Self- Evaluation for Schools

Six subject departments across three of Co. Louth VEC’s post-primary schools arecurrently engaging in a self-evaluation process. Each department is facilitated to examinethe work of the department, identify best practice and to explore how teaching andlearning can be further improved. At the start of the process teachers completed a self-evaluation questionnaire in relation to their own teaching and made recommendationsfor the further professional development of the department.

A tailor made package oftraining and support is being delivered to each department over the current academic year. Teachers are being facilitated to engage in professional dialogue as a department and are being encouraged to implement improvements in the classroom. Several themes are being explored by the various departments including active teaching and learning methodologies, assessment for learning approaches, promotion of subjects inschools and integrating ICT into teaching and learning. The feedback from the teachers involved has been very positive. The process is being facilitated by Fiona Kindlon (PDA CLVEC), Shivaun O’Brien (EDO) and Della Meade (PDST Associate Trainer). The six departments involved in the self-evaluation process are listed below:

O'Fiaich College, Dundalk: 8 teachers from the Gaeilge and Modern Languages Departments.
Scoil Ui Mhuiri, Dunleer: 9 teachers from the Technology Subjects and Modern Languages Departments.
St. Oliver's Community College, Drogheda: 9 teachers from the Geography and Home Economics Departments.

Louth VEC establish Louth Music Education Partnership

Front Row: Oliver Tully, Chairman Louth VEC; Dr. Padraig Kirk, CEO Louth VEC; Sinead McDonnell, Bush PP

Back Row: Eibhlis Farrell, DkIT; Gemma Murray, Louth Contemporary Music Society; Eamonn Quinn, Louth MEP Secretary; Una Kirk, Louth VEC Committee Member

We hope….this programme will inspire Ireland ’s young musicians who might not otherwise get access to such valuable teaching..Bono

Music Network based in Dublin is committed to promoting, encouraging and funding the highest standards of music creation and performance throughout the island of Ireland . Since 2003, Music Network has campaigned for better music education provision in Ireland through the implementation of reports and two pilot Music Education Schemes, in Donegal and Dublin respectively.

In July 2009, U2 and the Ireland Funds pledged €7 million to implement a widespread music education project throughout Ireland on a phased basis between 2011 and 2015.

As a first step in applying for this funding, Louth VEC has recently established the Louth Music Education Partnership (MEP). The inaugural meeting of the steering committee of the new Louth Music Education Partnership (MEP) took place recently at the head office of Co. Louth VEC in Dundalk . The Louth MEP aims to foster a generation of children in Co. Louth who enjoy creating music by providing them with the opportunity to learn a musical instrument or to sing, and to carry on playing/singing into adulthood. The Louth MEP is established as a sub-committee of Co. Louth VEC with the VEC as the lead partner. The committee includes representatives of the VEC itself, representatives of the primary, post-primary and third level education sectors (DkIT) in the county, as well as representatives of the Arts Office of Louth County Council, Louth Music Contemporary Society and private enterprise.

The Louth Music Education Partnership Committee is currently preparing an application for funding to the National Music Education Partnership to provide an accessible county wide programme of vocal and instrumental tuition for children and young people from pre-school up to 18 years. If successful, the partnership will provide a comprehensive three year programme encompassing all genres of music including rock, pop, jazz, traditional, classical and music technology.

Speaking about the initiative the CEO of Co. Louth VEC, Dr. Pádraig Kirk said that “the plan is to provide an out-of-school countywide network of accessible vocal and music tuition classes for young people using VEC sites to bring music to the people of Co. Louth …… the VEC has up to nine different sites across the county that will be opening their doors to youth of all ages in the community who wish to avail of this tuition”. Dr. Kirk added that “figures from the Department of Education and Skills reveal that the numbers studying Music across the county is quite poor and the partnership aims to compensate for this in whatever way it can”. Dr. Kirk paid tribute to the different sectors that had come together to address this issue.

When up and running in 2011 it is envisaged that the music programme will incorporate all genres of music and include a mix of musicianship, singing and choir classes, one-off workshops and instrumental demonstrations, as well as group instrumental tuition to include instruments such as guitar, violin, flute, recorder and tin whistle. Ahead of the full implementation of the programme Co. Louth VEC has secured funding to enhance Music education provision in its own schools with all recently acquiring new suites of musical instruments and music technology.

For Further Information Contact:
Eamonn Quinn Louth MEP Secretary, Co. Louth VEC, Chapel St. , Dundalk, Co. Louth. Tel.: 042-9334047, Fax.: 042 9339412 e-mail: eamonn.quinn@louthvec.ie

ICT funding boost for Co. Louth VEC schools and centres

The CEO Dr. Pádraig Kirk has welcomed the recent ICT infrastructure grants for schools and Youthreach Centres made available by the Department of Education and Skills. Under the programme all post-primary schools will receive funding to allow them to upgrade their computer systems and infrastructure. The Smart Schools initiative forms part of the Government’s implementation strategy of the recent Smart School = Smart Economy report, and the 2008 ICT Strategy Report.

In the case of Co. Louth VEC it will mean that Bush Post-primary School, O’Fiaich College, Scoil Uí Mhuirí, St. Oliver’s Community College, Drogheda Institute of Further Education and Dundalk and Drogheda Youthreach Centres are all set to have their computer technology systems significantly enhanced. Speaking about this extra funding the CEO said that “Co. Louth VEC schools are already well renowned for having moved with the times in terms of installing and making effective use of ICT in the teaching and learning process … these grants will now allow for our schools and centres to keep pushing ahead at implementing the most up-to-date technological innovations in education”.

The ICT infrastructure grant will allow for completion of the installation of teaching computers and digital projectors in all teaching and learning spaces within the scheme’s schools and Institutes of Further Education. Work is already well underway in some of the schools in this respect, and it is expected that all schools/centres will have the new technology installed by Easter 2011. Co. Louth VEC will also be prioritising the use of ICT in the teaching of Mathematics, Science and other core and optional subject areas across the curriculum. New computer technology has recently been introduced into the teaching of Science across the scheme’s schools, for example, while the introduction of music technology to enhance the teaching of Junior and Leaving Certificate Music is also planned.

The grants will also allow schools/centres to acquire a bank of innovative technologies for use in classrooms such as interactive whiteboards, visualisers, mobile multi-media stations, interactive digital projectors, laptop computers and i-technology/touch screen devices. The VEC also intends to expand on its current level of software resources right across all subject areas on the curriculum.

The CEO concluded by saying that “the outcome of all these developments will be e-enabled and e-ready schools/centres that provide every opportunity for the full integration of ICT in the teaching and learning process. To assist teaching staff in meeting this challenge it is intended to place a focus on the integration of ICT in teaching and learning in future teacher CPD courses organised by Co. Louth VEC”.

Tara Education Centre

Currently, Tara Education Centre caters for eighteen adult Traveller women ranging in age from twenty three to seventy years. The programme on offer this year includes Fetac Level 3 in Communications, Computers, Preparation for Work, Arts & Crafts, Personal Development, Consumer Awareness, Horticulture and Physical Education. The Fetac Textiles module is offered at Fetac Level 3, 4 and 5. Learning Support is also provided in Literacy and Numeracy.

Closure of Tara Education Centre

The recent budget of 7th December 2010 stated that all Senior Traveller Education Centres will close by June 2012. Adult Traveller learners will be catered for under the Back to Education Initiative. Travellers will be prioritised under this initiative. Additional places are not specified.

Research Project

The Director of Tara Education Centre was commissioned by Co Louth VEC to carry out a piece of research as to how best Co Louth VEC can support the integration of Travellers into its further and adult education programmes and services. Funding for this research was secured from the Equality Authority – Mainstreaming Equality Unit. This research is now complete. An Action Plan has been drawn up by Co Louth VEC adult education service providers and a Traveller Integration Working Group (TIWG) has been set up to progress the integration of Travellers into Co Louth VEC’s further and adult education provision over the coming years.

“All of Us” - Ceiliúradh Sinn Le Chéile

Schools from throughout counties Louth, Armagh and Down will be converging on the DkIT campus on Wednesday, 16 March, in one of the biggest ever cross-border celebrations of culture and diversity in this region. Primary and secondary schools, as well as community organisations, will participate in a wide ranging programme of music, dance, exhibitions, food tastings and other activities throughout the campus, organised by Co. Louth Vocational Education Committee (VEC) and the Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT). The formal partnership of the two educational Institutions symbolises the key role that education plays in accommodating ethnic and minority groups in the life-long learning process.

An International Food Fair, at which free tastings of over 15 different national foods will be available, will be organised by the students in the Hospitality Section of DkIT Outside the entrance to the main Whitaker Building, a colourful exhibition of Irish Traveller culture will be staged, organised by Co Louth VEC’s Tara Education Centre. Schoolchildren will be able to go inside a traditional Travellers’ wagon and a small Traveller tent, while a Traveller tinsmith will provide exhibitions and demonstrations of the tinsmith’s traditional handiwork. In addition, a series of creative workshops for preschool children will be held throughout the day.

A free concert will be held at lunchtime, with music being provided by most of the ethnic groups in County Louth. Dance workshops will run throughout the day, providing young people with the opportunity to try some of the traditional –and modern-dances from other countries, and ending in a free- for- all Walls of Limerick set to finish off the day.

Exhibition stands by over 20 organisations will provide useful information on issues of diversity, ethnicity and multiculturalism. And while the emphasis of the day is on fun and participation, the event will send out a strong, serious message that ethnic minority groups are particularly welcome in both institutions. The day will be a celebration of the major contribution they make to the academic and social communities in Louth.

Dr Pádraig Kirk, the VEC’s Chief Executive Officer, has urged schools to avail of the opportunities for educational, personal and social development which the event offers young people; “The organisers have carefully planned a colourful and exciting programme which will sustain the interest of young people, open their minds to the rich diversity of our community and provide them with opportunities to enrich learning in subjects such as history, geography, music, arts, crafts and home economic and other aspects of the curriculum from early childhood through to the senior cycle. Pupils will benefit enormously from the experience, and will get an opportunity to experience a day on the campus of one of Ireland's leading third level institutions, here in the heart of Co Louth. Every pupil in the county should get the opportunity to participate in this colourful event.”

For further information on the event, contact;
tommyfegan@gmail.com

New Extensions

Work will commence in the coming weeks on classroom extension projects in two of the Committee’s schools. Staff, students and parents of both St. Oliver’s Community College in Drogheda and Scoil Uí Mhuirí in Dunleer will be pleased that the overcrowding will be somewhat alleviated by these new buildings.

The plans for a 6 classroom extension for St. Oliver’s were recently approved by Drogheda Borough Council and Louth County Council have approved of a 4 classroom extension at Scoil Uí Mhuirí. The “turning of the sod” ceremony will take place in each school shortly and work will commence as soon as possible thereafter.

It is hoped that the extensions will be ready for the commencement of the 2011/2012 school year.

Staff Retirements 2010

We wish all the very best and a long and happy retirement to all our staff who retired from the scheme in 2010. Full listing below:

• Mr. Pat O’Hare, a caretaker in Head Office, Chapel Street, retired on 13th January 2010.
  Mr. O’Hare had commenced working in the scheme in 1993 in what was then known as Dundalk RTC (DKIT). In 1995 Pat moved to the Chapel Street complex of the VEC in Dundalk.
• Ms. Aoife MhicRaghnaill, a teacher in St. Oliver’s Community College, to retired on 31st August 2010.
  Ms. MhicRaghnaill commenced teaching in the scheme in 1972 as a teacher of Science & Mathematics. She was appointed to an ‘A’ Post of Responsibility in 1982 and in 2008 she was seconded to the State Examination Commission.
• Ms. Mary O’Hare, a teacher in O’Fiaich College, retired on 27th August 2010.
  Ms. O’Hare commenced teaching in the scheme in 1977 as a teacher of Commerce with Shorthand and Typing.
• Ms. Monica Mackin, a teacher in O’Fiaich College, retired on 31st August 2010.
  Ms. Mackin commenced teaching in the scheme in April 2003 as a teacher of Complementary Medicine.
• Mr. Edward Martin, a teacher in O’Fiaich College, retired on 1st October 2010.
  Mr. Martin commenced teaching in the scheme in September 1979 as a teacher of English and Geography.
• Ms. Brigid Smyth, a teacher in O’Fiaich College, retired on 28th October 2010.
  Ms. Smyth commenced teaching in the scheme in September 1972 as a teacher of Irish, English and French.
• Mr. Patrick Murphy, a teacher in St. Oliver’s Community College, retired on 30th November 2010.
  Mr. Murphy had commenced teaching in the scheme in September 1975 as a teacher of Maths and English. He was awarded a Special Duties Post in 1980.
• Mr. Michael O’Shea, a teacher in St. Oliver’s Community College, retired on 30th November 2010.
  Mr. O’Shea commenced teaching in the scheme in September 1978 as a teacher of Religion and History. He was awarded a Special Duties Post in 1981 and in 1997 he was awarded an Assistant Principal post.
• Mr Patrick Mulligan, a teacher in St Oliver’s Community College retired on 3rd December.
  Mr Mulligan commenced teaching with Town of Drogheda VEC in 1977 on a temporary whole time basis. He was made permanent in 1978. He was awarded a Special Duties Post in 1983.
• Mr. Michael Matthews, a teacher in Bush Post Primary School, retired on 30th December 2010.
  Mr. Matthews commenced teaching in the scheme in September 1971 as a teacher of Mathematics and Geography.
• Ms. Kathleen Brennan, a teacher in St. Laurence’s Community College, retired on 30th December 2010.
  Ms. Brennan commenced teaching in the scheme in October 1992 as a teacher of Commerce.