An Tionól Teagaisc
October 16, 2012
A second Irish Language Teaching Conference organised by the support network for Irish language teachers, An tSeirbhís Tacaíochta Dara Leibhéal don Ghaeilge will begin on the 9-10 of November 2012.
The theme of the conference is ‘An Chumarsáid sa Ghaeilge; Guthanna ón seomra ranga’.
The conference will be officially opened in the Ardilaun Hotel on Friday evening and will commence on Saturday morning in the National University Galway. Over 440 teachers attended the Teaching Conference last year and hopefully the attendance will be higher this year.
There will be a wide range of practical workshops presented by language teachers and other experts. They will be focusing on strategies and how to promote the speaking of the language. On Saturday there will be a various speakers giving presentations and there will be plenty of opportunities to meet with other teachers and exchange views.
The programme for Saturday can be found here
Further information: oifig@muinteoirgaeilge.ie
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Salomé arna Léiriú ag Splódar
October 15, 2012
Club Óige Setanta joins Youth in Action Programme
October 15, 2012
Irish language youth club Club Óige Setanta, based in Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin in Derry, has won funding from the European Union to run a joint youth exchange with a youth group from Bilbao, Spain.
Eight young people and three leaders from the club will travel to Bilbao on October 27 and stay until November 3. The young people will be working together on the promotion of understanding between minority language youths; of links between minority language groups to help tackle difficulties experienced, and the promotion of the support provided by the European Union. Club Óige Setanta won the funding through the Youth in Action programme managed in the UK by the British Council and funded by the European Union.
The programme helps young people to become active citizens and better equipped for the world of work, and promotes solidarity, social cohesion and co-operation within Europe and neighbouring countries. Sinéad Warnock, group leader with Club Óige Setanta told the ‘Journal’: “I really think our young people will take a lot away from this trip, not only will they get to experience a new culture but they’ll have an inside view into how local Basque people view their own culture and language. This will in turn heighten their interest and understanding of how they themselves fit into Irish culture and we hope that they will gain a sense of pride as they begin to understand their importance as speakers of their native tongue and what advantages this in turn offers them.” Head of EU Programmes at the British Council, Simon William, added: “Youth in Action aims to prepare young people for life and work in our global society.” “Initiatives like this one help to build trust and understanding between people of different cultures. They also broaden our young peoples’ horizons and equip them with the skills and understanding they need to become global citizens.”
For more information on Club Óige Setanta, please contact Sinéad Warnock on: 71 264132 or 07849394001 or email: sinead@culturlann-doire.ie.
www.derryjournal.com
Up to 5,000 teachers in the firing line for cuts
October 15, 2012
MORE than 5,000 teachers face losing their allowances under a government review.
One of the targets is an allowance of between €532 and €1,572 paid to more than 2,750 primary and post-primary principals. Two in three of the country’s principals are in receipt of the payment for acting as secretary to the school board of management. The payment of a similar allowance to principals acting as secretary to a board of management in an institute of technology is also under scrutiny. Special allowances paid to teachers who teach through Irish, work in the Gaeltacht or who work on an island, are also being targeted for abolition.
The Gaeltacht grant is worth €3,063 to about 780 primary and post-primary teachers, while about 1,800 receive an annual €1,583 for teaching through Irish. About 30 teachers are in receipt of the island allowance, which is worth €1,842 per year. Department of Public expenditure and Reform general secretary Robert Watt has told the Department of Education that these were the priority for elimination. The proposal will now be discussed with the trade unions.
www.independent.ie
Tá eagla orm ahead of Gaelscoil grilling
October 15, 2012
I’ve been summoned to an interview for a primary school.
Not for me — for Miss Almost Nine Months old. Yes, seriously! Apparently, it’s time to secure a place for September 2016. We decided on a Gaelscoil, so a friend advised me to speak as Gaeilge during the interview to create the ‘right’ impression. So … this very bun-leibheal mammy will attempt to caint enough Gaeilge to wedge little missy’s foot firmly in the doras. Oh ta eagla orm! I really didn’t expect this but perhaps it’s to check if I’ll tuig the parent-teacher meetings. Of course, if she’s like mise, I’ll get by on ‘Cailin dana’ agus ‘Ta si ag caint gan stad!’
Now, when it comes to Conas ata tus, I can hold my own and even show off with my Dia is Muire Duit a Iosa. But beyond that, it’s going to be an uphill struggle — which is a disgrace and why we want her to go to a Gaelscoil and acquire more than just a cupla focal. Agus Dadai? He’s suggested that he doesn’t attend as his Irish is limited to “Ta an-athas orm an corn seo a ghlacadh ar foireann Uibh Fhaili”. Mind you, with him being a Biffo, it’s a rare occasion that he gets to say or hear it! So it’s just mise. But I’ve a plan. I’m going to replicate my Irish oral exam; learn and regurgitate a big spiel as soon as I’m asked a question, any question, thus preventing the muinteoir from getting a word in edgeways.
It’s a risky strategy I know, but my only other Irish trick is to do my one, two, threes. They are rather impressive. I think. I could even put my hands behind my back and accompany it with a rendition of Aon Focal Eile. But dadai assures me that whatever damage my Gaeilge or his GAA speech might do, my dancing would be a fait accompli.
Let’s just hope they don’t read this! If they do, gabh mo leithsceal, ta bron orm.
www.independent.ie
Parents to be surveyed on school patronage
October 15, 2012
Another area of Dublin has been included in the list of areas where parents will be surveyed on the possibility of replacing a Catholic primary school with a new patron.
The Department of Education is to begin surveying five of the areas this month and extend it to the other 39 areas next month. However, it is understood issues which have arisen with some parties to the process have delayed the exercise. The announcement of a new primary school to be opened in Dublin 4 in the short-term, means prospective patrons are now being asked instead if they wish to take over a school in the Ballyfermot/Chapelizod/Palmerstown area. The Irish Examiner has also learned at least five groups have expressed interest in becoming patrons of new schools in some or most of the 43 areas already identified, in the event there is parental demand for change.
They include established patrons: City and county VECs in the relevant areas, the multi-denominational schools group Educate Together, and all-Irish schools’ patron An Foras Pátrúnachta. Interest has also been expressed by Nigerian-founded church the Redeemed Christian Church of God, which applied unsuccessfully last year to become patron in three areas of Dublin where new primary schools are planned. The National Learning Network has also sought to become a patron. The applicant patrons will be banned from doing leaflet drops under a Department of Education code aimed at ensuring a level playing field. A spokesperson for the department said details of the survey process and where they will be carried out will be announced later this month. In each area, the parents of all primary pupils and those with children not yet at school will be asked if they are satisfied with current choices of schools and, if not, which of the patrons interested in taking over a school in their area they would prefer. The areas include 12 in the Dublin Catholic archdiocese, and four each in Tuam, Killaloe, and Waterford & Lismore. There are three areas each in the Cloyne and Cork & Ross dioceses.
www.irishexaminer.com
Saturday club – Naíscoil Éadain Mhóir
October 15, 2012
Naíscoil Éadain Mhóir will open a free of charge Saturday Fun Club for nursery school children this weekend.
Naíscoil teacher, Mairéad Mc Daid, will offer Naíscoil children and their parents a chance to learn Irish songs and rhymes, listen to Irish language stories and have fun playing together in a fully equipped nursery school. The one hour long Irish language club, commences at 11am and will initially run for six weeks. Any parent interested in attending can contact Múinteoir Mairéad at Naíscoil and Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir, Brandywell , Derry on 02871268020 to register.
www.derryjournal.com
Oifigeach Forbartha Ógras
October 15, 2012
Free Hallowe’en Posters
October 12, 2012
You can download a free Hallowe’en poster from An Ionad Buail Isteach (image below). Hard copies can be ordered by sending an email to ionadbuailisteach@gmail.com and indicate if it’s A4 or A3 you need.
Have a happy Hallowe’en!
New Building System for Schools
October 12, 2012
If your school is planning expansion and extension works over the next couple of years, we want to bring to your attention to an alternative to conventional construction that is more cost effective, far quicker to construct, gauranteed for minumum of 30 years, complies with building regulations and is becoming increasingly popular among schools in Ireland.
Sprung Structures supply individually engineered framed membrane structures. The image below illustrates our latest completion at Blackrock College, Co. Dublin.
If you are attending next weeks NAPD conference in Galway then we look forward to seeing you there, or alternatively please do not hesitate to get in contact with us for more information.
CI Structures Ltd
Tel: 01 473 0823
Mobile: 087 672 7659
Web Address: www.cistructures.com
