing Marked Exam Scripts - 2nd & 3rd September
Candidates may apply to view their marked exam scripts using the form supplied by the school along with their results. The completed form must be returned to the school by 23rd August, 2011.
The candidate will be given a time during the 2nd/3rd September when the selected scripts may be viewed.
The candidate will be given a time during the 2nd/3rd September when the selected scripts may be viewed.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
NPCpp Helpline - Phone: 1800 265 165
Tha National Parents Council (Post Primary) provides a very good helpline service, offering advice and guidance for candidates and parents. It is staffed by professional guidance councellors and operates for one week following the issue of Leaving Cert results.
The helpline is open again for one week following the issue of CAO offers.
The helpline is open again for one week following the issue of CAO offers.
Friday, July 01, 2011
All Ireland Scholarship
See below some information regarding the JP McManus-sponsored All Ireland Scholarship which might be of interest to those who have sat the Leaving Cert for the first time this year.
Sponsored by JP McManus, the All-Ireland Scholarship scheme was established in 2008 to provide financial assistance for deserving students across the island of Ireland.
A total of €32 million has been pledged by JP McManus in support of third level education initiatives in recognition of the 32 counties of Ireland. It is estimated that over 1,300 students throughout the country will benefit from the scholarship scheme over its duration. The awards in the Republic of Ireland are administered by the Department of Education & Skills on behalf of the Scholarship Trust.
As a Parent’s Association for non-fee paying schools, your students could qualify. The All-Ireland Scholarship is an undergraduate award worth €6,750 per annum and is available to students who:
· Are sitting the Leaving Certificate for the first time this year;
· Qualify for exemption from the Leaving Certificate Exam Fee;
· Plan to go to college in 2011 or 2012.
The scholarship is awarded based on the results of the Leaving Certificate Exam with each county receiving 2 scholarships with the subsequent awards divided amongst those with the remaining best scores regardless of which county. There are 125 scholarships in total awarded every year. 100 scholarships are made available to students in the Republic of Ireland and 25 are available to students in Northern Ireland. We would appreciate if you could share this information with your association and with others who might be of benefit from this scheme. We currently have informational brochures and posters that we can email or post to you.
Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us at info@allirelandscholarships.com or on 01 295 3519. More information is available on our website at www.allirelandscholarships.com. We appreciate your time in reading this email and we hope to hear from you in the near future.
Thank you.
The All-Ireland Scholarship Team
Jennifer Swensson
Suite 2, The Mall
Beacon Court
Bracken Road
Sandyford Industrial Estate
Dublin 18
T:+353 1 295 3519
F:+353 1 295 8679
Sponsored by JP McManus, the All-Ireland Scholarship scheme was established in 2008 to provide financial assistance for deserving students across the island of Ireland.
A total of €32 million has been pledged by JP McManus in support of third level education initiatives in recognition of the 32 counties of Ireland. It is estimated that over 1,300 students throughout the country will benefit from the scholarship scheme over its duration. The awards in the Republic of Ireland are administered by the Department of Education & Skills on behalf of the Scholarship Trust.
As a Parent’s Association for non-fee paying schools, your students could qualify. The All-Ireland Scholarship is an undergraduate award worth €6,750 per annum and is available to students who:
· Are sitting the Leaving Certificate for the first time this year;
· Qualify for exemption from the Leaving Certificate Exam Fee;
· Plan to go to college in 2011 or 2012.
The scholarship is awarded based on the results of the Leaving Certificate Exam with each county receiving 2 scholarships with the subsequent awards divided amongst those with the remaining best scores regardless of which county. There are 125 scholarships in total awarded every year. 100 scholarships are made available to students in the Republic of Ireland and 25 are available to students in Northern Ireland. We would appreciate if you could share this information with your association and with others who might be of benefit from this scheme. We currently have informational brochures and posters that we can email or post to you.
Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us at info@allirelandscholarships.com or on 01 295 3519. More information is available on our website at www.allirelandscholarships.com. We appreciate your time in reading this email and we hope to hear from you in the near future.
Thank you.
The All-Ireland Scholarship Team
Jennifer Swensson
Suite 2, The Mall
Beacon Court
Bracken Road
Sandyford Industrial Estate
Dublin 18
T:+353 1 295 3519
F:+353 1 295 8679
Friday, June 17, 2011
Leaving Cert Results - 17th August, 2011
Leaving Cert results will be delivered to schools on 17th August, 2011.
Candidates may also access their results via the Internet @ www.examinations.ie, or by telephone - RoI Phone: 1530 719 290, outside RoI phone: ++353 1 6885312. Students will need their exam number and PIN to access their results.
Candidates may also access their results via the Internet @ www.examinations.ie, or by telephone - RoI Phone: 1530 719 290, outside RoI phone: ++353 1 6885312. Students will need their exam number and PIN to access their results.
Friday, June 03, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
St. Colmcille's fastest growing school in Dublin
This article is taken from to-day's Irish Times ....it shows St. Colmcille's as the fastest growing school in Dublin!!
Which are the fastest growing schools - and which are down?
Which schools have seen a surge in pupil numbers over the past decade and which are most popular with parents, writes SEAN FLYNN.
SCHOOL ENROLMENT figures provide a fascinating glimpse in parental choice. They help track which schools are seen as ‘successful’ and which ones are struggling to fill numbers. The lists published on this page track a decade of change in Irish education. They compare school enrolment figures for this school year with the position a decade ago.
The main features of the list include: – “Free’’ State-run schools which experienced a drop in enrolment during the Celtic Tiger have managed to reverse this trend in recent years. – Many VEC schools – especially those outside of Dublin are booming. Irish language schools have seen a surge in pupil numbers. – The popularity of fee-paying schools remains very resilient despite fees averaging €5,000 per year; – Schools which perform well in The Irish Times Feeder School Lists have shown a surge in pupil numbers.
Another feature of the data is the surge in pupil numbers in the post-Leaving Certificate colleges; these cater for students in the year or two after they leave secondary school. In Dublin alone, colleges of further education in Dún Laoghaire, Killester, Sallynoggin and Dundrum have seen enrolment increase by at least 50 per cent over the past decade. The fastest growing school on the list is Coláiste Chiaráin, Croom, about 20 minutes from Limerick city. On its hugely impressive website, it describes itself as the “school of the future.” In 2004, the headmaster, Noel Malone was awarded the Dell Technology Award for Excellence in Education, the first recipient outside the US. Remarkably, virtually a huge majority of of the top 30 fastest growing schools in the State are all in the VEC sector. All of these schools challenge those lazy cliches about the VEC.
The fastest growing school in Dublin is St Colmcille’s Community School in Knocklyon, an area of rapid population growth. Like many community schools in Dublin, the school has built a very strong local reputation since it was opened in 2000. The second-fastest growing school in Dublin is St Kevins CBS in Finglas is an interesting case study. The school suffered a severe decline in enrolment for decades but it has managed to dramatically turn this around in recent years.
Other Dublin schools which have reversed a decline in enrolment include Oatlands College, Stillorgan. Pupil numbers are up from 340 to over 500 and there is a long waiting list. This comes after a period during the boom when the school was squeezed by the huge number of “big brand” fee-paying schools in the area. Overall, the picture for Christian Brothers schools in Dublin is a mixed one. While places like St Kevin’s are booming, schools like O’Connells, St Joseph’s in Fairview and St Paul’s in Raheny are continuing to see declining pupil numbers. Many of these schools have been hugely successful in integrating newcomer children. Another school worthy of mention is St Brendan’s College, Dunboyne, Co Meath which has registered growth of 58 per cent in enrolment. St Brendan’s was featured on the successful RTÉ documentary The School last year.
Among fee-paying schools, the most striking feature is the 28 per cent growth registered by one of the more expensive schools in the State – St Gerard’s in Bray, Co Wicklow. Most of the big name schools have seen growth over the past decade including Gonzaga (up 11 per cent), Belvedere and CUS (both up 10 per cent ) and Blackrock College (up 4 per cent).
The published lists are based on Department of Education figures for the 2001-02 school year and the current school year. The percentage increase/decrease quoted represents the growth/decline in pupil numbers.
All schools with less than 200 pupils in either 2001 or 2010/11 have been excluded from the lists on this page – except for fee-paying schools. Broadly new schools in new areas have also been excluded.
For a complete list of enrolment figures, see irishtimes.com/indepth
Which are the fastest growing schools - and which are down?
Which schools have seen a surge in pupil numbers over the past decade and which are most popular with parents, writes SEAN FLYNN.
SCHOOL ENROLMENT figures provide a fascinating glimpse in parental choice. They help track which schools are seen as ‘successful’ and which ones are struggling to fill numbers. The lists published on this page track a decade of change in Irish education. They compare school enrolment figures for this school year with the position a decade ago.
The main features of the list include: – “Free’’ State-run schools which experienced a drop in enrolment during the Celtic Tiger have managed to reverse this trend in recent years. – Many VEC schools – especially those outside of Dublin are booming. Irish language schools have seen a surge in pupil numbers. – The popularity of fee-paying schools remains very resilient despite fees averaging €5,000 per year; – Schools which perform well in The Irish Times Feeder School Lists have shown a surge in pupil numbers.
Another feature of the data is the surge in pupil numbers in the post-Leaving Certificate colleges; these cater for students in the year or two after they leave secondary school. In Dublin alone, colleges of further education in Dún Laoghaire, Killester, Sallynoggin and Dundrum have seen enrolment increase by at least 50 per cent over the past decade. The fastest growing school on the list is Coláiste Chiaráin, Croom, about 20 minutes from Limerick city. On its hugely impressive website, it describes itself as the “school of the future.” In 2004, the headmaster, Noel Malone was awarded the Dell Technology Award for Excellence in Education, the first recipient outside the US. Remarkably, virtually a huge majority of of the top 30 fastest growing schools in the State are all in the VEC sector. All of these schools challenge those lazy cliches about the VEC.
The fastest growing school in Dublin is St Colmcille’s Community School in Knocklyon, an area of rapid population growth. Like many community schools in Dublin, the school has built a very strong local reputation since it was opened in 2000. The second-fastest growing school in Dublin is St Kevins CBS in Finglas is an interesting case study. The school suffered a severe decline in enrolment for decades but it has managed to dramatically turn this around in recent years.
Other Dublin schools which have reversed a decline in enrolment include Oatlands College, Stillorgan. Pupil numbers are up from 340 to over 500 and there is a long waiting list. This comes after a period during the boom when the school was squeezed by the huge number of “big brand” fee-paying schools in the area. Overall, the picture for Christian Brothers schools in Dublin is a mixed one. While places like St Kevin’s are booming, schools like O’Connells, St Joseph’s in Fairview and St Paul’s in Raheny are continuing to see declining pupil numbers. Many of these schools have been hugely successful in integrating newcomer children. Another school worthy of mention is St Brendan’s College, Dunboyne, Co Meath which has registered growth of 58 per cent in enrolment. St Brendan’s was featured on the successful RTÉ documentary The School last year.
Among fee-paying schools, the most striking feature is the 28 per cent growth registered by one of the more expensive schools in the State – St Gerard’s in Bray, Co Wicklow. Most of the big name schools have seen growth over the past decade including Gonzaga (up 11 per cent), Belvedere and CUS (both up 10 per cent ) and Blackrock College (up 4 per cent).
The published lists are based on Department of Education figures for the 2001-02 school year and the current school year. The percentage increase/decrease quoted represents the growth/decline in pupil numbers.
All schools with less than 200 pupils in either 2001 or 2010/11 have been excluded from the lists on this page – except for fee-paying schools. Broadly new schools in new areas have also been excluded.
For a complete list of enrolment figures, see irishtimes.com/indepth
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Homework Struggles
Attached hereunder is a short article from to-day's Health supplement of the Irish Times. It is aimed at parents who are encountering difficulties in getting their teenage children to apply themselves to their homework.
The author, Dr. John McSharry, is a social worker and psychotherapist and director of Parents Plus charity.
ASK THE EXPERT: Your parenting questions answered, writes JOHN SHARRY
Q
My 14-year-old son has never really applied himself in school, particularly in the last year. As a result, it can be a battle to get him to sit down and do homework, and we seem to be always in conflict about this. Recently, he has started saying that he is not interested in school and that he wants to do other things. I’m wondering what to do, whether I should just take the pressure off and let him do badly in school and not reach his potential. Or is there something else I could do to encourage him. For example, can you bribe/incentivise adolescent boys in relation to homework? Could I pay him to do a bit more homework and is this a good idea?
A
Parents have a responsibility to support their children’s education and to set rules and routines around school and homework. Indeed, many studies show that when parents take a positive interest in their child’s education by working closely with schools and supporting their children’s learning at home, this leads to better educational outcomes for their children.
However, it is crucial that this support is positive because if homework becomes a negative experience and a constant battle between parent and child, then this sort of parent attention can be counterproductive and can reinforce the child’s negative view of education as well as damaging the parent-child relationship. You are right to take a step back and to consider if there are any other positive ways you can support your son’s education and to help him reach his potential.
The first thing to do is really tune into your son and to understand what underpins his reluctance about homework. For example, it could be that he is struggling a bit with the schoolwork. Many intelligent children have a specific learning disability (such as an undiagnosed language disorder or dyslexia) that is hidden and which makes it difficult for them to succeed within the formal learning system in school. You might want to talk to his teachers to see if this might be the case because the recognition of specific learning problems can be a relief to children, and there are specific supports that can make a big difference to their learning as well as their confidence and motivation.
Alternatively, your son may simply not be motivated about the curriculum or he may be questioning the value of the subjects he is being taught. Often this is the case when children approach adolescence, when they naturally question the point of adult values such as education. In this situation, it is important to discuss the value of education, and to explore what motivates him and/or what career he really wants to do, showing how his schoolwork leads to this.
It also helps to be creative about how learning happens and to find a way that builds on his strengths (for example, project-based learning, reading books about special interests together and so on).
In addition, some children may not be succeeding in homework as they are employing poor study strategies or don’t have a good study routine. In these instances, there is a lot you can do to help as a parent and in the Parents Plus programmes we suggest three specific steps to helping children study.
Firstly, you need to agree a study routine with him which sets aside a distraction-free time to study in the day followed by a natural reward. For example, after school he might take a short break, then do an hour’s homework/study, before doing a leisure activity such as a sport.
Secondly, it helps if you are around when he is studying and take an interest in his homework as he does it, without getting over-involved. This might mean helping him plan his homework and what he will do first, then taking a step back and letting him get on with it. You might check in with him occasionally and review progress, but you must give him space to do the homework himself.
The final step is to have a period of review after the homework and to go over what he has done – asking him what he learned and what he thought about the homework. Getting to know your son’s subjects and being encouraging and interested in a genuine way is likely to be helpful in keeping him motivated and focused.
You ask in your question whether it is a good idea to incentivise children with a reward or bribe to complete their homework. In my experience, this can work really well and increase a teenager’s motivation, though it is important how you set this up.
For example, you could establish a contract with your son whereby he can earn a small amount of pocket money each day he completes his homework. In the contract, you can clearly agree the steps of a good study routine and specify a time when you will review homework and talk about it.
The key is to find a reward that motivates your son and that you are happy to give. For example, if you don’t want to give an extra reward, you can make an existing privilege – such as TV or PlayStation time or an existing pocket money allowance – dependent on completing homework or you can have your son work towards a bigger reward in the future for example, 20 successful homework, completions results in a special trip.
In helping a young teenager succeed in education, you can only go so far as a parent. Ultimately, it is down to the child how much effort they put in and what they choose as valuable. However, what you can do as a parent is to establish a good learning environment and to make rewards in the home dependent on putting in effort at study.
It is also important to tune into your child’s natural abilities and realise that while for some children the formal learning of school is their forte, this is not the case for everyone. The key is to find out what are your children’s natural talents, interests and abilities – whether these are within the school system or not – and to help them explore these in all aspects of their life.
Dr John Sharry is a social worker and psychotherapist and director of Parents Plus charity. His website is solutiontalk.ie.
The author, Dr. John McSharry, is a social worker and psychotherapist and director of Parents Plus charity.
ASK THE EXPERT: Your parenting questions answered, writes JOHN SHARRY
Q
My 14-year-old son has never really applied himself in school, particularly in the last year. As a result, it can be a battle to get him to sit down and do homework, and we seem to be always in conflict about this. Recently, he has started saying that he is not interested in school and that he wants to do other things. I’m wondering what to do, whether I should just take the pressure off and let him do badly in school and not reach his potential. Or is there something else I could do to encourage him. For example, can you bribe/incentivise adolescent boys in relation to homework? Could I pay him to do a bit more homework and is this a good idea?
A
Parents have a responsibility to support their children’s education and to set rules and routines around school and homework. Indeed, many studies show that when parents take a positive interest in their child’s education by working closely with schools and supporting their children’s learning at home, this leads to better educational outcomes for their children.
However, it is crucial that this support is positive because if homework becomes a negative experience and a constant battle between parent and child, then this sort of parent attention can be counterproductive and can reinforce the child’s negative view of education as well as damaging the parent-child relationship. You are right to take a step back and to consider if there are any other positive ways you can support your son’s education and to help him reach his potential.
The first thing to do is really tune into your son and to understand what underpins his reluctance about homework. For example, it could be that he is struggling a bit with the schoolwork. Many intelligent children have a specific learning disability (such as an undiagnosed language disorder or dyslexia) that is hidden and which makes it difficult for them to succeed within the formal learning system in school. You might want to talk to his teachers to see if this might be the case because the recognition of specific learning problems can be a relief to children, and there are specific supports that can make a big difference to their learning as well as their confidence and motivation.
Alternatively, your son may simply not be motivated about the curriculum or he may be questioning the value of the subjects he is being taught. Often this is the case when children approach adolescence, when they naturally question the point of adult values such as education. In this situation, it is important to discuss the value of education, and to explore what motivates him and/or what career he really wants to do, showing how his schoolwork leads to this.
It also helps to be creative about how learning happens and to find a way that builds on his strengths (for example, project-based learning, reading books about special interests together and so on).
In addition, some children may not be succeeding in homework as they are employing poor study strategies or don’t have a good study routine. In these instances, there is a lot you can do to help as a parent and in the Parents Plus programmes we suggest three specific steps to helping children study.
Firstly, you need to agree a study routine with him which sets aside a distraction-free time to study in the day followed by a natural reward. For example, after school he might take a short break, then do an hour’s homework/study, before doing a leisure activity such as a sport.
Secondly, it helps if you are around when he is studying and take an interest in his homework as he does it, without getting over-involved. This might mean helping him plan his homework and what he will do first, then taking a step back and letting him get on with it. You might check in with him occasionally and review progress, but you must give him space to do the homework himself.
The final step is to have a period of review after the homework and to go over what he has done – asking him what he learned and what he thought about the homework. Getting to know your son’s subjects and being encouraging and interested in a genuine way is likely to be helpful in keeping him motivated and focused.
You ask in your question whether it is a good idea to incentivise children with a reward or bribe to complete their homework. In my experience, this can work really well and increase a teenager’s motivation, though it is important how you set this up.
For example, you could establish a contract with your son whereby he can earn a small amount of pocket money each day he completes his homework. In the contract, you can clearly agree the steps of a good study routine and specify a time when you will review homework and talk about it.
The key is to find a reward that motivates your son and that you are happy to give. For example, if you don’t want to give an extra reward, you can make an existing privilege – such as TV or PlayStation time or an existing pocket money allowance – dependent on completing homework or you can have your son work towards a bigger reward in the future for example, 20 successful homework, completions results in a special trip.
In helping a young teenager succeed in education, you can only go so far as a parent. Ultimately, it is down to the child how much effort they put in and what they choose as valuable. However, what you can do as a parent is to establish a good learning environment and to make rewards in the home dependent on putting in effort at study.
It is also important to tune into your child’s natural abilities and realise that while for some children the formal learning of school is their forte, this is not the case for everyone. The key is to find out what are your children’s natural talents, interests and abilities – whether these are within the school system or not – and to help them explore these in all aspects of their life.
Dr John Sharry is a social worker and psychotherapist and director of Parents Plus charity. His website is solutiontalk.ie.
Junior Cert Mind Maps
Attached is a copy of an article from to-day's Education Supplement from the Irish Times.....it might be of interest to students/parents of students preparing for the Junior Cert exams.
TAMMY STRICKLAND is 17 today. She has plenty to celebrate: her year-old online study guide company is in profit to the tune of €5,000 and she is facing the Leaving Cert cycle in Mount Sackville Secondary School, Dublin with confidence. Her website, junioncertmindmaps.com has had over 20,000 visits since she decided to put the fruits of her labours online last year. She is already planning leavingcertmindmaps.com and will be building her business as she studies for the biggest exam of her life. Talk about synergy.
It wasn’t such a fairy tale in third year when Tammy, after two years of study and mind mapping for the Junior Cert, found herself unable to close the deal. “I was sick at the time of the Junior Cert and did not sit the exams,” she says. “It was so disappointing after all the work I had put in.”
Tammy had high expectations for her Junior Cert. She had bagged nine As and two Bs in the mocks and was hoping to do even better on the day.
After the disappointment of missing the exams, Tammy was left with a large collection of mind maps that she had created as part of her study routine. It was an organisational trick her father taught her, and it had become core to her exam preparation strategy.
“My Dad introduced me to mind mapping at about nine years of age,” Tammy explains. “Initially I used them for planning holidays, shopping trips and for organising my thoughts. We had a computer program that allows you to draw and print comprehensive mind maps and I gradually started using them for school work to help me to remember what I had learned in class.”
Tammy found that maps were easier to remember than pages of linear notes. “I can retain vast amounts of information if it is laid out in a visual way. Once it is visual, most people can see the logical structure of the information, which is set out like branches of a tree. This is a really good aid to memory as you are not looking to remember abstract data, but rather ordered information that is linked in a logical way and can easily be recalled when required at exam time.”
She is a big fan of science and found that mind maps were especially helpful in subjects that comprised a lot of detail, like biology. Over time though, she found ways to apply mind map models to all the subjects on the Junior Cert syllabus.
Tammy’s approach to study allowed her to tackle each subject systematically and, she says, it didn’t involve an unusually punishing study schedule. “I tended not to focus on putting in a specific number of hours each day or week,” she says. “Instead, I would set myself the target of completing a chapter of a subject at a time and summarising it into a mind map. It was less stressful and more constructive.”
It also left her free to pursue her very busy extra-curricular schedule. A keen sportsperson and debater, Tammy also spends a considerable amount of time on her music.
“Music is my favourite hobby. I study music outside of school in Kylemore College and play the piano and guitar. I also like to write my own music and I am in the process of writing a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet which is a musical with 20 original songs set in New York City. I also enjoy art and reading as well as several sports.”
So, apart from falling at the last fence, Tammy believes that mind mapping allowed her to take on the Junior Cert without sacrificing her other interests. During Transition Year a plan started to hatch in Tammy’s mind for the mind maps she had made. “I was looking at all these maps and wondering if they would be useful to anyone else. I thought they would benefit other students and particularly help them avoid the significant stress that often comes with preparing for State exams. I also hoped to make some pocket money,” says Tammy.
She knew that the maps were, at the time, somewhat idiosyncratic and would need to be reworked to suit a wider audience. “I spent the entire Transition Year redoing the mind maps so that they covered the whole curriculum in 10 subjects. I averaged one subject per month with science and maths taking somewhat longer.
“My dad is a businessman and was always at hand to offer me advice when I needed it. In fact, it was my dad who encouraged me to consider sharing the mind maps with other kids because he believed they would be of benefit to them. He helped me build the JuniorCertMindMaps website at the beginning of the project.”
The owners of MindGenius, the software product used to create the mind maps, wrote a piece about Tammy on their blog and sent a press release to a number of newspapers and this resulted in a little bit of publicity. Soon hits to the website began to mount.
“The response has been terrific and I have had more than 24,000 page impressions during the last year. I have a customer comments section on the website and most people are very complimentary about the mind maps,” says Tammy. “I’ve already earned about €5,000.”
At €9.95 per subject, there are now 500 sets of Tammy Strickland Mind Maps floating around the system. Tammy is convinced they are worth the money. “I put a huge amount of work into each map. The cost reflects the work and I think that’s fair. They cost a lot less than getting a grind and can be used by anyone to improve retention and recall of information. Even people with dyslexia can benefit from seeing the information rather than trying to sound it out in their minds.”
Wouldn’t students be better off preparing their own mind maps? Tammy says it took two years of drafting and refining to create her maps, so they can save students a lot of work. But she recommends the mind map approach to anyone, whether they buy her notes or not.
“I do debating in school and often use mind maps to organise my thoughts and prepare my speeches. By using just key words on the mind map it becomes a memory aid for making presentations without the need to appear to be reading a script.
“I am already using Leaving Cert mind maps as part of my study programme and I have registered the domain name for Leaving CertMindMaps.com. It will be a little while before they will be offered for sale as I have not finished the entire course in any subject yet.”
So, is Tammy bound for a career in business?
“I put the maps online because I genuinely believe they can help other students and because I wanted to make a bit of pocket money to fund my great passion: travel. I want to visit as many places as I can to see how other people live and to experience their cultures.
“My real ambition is to be a doctor and the mind maps are just part of my study programme. It really is an accident that I am making some money out of them. Business is fun for me but my heart is set on doing medicine.”
What is a mind map?
A mind map is usually built around a single word or piece of text in the middle of a page.
Connected ideas and words grow in branches around the central idea. Mind maps are pictorial, often using colours, typefaces and differing thickness of lines to create visual variety. The idea is to make a “picture” of a subject that is easier to remember than plain lines of text. The branches follow a logic dictated by thinking patterns, making them easier to recall, according to users.
Mind maps have been around for centuries, but were popularised in the 1970s and later by author Tony Buzan, who has written a number of books on the subject of how to structure and use mind mapping for all sorts of activities from budgeting to writing speeches.
The Junior Cert: key subjects guide
MATHS
Paper one at higher level has six questions and all six must be attempted. The paper carries 300 marks, an equal amount of time should be spent on each question.
Paper one generally consists of two questions on arithmetic, rationals, decimals and square roots. There are also two questions on algebra and two questions on quadratic equations.
Paper two at higher level also has six questions and all six must be attempted. The paper carries 300 marks, an equal amount of time should be spent on each question. Paper two generally consists of questions on applied arithmetic, co-ordinate geometry, geometry , trigonometry and statistics.
If students successfully attempt the a and b parts of the question, they should pass.
If students can successfully answer the c sections correctly they should get very good grades.
Students should attempt all parts of every question, as attempt marks are given for all questions and examiners are willing to give marks if a concerted effort is made to answer the question properly.
ENGLISH
Paper one English higher level:
Section one – reading: In this section you are required to read a text and answer questions. You should always answer the question asked. In order to secure good marks you should support the answer with references to the text, displaying that you have understood the text.
Section two – personal writing: You are required to write a piece based on a number of titles offered. This will give you an opportunity to display your writing skills.
Section three – functional writing: The task set in this section normally requires you to write a report, letter, etc. You should make sure you are clear about what you are writing, give a well-structured answer, and be careful with grammar and punctuation.
Section four – media studies: You are required to write about aspects of communication in the media. In your analysis, you should be able to discuss your target audience and use imagery to convey your message. You should also have an opinion on your favourite advertisement, magazine and newspaper so you can write about it.
Paper two – drama, fiction and poetry:
Drama: In the unseen drama, students are required to read the extract and answer the questions asked, which may be about the relationships between characters, or about the characters themselves. You should always support answers with references or quotes from the extract. The studied drama is about a play studied in school. You may be asked about the setting of the play, themes or stagecraft.
It is important to make your point, develop the point and support your point.
Poetry : You may be asked about the theme or tone, imagery or atmosphere in the poem. Answers should always be backed up with references/quotations from the poem.
Fiction : You will be asked about an extract from an unseen novel and a novel studied. You may be asked about the theme, characters, style or plot. All points should be supported with quotations or references.
IRISH
Roinn I is the listening comprehension. To prepare for this, students should practise listening to previous listening comprehensions or listen to Radio na Gaeltachta or TG4.
Roinn II – Léamhthuiscint : These are unseen reading comprehensions. You will be required to answer questions on the text.
Roinn III : This section requires you to rewrite a piece in a particular tense and is a test on grammar and verbs.
Roinn IV – Ceapadóireacht : This section requires students to write an essay, story, debate or article.
Paper 2
Prós: This will involve answering questions on an extract from the story. You will also be asked about a story you have studied. You may be asked about themes and characters. You should if possible support your answer with references. It is important to answer the questions asked and use grammar correctly.
Filíocht: This section requires you to answer questions on an unseen poem and on a poem you have studied. You may be asked about themes, characters, feelings; you should use quotes to support your answer.
An litir : This question requires students to write a letter which could be on one of the following – letter to a friend about your holidays, letter about a summer job, your hobbies, the concerns of young people, etc. It is very important to get the structure of the letter correct, date, address, greeting, the body, and the sign off of the letter right.
This section will test the ability to write, grammar and vocabulary so students should practise writing letters to get full marks.
________________________________________
Notes provided by mocks.ie
TAMMY STRICKLAND is 17 today. She has plenty to celebrate: her year-old online study guide company is in profit to the tune of €5,000 and she is facing the Leaving Cert cycle in Mount Sackville Secondary School, Dublin with confidence. Her website, junioncertmindmaps.com has had over 20,000 visits since she decided to put the fruits of her labours online last year. She is already planning leavingcertmindmaps.com and will be building her business as she studies for the biggest exam of her life. Talk about synergy.
It wasn’t such a fairy tale in third year when Tammy, after two years of study and mind mapping for the Junior Cert, found herself unable to close the deal. “I was sick at the time of the Junior Cert and did not sit the exams,” she says. “It was so disappointing after all the work I had put in.”
Tammy had high expectations for her Junior Cert. She had bagged nine As and two Bs in the mocks and was hoping to do even better on the day.
After the disappointment of missing the exams, Tammy was left with a large collection of mind maps that she had created as part of her study routine. It was an organisational trick her father taught her, and it had become core to her exam preparation strategy.
“My Dad introduced me to mind mapping at about nine years of age,” Tammy explains. “Initially I used them for planning holidays, shopping trips and for organising my thoughts. We had a computer program that allows you to draw and print comprehensive mind maps and I gradually started using them for school work to help me to remember what I had learned in class.”
Tammy found that maps were easier to remember than pages of linear notes. “I can retain vast amounts of information if it is laid out in a visual way. Once it is visual, most people can see the logical structure of the information, which is set out like branches of a tree. This is a really good aid to memory as you are not looking to remember abstract data, but rather ordered information that is linked in a logical way and can easily be recalled when required at exam time.”
She is a big fan of science and found that mind maps were especially helpful in subjects that comprised a lot of detail, like biology. Over time though, she found ways to apply mind map models to all the subjects on the Junior Cert syllabus.
Tammy’s approach to study allowed her to tackle each subject systematically and, she says, it didn’t involve an unusually punishing study schedule. “I tended not to focus on putting in a specific number of hours each day or week,” she says. “Instead, I would set myself the target of completing a chapter of a subject at a time and summarising it into a mind map. It was less stressful and more constructive.”
It also left her free to pursue her very busy extra-curricular schedule. A keen sportsperson and debater, Tammy also spends a considerable amount of time on her music.
“Music is my favourite hobby. I study music outside of school in Kylemore College and play the piano and guitar. I also like to write my own music and I am in the process of writing a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet which is a musical with 20 original songs set in New York City. I also enjoy art and reading as well as several sports.”
So, apart from falling at the last fence, Tammy believes that mind mapping allowed her to take on the Junior Cert without sacrificing her other interests. During Transition Year a plan started to hatch in Tammy’s mind for the mind maps she had made. “I was looking at all these maps and wondering if they would be useful to anyone else. I thought they would benefit other students and particularly help them avoid the significant stress that often comes with preparing for State exams. I also hoped to make some pocket money,” says Tammy.
She knew that the maps were, at the time, somewhat idiosyncratic and would need to be reworked to suit a wider audience. “I spent the entire Transition Year redoing the mind maps so that they covered the whole curriculum in 10 subjects. I averaged one subject per month with science and maths taking somewhat longer.
“My dad is a businessman and was always at hand to offer me advice when I needed it. In fact, it was my dad who encouraged me to consider sharing the mind maps with other kids because he believed they would be of benefit to them. He helped me build the JuniorCertMindMaps website at the beginning of the project.”
The owners of MindGenius, the software product used to create the mind maps, wrote a piece about Tammy on their blog and sent a press release to a number of newspapers and this resulted in a little bit of publicity. Soon hits to the website began to mount.
“The response has been terrific and I have had more than 24,000 page impressions during the last year. I have a customer comments section on the website and most people are very complimentary about the mind maps,” says Tammy. “I’ve already earned about €5,000.”
At €9.95 per subject, there are now 500 sets of Tammy Strickland Mind Maps floating around the system. Tammy is convinced they are worth the money. “I put a huge amount of work into each map. The cost reflects the work and I think that’s fair. They cost a lot less than getting a grind and can be used by anyone to improve retention and recall of information. Even people with dyslexia can benefit from seeing the information rather than trying to sound it out in their minds.”
Wouldn’t students be better off preparing their own mind maps? Tammy says it took two years of drafting and refining to create her maps, so they can save students a lot of work. But she recommends the mind map approach to anyone, whether they buy her notes or not.
“I do debating in school and often use mind maps to organise my thoughts and prepare my speeches. By using just key words on the mind map it becomes a memory aid for making presentations without the need to appear to be reading a script.
“I am already using Leaving Cert mind maps as part of my study programme and I have registered the domain name for Leaving CertMindMaps.com. It will be a little while before they will be offered for sale as I have not finished the entire course in any subject yet.”
So, is Tammy bound for a career in business?
“I put the maps online because I genuinely believe they can help other students and because I wanted to make a bit of pocket money to fund my great passion: travel. I want to visit as many places as I can to see how other people live and to experience their cultures.
“My real ambition is to be a doctor and the mind maps are just part of my study programme. It really is an accident that I am making some money out of them. Business is fun for me but my heart is set on doing medicine.”
What is a mind map?
A mind map is usually built around a single word or piece of text in the middle of a page.
Connected ideas and words grow in branches around the central idea. Mind maps are pictorial, often using colours, typefaces and differing thickness of lines to create visual variety. The idea is to make a “picture” of a subject that is easier to remember than plain lines of text. The branches follow a logic dictated by thinking patterns, making them easier to recall, according to users.
Mind maps have been around for centuries, but were popularised in the 1970s and later by author Tony Buzan, who has written a number of books on the subject of how to structure and use mind mapping for all sorts of activities from budgeting to writing speeches.
The Junior Cert: key subjects guide
MATHS
Paper one at higher level has six questions and all six must be attempted. The paper carries 300 marks, an equal amount of time should be spent on each question.
Paper one generally consists of two questions on arithmetic, rationals, decimals and square roots. There are also two questions on algebra and two questions on quadratic equations.
Paper two at higher level also has six questions and all six must be attempted. The paper carries 300 marks, an equal amount of time should be spent on each question. Paper two generally consists of questions on applied arithmetic, co-ordinate geometry, geometry , trigonometry and statistics.
If students successfully attempt the a and b parts of the question, they should pass.
If students can successfully answer the c sections correctly they should get very good grades.
Students should attempt all parts of every question, as attempt marks are given for all questions and examiners are willing to give marks if a concerted effort is made to answer the question properly.
ENGLISH
Paper one English higher level:
Section one – reading: In this section you are required to read a text and answer questions. You should always answer the question asked. In order to secure good marks you should support the answer with references to the text, displaying that you have understood the text.
Section two – personal writing: You are required to write a piece based on a number of titles offered. This will give you an opportunity to display your writing skills.
Section three – functional writing: The task set in this section normally requires you to write a report, letter, etc. You should make sure you are clear about what you are writing, give a well-structured answer, and be careful with grammar and punctuation.
Section four – media studies: You are required to write about aspects of communication in the media. In your analysis, you should be able to discuss your target audience and use imagery to convey your message. You should also have an opinion on your favourite advertisement, magazine and newspaper so you can write about it.
Paper two – drama, fiction and poetry:
Drama: In the unseen drama, students are required to read the extract and answer the questions asked, which may be about the relationships between characters, or about the characters themselves. You should always support answers with references or quotes from the extract. The studied drama is about a play studied in school. You may be asked about the setting of the play, themes or stagecraft.
It is important to make your point, develop the point and support your point.
Poetry : You may be asked about the theme or tone, imagery or atmosphere in the poem. Answers should always be backed up with references/quotations from the poem.
Fiction : You will be asked about an extract from an unseen novel and a novel studied. You may be asked about the theme, characters, style or plot. All points should be supported with quotations or references.
IRISH
Roinn I is the listening comprehension. To prepare for this, students should practise listening to previous listening comprehensions or listen to Radio na Gaeltachta or TG4.
Roinn II – Léamhthuiscint : These are unseen reading comprehensions. You will be required to answer questions on the text.
Roinn III : This section requires you to rewrite a piece in a particular tense and is a test on grammar and verbs.
Roinn IV – Ceapadóireacht : This section requires students to write an essay, story, debate or article.
Paper 2
Prós: This will involve answering questions on an extract from the story. You will also be asked about a story you have studied. You may be asked about themes and characters. You should if possible support your answer with references. It is important to answer the questions asked and use grammar correctly.
Filíocht: This section requires you to answer questions on an unseen poem and on a poem you have studied. You may be asked about themes, characters, feelings; you should use quotes to support your answer.
An litir : This question requires students to write a letter which could be on one of the following – letter to a friend about your holidays, letter about a summer job, your hobbies, the concerns of young people, etc. It is very important to get the structure of the letter correct, date, address, greeting, the body, and the sign off of the letter right.
This section will test the ability to write, grammar and vocabulary so students should practise writing letters to get full marks.
________________________________________
Notes provided by mocks.ie
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Talk for parents on the topic of drug awareness
The Parents' Association has arranged for a talk to be given to parents on the topical issue of drug awareness. The talk will cover areas such as a common sense approach to understanding drug issues, drug prevention through education and community awareness of drugs.
The speaker is Barbara Reid a volunteer who works in the area of drug awareness.
Knocklyon, in common with almost all other areas, is not immune to the problems of drugs and drug availability and this is an excellent opportunity for parents to obtain a better undertstanding of the issues involved in this difficult area.
Venue: St. Colmcille's Community School
Date: Tuesday 8th March 2011
Time 8pm
The response/attendance at the recent talk given by John Lonergan was excellent and we would again encourage as many parents as possible to attend on the 8th.
The speaker is Barbara Reid a volunteer who works in the area of drug awareness.
Knocklyon, in common with almost all other areas, is not immune to the problems of drugs and drug availability and this is an excellent opportunity for parents to obtain a better undertstanding of the issues involved in this difficult area.
Venue: St. Colmcille's Community School
Date: Tuesday 8th March 2011
Time 8pm
The response/attendance at the recent talk given by John Lonergan was excellent and we would again encourage as many parents as possible to attend on the 8th.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Talk for Parents
Parent’s Talk
Parenting – The Challenges and the Rewards.
Speaker: John Lonergan
Venue: St. Colmcilles Community School.
Date: Tuesday 8th February.
Time: 8.00 p.m
The Parents' Association would encourage as many parents as possible to attend what should be a very stimulating and informative evening.
Parenting – The Challenges and the Rewards.
Speaker: John Lonergan
Venue: St. Colmcilles Community School.
Date: Tuesday 8th February.
Time: 8.00 p.m
The Parents' Association would encourage as many parents as possible to attend what should be a very stimulating and informative evening.
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Talk for Parents & Wider Community - Postponed
Postponed due to bad weather - will be rescheduled early in 2011.
Community Awareness of Drugs
Drug Prevention Through Education
Understanding Drug Issues - A Common Sense Approach
Speaker: Barbara Reid
Community Awareness of Drugs
Drug Prevention Through Education
Understanding Drug Issues - A Common Sense Approach
Speaker: Barbara Reid
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
School Closure update
St Colmcilles CS and St Colmcilles Senior and Junior schools will remain closed, tomorrow Thursday (2/12/10) Updates will be posted tomorrow.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Arnotts' Remaining Stock of Uniforms Reduced by 70% Until 7th December
Uniforms are not on display but are available from the Uniforms Department on the first floor in Arnotts.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Leaving Cert Appeal Results 2010
The State Exams Commission issued Leaving Cert appeal results in October. Up to 20% of marks in some subjects were upgraded on appeal.
Sunday, November 07, 2010
Supplementary access routes to higher education
Irish Higher Education and Government are committed to promoting "equality of access to higher education, irrespective of social class, age or disability."
To widen access to 3rd level, participating colleges have delivered a range of initiatives including the HEAR and DARE admission routes.
HEAR (Higher Education Access Route) is a college and university admissions scheme offering places at reduced points to school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
DARE (Disability Access Route to Education) is a college and university admissions scheme offering places at reduced points to school leavers with a disability.
Full details can be found at the following link:
www.accesscollege.ie
To widen access to 3rd level, participating colleges have delivered a range of initiatives including the HEAR and DARE admission routes.
HEAR (Higher Education Access Route) is a college and university admissions scheme offering places at reduced points to school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
DARE (Disability Access Route to Education) is a college and university admissions scheme offering places at reduced points to school leavers with a disability.
Full details can be found at the following link:
www.accesscollege.ie
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Irish Sports Council Study
This article appeared in the Irish Examiner on October 22, 2010
ONLY a third of primary school pupils and just 10% of post-primary pupils are receiving the recommended amount of time for physical education every week, a major study has revealed.
The Irish Sports Council study — which uncovered alarming levels of inactivity among 10 to 18-year-olds — goes on to reveal one in four children are unfit, overweight or obese and have high blood pressure.
The Department of Education recommends that post-primary students should have two hours of physical education a week, while primary school children should have one hour.
On average, post primary students get 77 minutes of physical education a week, while primary school pupils, get 46, the report states.
Over 5,000 children from 53 primary and 70 post-primary schools took part in the study last year, that makes the sole recommendation to increase participation in physical activity among children.
Called the Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity study, it is a follow-up to the School Children and Sport in Ireland study, published by the ESRI in 2005.
Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony told yesterday’s meeting of the Oireachtas Education Committee that the way physical education had been treated in schools over the years was a disgrace. "We’ve talked for many years about physical education becoming a subject but lack of resources has come up as an issue before."
The Mayo TD and former second-level teacher warned that physical education was an area the country could not afford to ignore because of the health issues involved.
ONLY a third of primary school pupils and just 10% of post-primary pupils are receiving the recommended amount of time for physical education every week, a major study has revealed.
The Irish Sports Council study — which uncovered alarming levels of inactivity among 10 to 18-year-olds — goes on to reveal one in four children are unfit, overweight or obese and have high blood pressure.
The Department of Education recommends that post-primary students should have two hours of physical education a week, while primary school children should have one hour.
On average, post primary students get 77 minutes of physical education a week, while primary school pupils, get 46, the report states.
Over 5,000 children from 53 primary and 70 post-primary schools took part in the study last year, that makes the sole recommendation to increase participation in physical activity among children.
Called the Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity study, it is a follow-up to the School Children and Sport in Ireland study, published by the ESRI in 2005.
Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony told yesterday’s meeting of the Oireachtas Education Committee that the way physical education had been treated in schools over the years was a disgrace. "We’ve talked for many years about physical education becoming a subject but lack of resources has come up as an issue before."
The Mayo TD and former second-level teacher warned that physical education was an area the country could not afford to ignore because of the health issues involved.
Monday, November 01, 2010
Mock interviews for 6th Year Students
The Parents' Association recently organised mock-interviews for 6th year students. This programme has been running for several years now and has proven very popular and successful with the pupils.
These interviews are designed primarily to provide students with some practical help and guidance in preparing for interviews (either for employment or to access 3rd level courses)and also includes some advice on CV layout and content.
This involves a one-to-one interview of about 15 minutes' duration. Afterwards the interviewer provides some structured feedback to the student. The emphasis here is to be as constructive as possible. Students are also asked by the Career Guidance teacher to fill in a feedback form on their own personal experience of the process.
The feedback from students has again been very positive and we hope to run this programme again next year.
A big thank you to all the parents who volunteered their time to conduct the interviews and to the school for again facilitating this worthy project and for helping the Committee organise it.
These interviews are designed primarily to provide students with some practical help and guidance in preparing for interviews (either for employment or to access 3rd level courses)and also includes some advice on CV layout and content.
This involves a one-to-one interview of about 15 minutes' duration. Afterwards the interviewer provides some structured feedback to the student. The emphasis here is to be as constructive as possible. Students are also asked by the Career Guidance teacher to fill in a feedback form on their own personal experience of the process.
The feedback from students has again been very positive and we hope to run this programme again next year.
A big thank you to all the parents who volunteered their time to conduct the interviews and to the school for again facilitating this worthy project and for helping the Committee organise it.
Details of new Committe
The names of the Parents' Assiociation Committee members has been updated and can be accessed on the home page opposite. Sincere thanks to those past members who have left the Committee.....Peter Dolan, Mary Hamzawi and Mary Ward. Thanks also to Colm Agnew who has also relinquished the post of Treasurer which he has held for the past few years. Colm is remaining on the Committee for this year.
John Byrne has kindly volunteered to take up the role of Treasurer.
We would also like to welcome to the Committee the following new members:
Majella Bermingham
Majella Connolly
John Donnelly
Joe McCall
John Byrne has kindly volunteered to take up the role of Treasurer.
We would also like to welcome to the Committee the following new members:
Majella Bermingham
Majella Connolly
John Donnelly
Joe McCall
Thursday, October 28, 2010
6th Year Dates
Biology Field Trip - Monday 2nd November / Tuesday 3rd November
Geography Field Trip - Thursday 11th November / Friday 12th November
House Exams Begin - Tuesday 15th November
DCU Open Day - Saturday 20th November
Primary Teacher Training College Open Day - Saturday 20th November
Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art & Design - Saturday 27th November
NUI Maynooth Open Day - Saturday 27th November
Geography Field Trip - Thursday 11th November / Friday 12th November
House Exams Begin - Tuesday 15th November
DCU Open Day - Saturday 20th November
Primary Teacher Training College Open Day - Saturday 20th November
Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art & Design - Saturday 27th November
NUI Maynooth Open Day - Saturday 27th November
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Bonus Points for Maths
The Irish Times - Thursday, October 7, 2010
Bonus points scheme for maths agreed
SEÁN FLYNN Education Editor
A BONUS points scheme for higher-level maths in the Leaving Cert is set to begin in 2012 – after NUI Galway became the final university to agree to the change yesterday.
Earlier this week, UCC also backed the plan, which has been strongly championed by Minister for Education Mary Coughlan. The Minister claims the new scheme will boost the take-up of higher-level maths.
Opposition to the plan from some academics – notably in Galway and Cork – has softened in recent weeks. A turning point in the debate came two weeks ago when UCD agreed to accept the plan on a four-year trial basis.
Details of how the scheme will operate will be worked out over coming weeks by the universities. A bonus points scheme already operates in the University of Limerick. It is expected students will gain at least 40 extra CAP points for taking higher- level maths .
Yesterday, NUI Galway deputy president Prof Jim Ward, said the university “did not wish to stand in the way of the development of a national scheme”, despite some scepticism.
“We recognise the importance of encouraging more students to take honours mathematics at Leaving Certificate level.
“However, it would be a mistake to view bonus points as the complete solution to the maths problem in Ireland. The teaching of maths at second level by teachers who are not fully qualified to teach the subject is a more fundamental problem. We need to put supports in place to help those teachers.’’
Prof Walsh asked the Minister to work with the universities and the Teaching Council to put in place a programme of professional development for teachers that will “enable them to gain the skills they need to teach mathematics to the required level”.
In 2008, NUI Galway introduced the country’s only undergraduate degree in mathematics and education, which qualifies graduates to teach maths and Applied Mathematics to honours Leaving Certificate level in post-primary schools.
The first graduates from that programme will emerge in two years’ time, having already spent three years working with teachers in schools.
Bonus points scheme for maths agreed
SEÁN FLYNN Education Editor
A BONUS points scheme for higher-level maths in the Leaving Cert is set to begin in 2012 – after NUI Galway became the final university to agree to the change yesterday.
Earlier this week, UCC also backed the plan, which has been strongly championed by Minister for Education Mary Coughlan. The Minister claims the new scheme will boost the take-up of higher-level maths.
Opposition to the plan from some academics – notably in Galway and Cork – has softened in recent weeks. A turning point in the debate came two weeks ago when UCD agreed to accept the plan on a four-year trial basis.
Details of how the scheme will operate will be worked out over coming weeks by the universities. A bonus points scheme already operates in the University of Limerick. It is expected students will gain at least 40 extra CAP points for taking higher- level maths .
Yesterday, NUI Galway deputy president Prof Jim Ward, said the university “did not wish to stand in the way of the development of a national scheme”, despite some scepticism.
“We recognise the importance of encouraging more students to take honours mathematics at Leaving Certificate level.
“However, it would be a mistake to view bonus points as the complete solution to the maths problem in Ireland. The teaching of maths at second level by teachers who are not fully qualified to teach the subject is a more fundamental problem. We need to put supports in place to help those teachers.’’
Prof Walsh asked the Minister to work with the universities and the Teaching Council to put in place a programme of professional development for teachers that will “enable them to gain the skills they need to teach mathematics to the required level”.
In 2008, NUI Galway introduced the country’s only undergraduate degree in mathematics and education, which qualifies graduates to teach maths and Applied Mathematics to honours Leaving Certificate level in post-primary schools.
The first graduates from that programme will emerge in two years’ time, having already spent three years working with teachers in schools.
Friday, October 15, 2010
The King and I
This year's musical presentation, 'The King and I' will open on Tuesday 19th October and run for three nights. Tickets are on sale in the school's music room during lunchtime. Adults 10 euros, children 5 euros, family ticket 20 euros - 2 adults and 2 children.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Official launch of the Goverment's 100mbps broadband pilot project
Yesterday (Monday October 4th) Eamonn Ryan T.D. Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources visited St. Colmcille's to formally launch the Government's pilot project whereby 78 2nd level schools have had their broadband capacity significantly enhanced through the installation of 100 mbps of bandwidth. This high speed broadband capacity has the potential to revolutionise the classroom environment and will benefit future generations of schoolchildren attending St Colmcille's.
The event was a great success with the active participation of a number of teachers and pupils demonstrating the practical elements of this new bandwidth and was well-covered by the media,including a filmed report on TV3's news programmes on yesterday evening.
Attached below is a copy of the official Press Release issued by the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources in relation to the project.
Press Release:
Communications Minister Eamon Ryan today announced that the €13 million Broadband to Schools Scheme has delivered 100 megabit high speed fibre and wireless broadband to 78 second level schools nationwide.
The Renewed Programme for Government sets out that the Scheme will extend to all second-level schools nationwide in the next two years. Ireland is one the first countries in the world to deliver such a programme on a national level.
Over the last year, fibre-optic and wireless networks were installed in the 78 schools - at least one in every county. These networks will allow for speeds of 100 megabits per second, speeds similar to those on offer to multinational corporations based here.
Enhanced ICT facilities, including more than 1500 wireless digital projectors and 2000 laptops, have also been distributed.
At St. Colmcille’s Community School in Dublin today, the students demonstrated the capabilities of the technology by carrying out interactive science experiments, as well as going on a ‘virtual tour’ of the Louvre Museum in Paris. Minister Ryan said:
“The jobs of the future are in the digital economy and our children need to be confident and comfortable in the use of technology. Broadband of this capacity and quality will allow them to see and learn things in school that my generation could have only dreamed of.
We are changing the day-to-day classroom experience. “Chalk and talk” models won’t work any more. Learning needs to be multi-sensory and interactive, allowing students to learn in schools in the same way they socialise and learn at home. Seeing the students today making a virtual visit to the Louvre in Paris, is remarkable – they are stepping beyond the four walls of their classroom into a new world during their school day.
With this Scheme, we are creating the digital citizens - the writers, the inventors and the businesspeople – of the future. I believe the provision of 100 megabits broadband will transform education in Ireland and place our children at the forefront of the digital revolution.
All secondary schools will soon reap the benefits.”
The event was a great success with the active participation of a number of teachers and pupils demonstrating the practical elements of this new bandwidth and was well-covered by the media,including a filmed report on TV3's news programmes on yesterday evening.
Attached below is a copy of the official Press Release issued by the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources in relation to the project.
Press Release:
Communications Minister Eamon Ryan today announced that the €13 million Broadband to Schools Scheme has delivered 100 megabit high speed fibre and wireless broadband to 78 second level schools nationwide.
The Renewed Programme for Government sets out that the Scheme will extend to all second-level schools nationwide in the next two years. Ireland is one the first countries in the world to deliver such a programme on a national level.
Over the last year, fibre-optic and wireless networks were installed in the 78 schools - at least one in every county. These networks will allow for speeds of 100 megabits per second, speeds similar to those on offer to multinational corporations based here.
Enhanced ICT facilities, including more than 1500 wireless digital projectors and 2000 laptops, have also been distributed.
At St. Colmcille’s Community School in Dublin today, the students demonstrated the capabilities of the technology by carrying out interactive science experiments, as well as going on a ‘virtual tour’ of the Louvre Museum in Paris. Minister Ryan said:
“The jobs of the future are in the digital economy and our children need to be confident and comfortable in the use of technology. Broadband of this capacity and quality will allow them to see and learn things in school that my generation could have only dreamed of.
We are changing the day-to-day classroom experience. “Chalk and talk” models won’t work any more. Learning needs to be multi-sensory and interactive, allowing students to learn in schools in the same way they socialise and learn at home. Seeing the students today making a virtual visit to the Louvre in Paris, is remarkable – they are stepping beyond the four walls of their classroom into a new world during their school day.
With this Scheme, we are creating the digital citizens - the writers, the inventors and the businesspeople – of the future. I believe the provision of 100 megabits broadband will transform education in Ireland and place our children at the forefront of the digital revolution.
All secondary schools will soon reap the benefits.”
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Allianz Pupil Personal Accident Insurance
Allianz Pupil Personal Accident Insurance will cover pupils attending VHI Swiftcare Clinics for treatment following an insured accident.
VHI Swiftcare Clinics are located in Dundrum, Swords and Glasnevin. Contact 1890866966. (Web www.vhi.ie/swiftcare) for further details.
Closing date for joining the St. Colmcille's Group Scheme is 30/09/10.
If interested in joining please send pupil's name, address and €8 premium to school office in an enveloped marked "Parents' Association - Insurance." Please make cheques payable to St. Colmcille's Parents' Association.
VHI Swiftcare Clinics are located in Dundrum, Swords and Glasnevin. Contact 1890866966. (Web www.vhi.ie/swiftcare) for further details.
Closing date for joining the St. Colmcille's Group Scheme is 30/09/10.
If interested in joining please send pupil's name, address and €8 premium to school office in an enveloped marked "Parents' Association - Insurance." Please make cheques payable to St. Colmcille's Parents' Association.
Reminder re. Parents' Association AGM
The Annual General Meeting of the Parents' Association takes place next Tuesday evening (28th September)at 8pm in the school.
We would again encourage as many parents as possible to attend the AGM particularly as we are this year proposing some changes to the Association's Constitution. The detail of these changes have already been given to each household via a communication sent home with each pupil a couple of weeks ago.
John McKennedy will also be providing a brief up-date on the results/findings of the Department of Education & Skills' Whole School Evaluation of St Colmcille's. This was the first year this new format was introduced by the Department and happily the school performed excellently in all facets.
John will also discuss the analysis of this year's Leaving and Junior Cert results.
The AGM represents an opportunity to question/discuss issues pertaining to our collective role as parents in the school and also affords an opportunity for parents to find out where the Association allocated funds in the past year.
We would again encourage as many parents as possible to attend the AGM particularly as we are this year proposing some changes to the Association's Constitution. The detail of these changes have already been given to each household via a communication sent home with each pupil a couple of weeks ago.
John McKennedy will also be providing a brief up-date on the results/findings of the Department of Education & Skills' Whole School Evaluation of St Colmcille's. This was the first year this new format was introduced by the Department and happily the school performed excellently in all facets.
John will also discuss the analysis of this year's Leaving and Junior Cert results.
The AGM represents an opportunity to question/discuss issues pertaining to our collective role as parents in the school and also affords an opportunity for parents to find out where the Association allocated funds in the past year.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Parents Association AGM - 28th September at 8pm
The meeting will include a presentation on Exam Results by Mr Mc Kennedy, and a report on the Whole School Evaluation which was carried out earlier this year by the Inspectorate from the Dept of Education and Skills.
NPCpp Leaving Cert Helpline - 1 800 265165
Lines are open for six days starting on 18th August - Leaving Cert results day.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
St Colmcilles School Book Exchange Website
Mr O'Neill and Ms Stapleton have set up a website for buying and selling second-hand schoolbooks. Click here and see if you can find a bargain - www.stcolmcilles.ie/yabb
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Debs 2010
The Debs Ball is being held on the 6th October this year. A very competent committee comprising a number of 6th year pupils have proved to be very adept at organising this major event on their calendar, so much so, the Parents Association are really only keeping a watching brief on these arrangements!
The cost of this years Debs is €80.00 which covers a 4-course meal, DJ, Band, Karaoke, security, a bar extension, early morning breakfast and travel to and from the event by bus! The bus will collect the pupils at the school. The 6th Year Committee have arranged for a teacher from the school to do the photography at the school, at a cost of €15 as opposed to €50 for a professional photographer. The committee were very happy with the school photographer last year and are delighted to avail of the service again this year!
The Parents' Association will host a reception at the school early in the evening for the debs, their partners and families.
Monday, May 03, 2010
Gaisce – The President’s Award
Gaisce, the President’s Award, is Ireland’s National Challenge Award, the country’s most prestigious and respected individual award programme, and a challenge from the President of Ireland, to young people between 15 and 25 years of age.
It is a self-directed program which aims to contribute to the development of young people through the achievement of personal challenges. Established in 1985, it has three levels - gold, silver & bronze. Young people may do some or all of the awards in any order. Gaisce is a member of the International Award Association of National Challenge Awards Worldwide.
TY students at St Colmcille’s are offered the opportunity to undertake the Gaisce challenge. Further information is available at www.gaisce.ie
It is a self-directed program which aims to contribute to the development of young people through the achievement of personal challenges. Established in 1985, it has three levels - gold, silver & bronze. Young people may do some or all of the awards in any order. Gaisce is a member of the International Award Association of National Challenge Awards Worldwide.
TY students at St Colmcille’s are offered the opportunity to undertake the Gaisce challenge. Further information is available at www.gaisce.ie
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Invitation to the National Parents Council pp Conference 2010
On the occasion of our 25th Anniversary, it gives the National Parents Council pp great pleasure to extend an invitation to all parents and Parent Associations of students in post primary schools, to attend our Conference 2010 'Empowering Parents - Risk or Opportunity' at 2pm, Friday the 30th of April and 9.30 am Saturday May 1st at the Clock Tower, Department of Education & Science, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1. We hope you will be able to join us for this special occasion and if you would like to receive a booking form and a copy of the agenda please contact Sandra Boylan at:
National Parents Council pp
Unit 5 Glasnevin Business Centre
Ballyboggan Road
Dublin 11
or by telephone: 01 8740350/email to: npcpp@eircom.net
National Parents Council pp
Unit 5 Glasnevin Business Centre
Ballyboggan Road
Dublin 11
or by telephone: 01 8740350/email to: npcpp@eircom.net
Friday, April 16, 2010
Hurling Skills Wall
The new hurling wall which was erected with funding from the parents association has added yet another great facility to our schools portfolio. The students in the school especially the hurling enthusiasts now have permanent place to practice their skills both at lunch time and after school. It is fitting that we won our first under 18 schools hurling title in the first year that the wall was erected and the senior hurling team are now to represent Dublin in the Leinster final. The skills wall will help with the development of our skills and hopefully bring many more winning trophies back to the school.
5th Year Student and member of the u18 school hurling panel.
5th Year Student and member of the u18 school hurling panel.
Art Exhibition
The ten-year-celebration art exhibition opened on Thursday, the 4th of March, in the Pearse Museum. It was officially opened by Declan McGonagle, the director of NCAD. Only 23 pieces were selected for exhibition, with six coming from past pupils studying in art college, so it was an honour to be chosen. All of the pieces looked very impressive framed and hung on the wall, and the opening evening was very enjoyable. There was a raffle, speeches, photographs and refreshments, and everyone was very congratulatory to the young artists. The exhibition is a great success; the first of many for several students.
3rd Year Student – Exhibiting 'Gone with the Wind'
3rd Year Student – Exhibiting 'Gone with the Wind'
Feeder Schools
In the 26th November, 2009 edition of The Irish Times, St Colmcille’s CS featured prominently in the list of top feeder schools for students who completed their Leaving Cert in 2009. In Dublin City & County, St Colmcille’s was sixth on a list which included many of the top fee-paying schools in the county - a terrific achievement for a school which had its first Leaving Cert in 2005! This is due to a combined effort by students, parents, teachers and school management. To quote our principal, John Mc Kennedy, ‘it represents the very best model of what community education should be about’.
Scoliosis Screening
In February 2010 the Parents Association arranged for a scoliosis specialist to come to the school and screen first, second and third year girls. This service had previously been withdrawn from schools in the Dublin area due to HSE cutbacks. However, with the proceeds from the colour day held on Friday the 5th of March being donated to the orthopaedic scoliosis fund in Our Ladies Childrens Hospital, the Hospital was happy to provide this service to the school. With an incidence of 2 in 100 girls in the general public showing signs of scoliosis, we feel it was a very worthwhile event.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Talks for Parents
Throughout the year the PA endeavour to provide talks for parents which are of interest & support. We kicked off this year with a talk on Depression from John Wills of AWARE. Due to public interest John gave a follow on talk in the Iona Centre. In February we had a well attended, informative talk on Dyslexia. In March we hosted a talk on Bereavement & Coping with Loss which was given by Maureen McCabe, a councillor from St John of Gods. And this month, just in time before the exams, we had a talk on Managing Stress. This talk proved both useful & enjoyable for parents & students alike.
This year the PA sought and found a facilitator for a Teenage Parenting Course. The evaluation from the completed courses from both parents & facilitator is very positive. As demand for this course is high, the PA have opted to hand it over to the Adult Education group & from September 2010 it will be run on that program.
We hope to continue to run interesting & informative topical talks throughout the academic year. All our speakers are registered speakers & talks are free of charge. Your attendance is very much appreciated.
This year the PA sought and found a facilitator for a Teenage Parenting Course. The evaluation from the completed courses from both parents & facilitator is very positive. As demand for this course is high, the PA have opted to hand it over to the Adult Education group & from September 2010 it will be run on that program.
We hope to continue to run interesting & informative topical talks throughout the academic year. All our speakers are registered speakers & talks are free of charge. Your attendance is very much appreciated.
ICT News
The Parents’ Association is pleased to have been able to provide financial assistance to the school in relation to the purchase and provision of new IT equipment. As a result of this initiative teachers and students now have a pc and overhead projector in each classroom. This greatly enhances the capacity of teachers to be innovative in terms of the delivery of the syllabus in the classroom.
More recently, St. Colmcille’s has been selected as one of the 78 second-level schools to participate in a Government-sponsored pilot project whereby 100mpbs of broadband will be provided to the school. Together with some additional IT hardware made available as part of this scheme, and the equipment previously funded by the Parents’ Association, both our current students and those who will enroll in the future will be among the best-equipped in the country in terms of access to the most modern teaching methods.
More recently, St. Colmcille’s has been selected as one of the 78 second-level schools to participate in a Government-sponsored pilot project whereby 100mpbs of broadband will be provided to the school. Together with some additional IT hardware made available as part of this scheme, and the equipment previously funded by the Parents’ Association, both our current students and those who will enroll in the future will be among the best-equipped in the country in terms of access to the most modern teaching methods.
Mock Interviews
A scheme run by the Parents’ Association with assistance from Ms Kenny - the career guidance teacher - has been in place for a number of years now whereby 6th years are offered a mock interview with someone from their chosen career area. We have a list of parents and members of the community who volunteer to be interviewers. Students submit a letter of application and their CV in advance of the interviews which are usually held in November.
The response of students who have taken part was overwhelmingly positive and the interviewers were very impressed and complimentary in their feedback. If you would like to help out by becoming one of our interviewers please contact Ms Kenny through the school or Sandra O’Reilly - 087 6799679 or parents@stcolmcilles.ie
The response of students who have taken part was overwhelmingly positive and the interviewers were very impressed and complimentary in their feedback. If you would like to help out by becoming one of our interviewers please contact Ms Kenny through the school or Sandra O’Reilly - 087 6799679 or parents@stcolmcilles.ie
Texting
In September 2009 the Parents Association set up the school’s texting service with SchoolsText.ie So far the response from parents has been very positive and the system seems to be working well. It was especially useful during the bad weather in January! In order to minimise the cost of texting, we try to limit the texts to one mobile number per family but we can accommodate requests for more if necessary. If you are not receiving texts or if your number has changed, please contact Antoinette on 0876832825 or send an email to parents@stcolmcilles.ie
Project Maths
Project Maths is the phased introduction of revised syllabuses for Junior and Leaving Cert Maths. It has been piloted in 24 schools around the country for the last two years and the first students will sit their leaving cert this summer.
For next year’s first and fifth years it will begin in September 2010 with the introduction of Strands 1 and 2. The new syllabuses incorporate changes to the content and approach to teaching and learning. Further information is available on the National Council for Curriculum Assessment (NCCA) website www.ncca.ie/projectmaths
For next year’s first and fifth years it will begin in September 2010 with the introduction of Strands 1 and 2. The new syllabuses incorporate changes to the content and approach to teaching and learning. Further information is available on the National Council for Curriculum Assessment (NCCA) website www.ncca.ie/projectmaths
Talk for Parents - Stress Management
'Improve your Performance in Exams & Daily Life'
A talk by Orlaith Donoghue, St. John of God’s
Venue: St. Colmcille’s Community School
Date: Monday, 19th April @ 7.30pm
All Welcome
Saturday, March 27, 2010
New Uniform Supplier
Spurred on by our disappointment with the quality of the school jumper supplied by Arnotts last year, and given the seemingly high cost of the uniform in the current recessionary climate, we decided to investigate the cost and quality of other uniform suppliers in the market.
We are delighted to announce that we have found a new supplier who we are confident will supply us with a high quality product at a cheaper price, with an excellent quality of service. The Schoolwear House, Unit 3 Ballyogan Business Park, Ballyogan Road, Dublin 18 - Phone: 2921540.
As part of our contract, they will supply a complete team kit, in the school colours, for each year we continue to do business with them. They will be visiting the school in early June - details to be provided at a later date.
Also look out for the second-hand school coat sale to be organised with the help of the Student Council. And finally, we are investigating launching a healthy feet campaign for the students in the school. Watch this space!
We are delighted to announce that we have found a new supplier who we are confident will supply us with a high quality product at a cheaper price, with an excellent quality of service. The Schoolwear House, Unit 3 Ballyogan Business Park, Ballyogan Road, Dublin 18 - Phone: 2921540.
As part of our contract, they will supply a complete team kit, in the school colours, for each year we continue to do business with them. They will be visiting the school in early June - details to be provided at a later date.
Also look out for the second-hand school coat sale to be organised with the help of the Student Council. And finally, we are investigating launching a healthy feet campaign for the students in the school. Watch this space!
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