Co. Louth VEC meeting visits Bush Post-primary School

Co. Louth VEC held its first meeting of the 2010 school year in Bush Post-primary School, Dundalk. The meeting took place on 9th September last and the committee was welcomed to the school by the Principal, Ms. Teresa McKevitt, the Deputy Principal, Ms. Sinéad McDonnell and the school’s twenty strong prefect student group. Co. Louth VEC last held a monthly meeting in Bush Post-primary School in June 2008.

Principal Teresa McKevitt addressed the committee before the start of the meeting stating that it was with great pride that she welcomed the committee to the school. “The entire community is extremely proud of our school and this meeting here tonight provides management, staff and students alike with the opportunity to showcase the school’s excellence to the committee”. Ms. McKevitt briefed the committee on recent developments at the school including the range of refurbishment works recently completed, the very successful Summer Music School that was held in August and the development of a hair dressing suite for Transition Year and Leaving Certificate Applied students. Ms. McKevitt paid tribute to the staff of Bush Post-primary school for their commitment to the school and their dedication to their students; she also praised the school’s student body, and in particular the class of 2010, for the excellent results that they achieved in the 2010 Leaving Certificate examinations.

Colr. Oliver Tully, Chairman of Co. Louth VEC, thanked the school on behalf of the committee for hosting the first meeting of the school year and indicated that the VEC looked forward to having the opportunity to return to Bush Post-primary at a future date.

First Co. Louth VEC Adult Learning Service Education Conference a Great Success

Co. Louth VEC’s Adult Learning Service held their first Education Conference, entitled A Celebration of Learning last Wednesday in the Westcourt Hotel. The central theme of the conference was the difference the experience of returning to learning can make to the lives of adults. The conference organisers, Maria Morgan and Lorraine Murphy, wanted to celebrate this difference and to mark the work that goes on in adult learning in the local area all year round. The event was a resounding success with the number of attendees exceeding all expectations.

Co. Louth VEC’s Adult Education Officer, Sadie Ward McDermott gave the opening address on the day and welcomed everyone to the proceedings. Guest speakers included Mary Wilton, who, over 20 years ago, was one of the first learners on the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) programme here in Drogheda. She described her journey through adult education having progressed from VTOS to a degree in psychology in Trinity College and subsequently on to obtaining a Masters. Máire Dempsey was also a guest speaker, travelling all the way from Clare where she is Co-ordinator of the Shannon Adult Learning Service. Máire spoke about the impact of learning on everyday life and how we are continually learning every moment of every day. Workshops in a variety of areas such as Boost Your Confidence; Discover Your Learning Style, and Change Your Life Through Learning were also held on the day and these proved to be very popular with attendees.

Report on Capital Projects

Staff will be delighted at the amount of refurbishments and improvements that have been carried our over the summer in our schools and centres and this work will continue for the coming months.

Drogheda Centre for Continuing Education will see major renovations over the coming months. This 1930’s listed building will soon have a lift installed to facilitate access for the public. The toilet facilities will be upgraded along with the fire alarm system and the emergency lighting system.

A new extension has opened in Drogheda Institute of Further Education and this will facilitate all students on the one campus. The new extension blends in beautifully with the existing building and will go a long way in relieving the need for space in the College.

St. Oliver’s Community College in Drogheda has seen major refurbishment and upgrading works in the past twelve months. The external drainage system has been replaced and new footpaths have been installed. A new ultra modern external CCTV system has also been installed which included 24 hour monitoring of the school grounds, including all school buildings, car parks and playing field. Inside the building the school’s electrical system has been completely upgraded and is now a modern energy efficient network. A new fire alarm and emergency lighting system has also been installed.

Refurbishments have taken place in the staffroom and main office block to reflect a modern working environment. The gymnasium has also received a long overdue facelift which includes the upgrading of the toilets, shower facilities, changing rooms, offices and storage spaces.

Planning is under way for a new extension which we hope will be operational in September 2011.

This summer has seen the completion of a new library in Scoil Uí Mhuirí, Dunleer. New disabled toilet facilities will be installed in the coming weeks and over the next few months a new extension and toilet refurbishments will take place. It is hoped that like, St. Oliver’s in Drogheda, the new extension will be complete by 2011.

Work is currently under way on a new state of the art Home Economics room in O’Fiaich College. This will involve the complete refurbishment of one of the Home Economics rooms and the installation of modern, energy efficient equipment. Planning is underway to seek funds for the extension of the solar photovoltaics panels on the roof of the building. These panels have proven to be very successful and cost effective. A new lift has also been installed in the College in recent months.

Renovations are also underway at Bush Post Primary school. All the windows are being replaced and the single glazing has been replaced with double glazing. The heating system has also been refurbished and between the windows and the heating the efficiencies will be calculable. Work is also underway on new disabled toilet facilities which should be complete by the end of the month.

Management recognise the disruption caused to staff and students during this period and greatly appreciate the co-operation received.

Co. Louth VEC schools initiate new approach to teaching Science

Co. Louth VEC has recently joined forces with the Discover Sensors project of the national Discover Science and Engineering (DSE) Programme that will see the introduction of a new and innovative approach to teaching science in its schools. The schools involved include O’Fiaich College in Dundalk, Bush Post-primary School in Riverstown, Dundalk, Scoil Uí Mhuirí in Dunleer and St. Oliver’s Community College in Drogheda.

DSE is the national integrated science, engineering and technology awareness programme managed by Forfás on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. DSE’s main aim is to increase interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (or STEM subjects) among primary and post-primary students.

The Discover Sensors project will bring a new focus, and the integration of technology, to the teaching and learning of science in Co. Louth VEC schools. The project supports the use of sensor technology in hands-on scientific investigations by junior cycle Science students. It will help provide students with an experience of "real science" in the classroom by supporting the investigative approach promoted by the Science syllabus.

As part of the project DSE will deliver an integrated programme of continuous professional development to the science teachers of Co. Louth VEC. The teacher CPD programme will start next month and will incorporate a blended approach to using face-to-face, out of school, in school and on-line modules to the VEC science teachers.

Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Pádraig Kirk, CEO of Co. Louth VEC, said that he “was delighted for the VECs schools to be involved in this project; the project will mark the beginning of a strategic partnership between DSE and Co. Louth VEC, with both organisations working together to spearhead the importance of STEM in the development of the SMART economy”.

Partners in the Discover Sensors project include the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE), the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), the Education Centre Network, the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) and ICT Ireland (IBEC).

Free Classes for VEC Staff

As part of our ongoing commitment to In-Service training for our employees Co. Louth VEC is continuing to waive the payment of course fees for all staff who attend courses operating under the auspices of it's adult education programme.
Courese are being offered in O'Fiaich Institute in Dundalk and DIFE/St. Olivers in Drogheda. They will start later this month and enrolment takes place on the 13th and 14th September. Staff application forms are available in each VEC centre.
Click here for information on Dundalk courses, here for DIFE and here for St. Olivers.

Meet Our Admin Staff

Standing (l-r): Grace O’Shaughnessy, Fiona Begley, Gavin Traynor, Pauline White, Debbie Woods, Martine Kimmins, Edel Neary, Caroline Hand, Frances Devine, Kathy Maguire, Gráinne Laverty.

Seated (l-r): Veronica Traynor, Anne Whyte, Joan Regan, Aileen Conry.

Missing from photo: Gillian Begley, Rosaleen Hough, Marie Keelan, Teresa Ludlow, Áine Lynn.