Blinds for Schools Scheme
June 27, 2012
Galway based Printed Blinds Factory have launched their “Blinds for Schools Scheme” at the IPPN conference in Dublin on the 26th January 2012. Blinds are printed with educational designs such as Irish literacy, English literacy (alphabet), numeracy (numbers, multiplication table), anti-bullying, recycling and more. Each blind will be kindly financed by the sponsor.The scheme is not only about providing blinds to schools. It is a part of large scale research on energy saving EcoSunFilterTM fabric and how educationally printed blinds can improve learning. The participating schools will be asked to fill research forms before and after the installation, to provide first hand insights into the effectiveness of putting educational designs on window blinds in classrooms.Thanks to this idea schools not only get the blind they need but also utilize the unused window space as an educational aid.
We are offering prints in Irish and Gearóid from Foras na Gaeilge is supporting us making sure that the designs are correct.
Our short video presentation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZgqAM_MyjI
By using our blinds instead of blackout blinds children are not closed in a dark box for half the day. Children’s’ eyes are experiencing severe pressure when they sit in a dark classroom and then they go outside. The effect is similar to what we experience when coming out of the cinema, but the students experience that several times a day every day for many years of their life.
Through the scheme we want to offer the blinds to schools for free, and have them sponsored by companies and bodies that want to promote their educational messages on the blinds in the classrooms.We are a blinds company not an advertising agency and this is designed to help fund schools and provide them with free top quality blinds. The scheme was designed not to breach the anti-commercialism policies of particular schools.
Any primary school in Ireland is free to join the scheme, and can do so by calling the registration office (1800 254637, 091 799611) www.printedblindsfactory.com
Gaelscoil an Chuilinn
June 27, 2012
Lá Oiliúna Don Luath Léitheoireacht
June 27, 2012
Irish language media make a Rí-rá about going online
June 27, 2012
A new online media resource for Irish speakers – Meon Eile (meoneile.ie) – has gone live.
The site, launched in Belfast on Monday, aims to give browsers regular written news, sport, music and cultural features as well as videos in Irish. Meon Eile’s producer Sinéad Ingoldsby said they intended to produce high-quality material and “interesting stories on a user-friendly site” to cater for Irish speakers on the web.
Raidió Rí-Rá (rrr.ie), an Irish-language station which plays chart music for young people, also announced Monday that they would begin to broadcast live on the Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) platform in Dublin and Waterford this Sunday, in Cork and Limerick by the end of 2012 and nationally after that.
As well as being online, Raidió Rí-Rá is available on iPhone, Nokia and Android phones through the TuneIn application.
www.irishtimes.com
Intensive Irish course for post-primary teachers – free of charge!
June 27, 2012
If you’re a post-primary school teacher who teaches through Irish, you’ll have a great opportunity to improve your language skills this summer because COGG (An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta) is organising an intensive Irish language course again this year. The programme, which is being run in conjunction with Gaelchultúr, is aimed at those teaching in post-primary Gaeltacht and all-Irish schools and will be held in Coláiste an Eachréidh, Athenry, Co. Galway, between 20-24 August 2012. The course is free of charge and lunch will be provided to participants each day.
“This is the fourth year we’re running the course,” says Éamonn Ó Dónaill, Gaelchultúr’s Director of Education. “The demand for places has been extremely high to date and we expect this year’s programme to be equally popular.
“It’s a very practical course, in which the emphasis is on everyday school language and on the main aspects of Irish grammar. Specialised sessions are also provided, allowing participants to get to grips with the specific language and jargon used in their own subjects, and teachers are also given information about the most useful technological resources available for Irish. The programme appeals to teachers because it caters so well for their needs.”
The intensive course received glowing praise from last year’s participants and some of their feedback can be seen below.
“This is my first year teaching in a Gaelcholáiste and I have more confidence now having done this course. I’m very happy with the resources I got and with the grammar book. I also had the opportunity to ask the subject specialist any question I wished. The teacher was excellent and very friendly.”
“I have learned a lot. I’ll definitely be back next year.”
“I learned a lot of rules I hadn’t known.”
“Everyone question I asked was answered and the rules are much clearer now.”
The course brochure is available here and you can register for the programme here.
Applications must be received by 29 June 2012.
Online EPV courses: a chance for teachers to study at their leisure
June 27, 2012
With the school year drawing to a close, the country’s pupils and teachers are about to get a well-deserved rest. The youth of Ireland will be spending long days relaxing at the seaside and, as Gaelchultúr is offering a wide range of online courses this summer, there’s no reason why the teachers shouldn’t do likewise.
Gaelchultúr is offering eight EPV courses to primary school teachers this year, all of which can be completed from any location of the participant’s choosing, provided that there’s internet access available. All courses are recognised by the Department of Education and Skills and entitle successful participants to three EPV days. Additional information and sample material are available for each of those courses on www.gaelchultur.com.
“We believe that there will be a high level of demand for the two new courses we’ve developed this year,” says Éamonn Ó Dónaill, Gaelchultúr’s Director of Education.
“Teachers often have difficulties organising fun language activities in the classroom, but they’ll get plenty of ideas from the lesson plans and the videos that form a central part of the course How to Teach Irish Effectively in the Classroom.
“We feel confident that teachers will also be very interested in our other new course: the Advanced Course in Accuracy in Irish for Primary School Teachers. Over 600 teachers have done the Basic Course in Accuracy in Irish for Primary School Teachers to date, and this new course will give them an opportunity to focus on more challenging grammatical rules and to perfect their language skills.”
Each course costs €75.
Scoil Mhín na Manrach closes its gates for the last time
June 27, 2012
While primary students across the country revel in the thoughts of their school closing for the summer, pupils of Scoil Mhín na Manrach ar broken hearted at the fact that they will not return in September.
Having served the community for over 100 years, this school in Na Rosa has now closed its gates for the last time. Pupil numbers have fallen so low, the Department of Education and Skills took the decision to close the school.
On the school’s last day, as sole teacher and Principal Bernadette Ní Dhuibhir called the roll, only five names were called. Of these five, there were pupils in Senior Infants, First, Second, and Fifth Class. To comply with health and safety regulations, the management committee had to employ a full time secretary so that there would be two adults on site at all times. Of those enrolled, many were the third generation of their family to attend the school.
In 2008, €400,000 was spent on developments for the school which is nestled in the hills of Na Rossa. The school was more than adequately equipped, with resources and amenities to cater for up to 60 students, with interactive white boards, and twelve computers.
Talks are ongoing at the moment among the management committee in relation to an amalgamation with Scoil Chróine, a much larger school, 8km away, within the same parish. Scoil Chróine has a staff of 10 teachers plus a Principal, and caters for approximately 270 students.
While the students of Scoil Mhín na Manrach were studying entirely through Irish up until now, it would seem the language policy in the larger school in the parish is not as rigid, and many of the students would not themselves be native Irish speakers.
Bernadette NÍ Dhuibhir, Principal of Scoil Mhín na Manrach said the school was “at the heart of the community. The community are now lamenting the days where the familiar babble of school kids playing in the yard could be heard echoing across the hills, a sound which will be heard no longer”.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
State your priorities for primary level curriculum!
June 26, 2012
Seize the opportunity to state your priorities for primary level curriculum to the NCCA before this Saturday 30th June by answering the question in the link below. Please forward also to colleagues and friends.
It is vital that the Irish-medium sector voices its opinions and priorities. While the question is in English answers are welcomed as Gaeilge.
To support the advancement at primary level, we welcome your opinions on the priorities for primary level curriculum. As well as literacy and numeracy, what are the priorities that we should focus on in primary schools? In 100 words or less, please share your opinions with us.
€300,000 in grants for An Ghaeltacht
June 26, 2012
The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has recently announced that €300,000 in funding for Gaeltacht areas will be rolled out in the coming months.
The funding has been allocated to several Gaeltacht areas in Galway, Kerry and Mayo.
The €300,000 in funding will have a huge effect on 6 separate projects announced by Minister of State Dinny McGinley during the month of June.
A wide range of projects, both current and new, will benefit from the funding made available by the Department.
The figures and the projects
A grant of €110,000 has been made available to An Gaelacadamh in Spidéal in support of their ongoing preservation and development of the local music, dance and song in the Gaeltacht region.
€100,000 has been granted to the Connacht branch of the GAA to go towards the educational football and handball scheme that is currently being rolled out in Conamara’s schools. The scheme is an opportunity for local schoolchildren to use and develop the language in a fun and informal setting.
Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne will receive €35,000 to assist in the continued employment of their current Irish language co-ordinator who will continue to serve the Corca Dhuibhne community.
A grant of €29,000 has been made available to go towards the annual salary of the current Irish language speech therapist also serving the Corca Dhuibhne community.
Galway County Council will receive €15,000 to assist in the building of a shelter at Cleggan Pier which will be utilised by the people of Inis Boffin.
€10,000 has been allocated for minor repair works in Coláiste Uisce, Mayo, and will also go towards further investment in water sports equipment.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
€1 Million Childcare Centre in Carna officially opened
June 26, 2012
Advancements on a new Childcare Centre in Carna which was officially opened on 18 June were made with an investment of €1 million funded by Pobal and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
“Without a doubt, the centre plays a critical role in providing pre-school and after school services and facilities through the medium of Irish for the local community”, State Minister Dinny McGinley said at the official opening of the Centre.
Forbairt Chonamara Láir played a central role in the development of the centre which has been providing services since September.
There are 40 children attending naíonra, Montessori and after school services and in addition to the Centre’s everyday functions, play groups and summer camps are also available which provide extra support for the local community.
The Centre employs eight childcare professionals and also stands as centre-point in terms of early education through Irish and supporting families raising children through Irish.
The Centre has developed significantly since it opened in September having extended the number of children attending services from 14 – 40 in that time.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
