Nursery proposal turned down
August 23, 2012
A development proposal for a new full-time nursery unit at Gaelscoil na Daróige in Derry has been turned down.
Education Minister, John O’Dowd says the decision to turn down the proposal was carefully considered.
“The challenge I face is not simply to create more pre-school places, but rather to ensure pre-school provision reflects the needs of the local area.
“Each development proposal must be carefully considered on the basis of all the information pertinent to the individual case. In this particular case, I am satisfied that there is already sufficient Irish- medium pre-school provision in the area,” he says.
www.derryjournal.com
An tÁisaonad
June 26, 2012
Ministers visit local gaelscoil
June 26, 2012
Three Stormont ministers visited Derry’s Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir yesterday morning.
Culture minister Carál Ní Chuilín, education minister John O’Dowd, and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness visited the Gasyard school to celebrate its 14th anniversary.
During the visit, Ms Ní Chuilín announced a new target of 5,000 fluent Irish speakers as part of the Líofa 2015 initiative.
“I am delighted to be announcing an ambitious new target of getting 5,000 new fluent Irish speakers by 2015. There could be no more appropriate setting than Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir in Derry.
“The school has grown from strength to strength and is now a shining example of how the Irish language builds thriving communities based on inclusion, equality and respect. For fourteen years, the parents, governors, supporters and, most of all, children associated with the Gaelscoil have taken their ‘aisling’ – their dream – and made it a reality.”
www.derryjournal.com
Roma – ‘you’re the best’ teacher
May 29, 2012
Gaelscoil na Daroige teacher Roma Rudd has been named winner of the first Derry Journal ‘Teacher – You’re The Best’ competition.
The 24 year-old munteoir was “humbled” this week when she discovered that she had received the most votes in the inaugural competition. Delighted Roma received a prize of £200 in vouchers to spend at Foyleside Shopping Centre, which sponsored the award.
Speaking to the ‘Journal’, Roma – who has been teaching for just two years – said: “It’s great to win the award both for me and the school. The parents and the pupils have been very good to me here, I couldn’t have dreamed of such thoughtful support.”
Roma teaches a class made up of Primary 1 and 2 pupils as the young Ballymagroarty school – which was founded in 2005 – continues to grow. She has taught eight P2 pupils since they first began their primary education at the school and admits she’s made quite a “connection” with them.
“I love them to bits but I know they’ll only be moving next door when the new school year starts.”
Roma simply loves teaching at “close knit” Gaelscoil Na Daroige, where everyone knows each other. She is quick to point out the close working relationship of staff in the school to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently and in the best interests of the pupils. She said; “The staff are all great here and work very well to make sure the children are given the best education.”
In particular, Roma said she could never accept an award without paying tribute to her classroom assistant Caitlin Ni Dhochartaigh, who started working at the school at the same time she did. “I’d be lost without Caitlin,” she added.
Roma, who doesn’t come from an Irish speaking background, fell in love with Gaeilge when she studied at Lumen Christi College under Mrs Bronach O’Hare, who she rates as “great teacher and influence”. She also spent time studying in the Donegal Gaeltacht area of Loch An Iuir and later completed a Bachelor of Education Degree through the medium of Irish at St Mary’s University College in Belfast. “Surprisingly there is no teaching background in my family or Irish speakers, although some family members have the odd focal,” she explained.
Getting a full-time teaching post has been exciting for Roma and her joy during the first two years as a teacher has been capped by the accolade of being voted the best teacher in the area. However, the excitement won’t stop there for Miss Rudd, who will once again be celebrating next year, although by then she’ll be a Mrs as she’s due to wed fiance Kevin McKenna in 2013.
Competition winner Roma was nominated by Primary 2 pupil Jake Campbell-McLaughlin, who said his teacher “tells the best stories” among many other things.
The six-year old pupil is looking forward to moving on to P3 in September but admits that he’ll miss his teacher of two years. And the youngster didn’t mince his words when voicing his admiration for Miss Rudd: “She’s the best teacher in the world,” he exclaimed..
In his nomination, Jake stated: “Munteoir Roma gives us a reward at the end of the week if we have good behaviour and share and take turns with friends and listen when our munteoir speaks as it helps us learn more. She is the best teacher in our school and she is the best at science, I really love doing science.”
Geraldine Gallagher, Derry Journal Marketing Executive, said there had been a “magnificent response” to the competition. She said; “There has been a fantastic number of entries for the first ever ‘Teacher – You’re The Best’ competition. We’ve been busy sifting through the nominations and it’s great to see that teachers are so well thought of by their pupils for their hard work and dedication to education.”
Congratulating Roma on being named the first winner of the Derry Journal ‘Teacher – You’re The Best’ title, Geraldine said: “Roma Rudd was a clear winner, securing a large number of votes and is a very worthy recipient of the fantastic prize of £200 in vouchers for Foyleside Shopping Centre.”
Geraldine also congratulated the 46 teachers who received the most nominations and competed for the title in the final wave of public voting.
Foyleside Shopping Centre Manager, Fergal Rafferty added: “Foyleside Shopping Centre is delighted to sponsor the Derry Journal’s ‘Teacher – You’re the Best’ award. We all know the importance of the education of our children and the extremely high teaching standards expected from our teachers .
“It is fitting that the dedication and commitment of all of our teachers is recognised and we congratulate the lucky winning teacher Roma Rudd of Gaelscoil na Daroige and wish her lots of enjoyment and some retail therapy spending her Foyleside gift vouchers.”
www.derryjournal.com
North West Réalt Uladh competition
January 19, 2012
Schoolkids from across the North West are to take part in the Réalt Uladh Irish language competition which will be held at LYIT, Letterkenny, on Saturday, February 18.
The event boasts participants from Derry, Donegal, Antrim and Tyrone.
“Without a doubt, our acknowledgement, sincere thanks and congratulations must go to all of the parents, teachers etc., who help prepare the children and young people so magnificently for their competitions”, said Caitlín Conluain, Stiúrthóir Réalt Uladh.
“They are enriching our culture, music and heritage by keeping spoken Irish alive.”
Réalt Uladh consists of thirty competitions which cover the full spectrum of poetry recitation, reading, writing, drama and singing.
The competitions take place through the medium of Irish and are open to children and young people of all abilities (bun-ghrád and ard-ghrád), from pre-school to P7 and Year 8 class.
The aims of Réalt Uladh are to provide children with the opportunity to improve their Irish, give them the confidence to speak Irish, to obtain fluency in the national language and to experience the diverse aspects of Irish culture.
Primary school children can take part in all 10 competitions within their School Class Category. There is a beginners and advanced stage in the different poetry recitation categories. The categories are Pre-school, P1-P7 and Year 8, which will be held in eight different rooms at LYIT.
For further information or to download a Réalt Uladh 2012 entry form, log on to: www.realtuladh.com or contact Caitlín at caitlin.conluain@lyit.ie or on Tel: 087-3232326. The closing date for all entries including postal and e-mail entries is Friday, January 27.
The Réalt Uladh Office will also be open on Friday, January 27 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. to take entries or queries.
The entry fee is 3 euro per competition. Cheques should be made payable to Réalt Uladh.
For group entry fees, check www.realtuladh.com No late entries will be accepted. Everybody is welcome to attend and listen to the competitors.
Derry Journal
Ó Ghlúin go Glúin CD launch
January 4, 2012
Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir have launched a CD called Ó Ghlúin go Glúin (From Generation to Generation) which includes school pupils singing well known songs in Irish.
Some of the popular titles covered in the CD are Cailín Álainn and Buachaill ón Eirne. there are also a number of instrumental versions of the songs in order that the CD may be used as an Irish language teaching aid.
The Ó Ghlúin go Glúin (From Generation to Generation) CD has been published by Dearcán Media and funded by Foras na Gaeilge.
It was directed by Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir music co-ordinator, Patricia Mhic Thorcaill, and the children are accompanied by school staff Katie Nic Aindreasa on piano and fiddle and Pól Mac Bradaigh on flute, bouzoki and low whistle.
Mary Nic Ailín, school principal, said: “We are extremely proud of the children who sing beautifully on this CD. We are eternally grateful to the school staff and Dearcán Media who directed this project from start to finish. “We are delighted that Foras na Gaeilge decided to sponsor this worthwhile CD which will be of benefit to many teachers, parents and children in the future.”
“Not only does this CD include outstanding singing, it will also be of great benefit to educators in the Irish medium sector all over Ireland and to groups who promote Irish Music and Culture as the CD includes instrumental versions of all of the songs which can be used in your own class or school as an accompaniment for the children who are singing.”
The Ó Ghlúin go Glúin (From Generation to Generation) CDs are available to buy or order from the school. Contact the school office on 71268020 or An Cló Ceart at Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin on 71264132.
DERRY JOURNAL
New classes in Carndonagh with Spraoi agus Sport
August 15, 2011
