VEC launches its new In2Gr8 initiative

Co. Louth VEC has developed a new classroom based initiative aimed at promoting the development of literacy and numeracy skills among students. The initiative, called In2Gr8, will be piloted in St. Oliver’s Community College in Drogheda from the start of the new academic year, but the VEC plans to roll it out to all of its post-primary schools over the coming years.

In the most recently reported PISA (The OECD Programme for International Student Assessment) data, the literacy ranking of Irish 15-year-olds fell from 5th in 2000 to 17th in 2009, the sharpest decline among 39 countries surveyed, while in the mathematics/ numeracy ranking, Ireland fell from 16th to 26th over the same period. Speaking about this new initiative, Dr. Pádraig Kirk, CEO of Co. Louth VEC said that “it is clear that something more than the normal now needs to be done in schools to ensure that students leave with essential literacy and numeracy skills for life; this new initiative by the VEC will help to accentuate the development of these fundamental skills in every aspect of the teaching and learning process”.

Literacy involves speaking and listening, reading and understanding, writing and using technology to communicate and handle information. Numeracy involves the calculation and application of numbers and the interpretation and presentation of numerical results.

The initiative was developed in-house by two VEC teachers, Fiona O’Murchu and Colleen Hardy and has attracted great interest from the Department of Education and Skills. Fiona is based at the Community Training Centre in Drogheda, while Colleen is based at the VECs Youthreach centre in Dundalk.

The In2Gr8 initiative is subject focussed and will provide learners with a range of contextual literacy and numeracy in a non-intrusive way as they progress through the curriculum. The initiative provides continuous reinforcement of key skills for learners and will help to eliminate the ad hoc approach to integrating literacy and numeracy currently widespread in classrooms. The initiative is being piloted in Junior Cycle Geography and CSPE lessons this year and both Fiona and Colleen will be working closely with all of the relevant teachers in St. Oliver’s Community College.

Dr. Kirk added that “the initiative has been extremely well planned and we are looking forward to its implementation. This project is another example of the VEC responding to the challenges facing our society; literacy and numeracy are important for every citizen, worker, family member and community”.

Co. Louth VEC also offers a confidential literacy service for adults in both Dundalk and Drogheda.

EU support for new VEC inclusion and diversity in schools project

Louth VEC has recently secured EU funding to run a new cross border inclusion and diversity in schools project. The VEC was awarded the funding under the EU’s Comenius Regio Partnership programme - a programme managed by Leargas, the National Agency for the Lifelong Learning Programme.

Comenius Regio Partnerships promote joint cooperation activities between local and regional education authorities across Europe. The partnerships give educational authorities, in cooperation with schools and other education partners, the opportunity to work collaboratively on topics of mutual interest.

The VEC project, entitled 'Together Towards Inclusion in Post-Primary Schools', will be a cross-border project involving the Inclusion and Diversity Service of the North Eastern Education and Library Board of Northern Ireland, the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin and Co. Louth VEC post-primary schools.

The project aims to create inclusive practices in education that will recognise the growing social, cultural and linguistic diversity in schools and museums. The project will help to better connect schools and museums to students' experiences, interests, values and cultural identity.

Dr. Pádraig Kirk, CEO of Co. Louth VEC, explained that, "the project is quite unique in that it proactively champions a whole school approach to diversity, while simultaneously tackling sectarianism and racism issues. The project will be the first of its kind in the country to be implemented on a cross-border basis involving all the education partners working collaboratively to promote awareness and understanding of diversity – school management, teachers, parents, students and the local community".

Co. Louth VEC recognises the significant opportunity that this project affords for collaborative relations to be developed between the various institutions on both sides of the border, to enhance peoples skills, and to develop the capacity of schools, museums and other educators to support migrant learners.

Opening of DIFE Extension

The Minister for Education and Skills, Mr. Ruairí Quinn TD, officially opened a new €900,000.00 extension at Drogheda Institute of Further Education on Monday, 16 May 2011.The 590 sq/m extension has an ICT laboratory, two lecture rooms, two dedicated rooms for Fashion & Interior Design, a career guidance office, a storeroom and a toilet block. Drogheda Institute of Further Education has a current enrolment of 948 students and has a staffing complement of 50.

The Minister commended Co. Louth VEC on its vision and forward thinking in its decision to establish a dedicated centre of Further Education in the town of Drogheda. "The impressive doubling of student numbers, from 467 to 948, since 2004 is evidence that your decision was the correct one" he said. "This success is also due, in no small part, to the professionalism and commitment of your staff".

The large gathering at the event, which was made up of invited guests, staff and students, also heard from Cllr. Anthony Donohoe, Chairperson of Co. Louth VEC, the CEO of Co. Louth Dr. Pádraig Kirk, and College Principal, Mr. David McDonnell.

Speaking at the official opening, Mr. David McDonnell, said that "this was a very proud day for DIFE; the new extension now allows us to consolidate quality teaching and learning at the Twenties site, it provides exciting new opportunities for staff and students alike and demonstrates the commitment of Co. Louth VEC at meeting the educational needs of the people of Drogheda and its surrounding area".

Minister Quinn said that "through access to a quality education students will have the opportunity to acquire both the professional competencies and personal skills to enable them to adapt to the new challenges of today's changing economy."

The new extension has been operating for the last number of months. Co. Louth VEC is currently liaising with the Department of Education and Skills in relation to the building of a new dedicated PLC college in Drogheda which would see DIFE move to a new site with the current building being utilised as a second-level school.

Louth VEC Host Asia Europe Conference

Co. Louth VEC has announced the line up of speakers it has secured to address an international conference that it is hosting this November. The will take place in the Crowne Plaza hotel in Dundalk from 07 to 11 November 2011. The AEC-NET is a project of the Asia Europe Foundation based in Singapore, and the conference is being hosted by Co. Louth VEC in collaboration with the Department of Education and Skills.

The Conference has taken place annually since 2001 and gathers together post-primary and third-level educators who take a keen interest in fostering collaborations among their students through innovative and interactive collaborative online learning and inter-cultural exchanges. The conference alternates between a European and Asian country each year with previous conferences being held in Denmark, Malaysia, Greece and China. Last year’s conference was held in Gurgaon in India.

The conference will be officially opened on 7th November by the Minister for Education and Skills, Mr. Ruairí Quinn, T.D., and the programme includes key educationalists from both Ireland and abroad. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Apps in Asian and European Classrooms: Unleashing Educational Creativity’ and among those scheduled to address the conference include Dr. Airan Berg, artistic Director for the Performing Arts based in Linz, Austria and Professor Karine Oganisjana from the Faculty of Education, Psychology and Art at the University of Latvia. Inputs will also be provided by Dr. Harold Hislop, Chief Inspector of Schools with the Department of Education and Skills, Ms. Brigid McManus, Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills and Dr. Ciarán McCormack, Creative Manager in the Institute of Art, Design and Technology in Dun Laoghaire.

Dr. Pádraig Kirk, CEO of Co. Louth VEC, said he “was delighted with the line up of high profile speakers that have committed their attendance at the conference. These speakers hold key positions in the world of education, their inputs at the conference are eagerly awaited". Dr. Kirk added that "the conference will have well over 100 delegates flying in from all parts of the world and it will place Ireland, Co. Louth and our VEC firmly on the international education map”.

The VEC intends to showcase the Irish education system and Co. Louth during the conference. Delegates will visit schools and education centres during the week, as well as a number of local cultural/heritage sites. Some of the events planned so far include a welcome concert at the Black Box theatre in DkIT, a visit to Drogheda Institute of Education and an excursion to Carlingford.
“We will be working hard to ensure that the conference is a successful one and look forward to welcoming our friends from across Asia and Europe to Co. Louth in November” said Dr. Kirk.

Una Kirk - New Deputy Principal St. Oliver's Community College

Ms. Úna Kirk has been appointed to the post of Deputy Principal at St. Oliver's Community College in Drogheda. Úna replaces Mr. John Halpin who was recently promoted to the position of principal at the school. Mr. Dan Toole steps down as school principal at the end of August. St. Oliver's has two Deputy Principal positions, Ms. Mary Donaghy also serves as Deputy Principal.

Úna joins the staff of St. Oliver's Community College from Scoil Uí Mhuirí in Dunleer where she has taught English and Irish since 1991. Úna has been assistant principal and year head at Scoil Uí Mhuirí since 2007 and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Higher Diploma in Education from UCD, as well as a Masters Degree in Education where she specialised in the coordination and implementation of Social, Personal and Health Education in post-primary schools.

Úna is currently the staff representative on the Committee of Co. Louth VEC and also sits on the steering committee of the new Music Generation Louth initiative which commences in September.

Gemma Murray - Coordinator Music Generation (Louth)

Ms. Gemma Murray has been appointed to the position of Coordinator, Music Generation (Louth). This is a new position for the county and Ms. Murray will be based at the VEC head office at Chapel St., Dundalk. The appointment was made possible after the Louth Music Education Partnership, which is being led by Co. Louth VEC, made a successful application for funding to Music Generation (Ireland’s National Music Education Programme) to establish a formal programme of vocal and instrumental tuition services in Co. Louth. Ms. Murray will take up the position at the start of September.
Gemma joins the staff of Co. Louth VEC from the National Chamber Choir of Ireland where she is currently serving as its acting CEO. Gemma has worked in the area of arts administration and management for nearly 20 years, previously holding several key positions within the music sector in Ireland, both north and south. Gemma also has vast experience in both instrumental teaching and in the delivery of musicianship classes.

Karen Patton - Deputy Principal O'Fiaich College

Ms. Karen Patton has been appointed to the position of Deputy Principal at O'Fiaich College in Dundalk. Karen takes over from the outgoing deputy principal Mr. Patrick Daly who retires at the end of August 2011.
Karen first joined the staff of Co. Louth VEC in 1995 teaching Art, Craft and Design and Social Personal and Health Education in O’Fiaich College, Dundalk. In her early years at the college Karen was involved in establishing the highly successful post-Leaving Certificate Art and Design exhibition which continues annually to this day. Karen also coordinated a PLC Art and Design course at the college and in 2008 was promoted to a middle management post with responsibility for the coordination and development of the school's Transition Year programme.

Fiona Kindlon - New Principal Scoil Ui Mhuiri

Ms. Fiona Kindlon has been appointed to the position of Principal at Scoil Uí Mhuirí in Dunleer, Co. Louth. Fiona takes over from the outgoing principal Ms. Bríd Rocks who retires at the end of August 2011.
Fiona joins the staff of Scoil Uí Mhuirí from Ardee Community School where she has taught Business subjects, Mathematics and ICT. Fiona started teaching in Ardee Community School in 1994, but between 2002 and 2010 she was on secondment from her teaching role to the post of Regional Development Officer with the Department of Education and Skills Professional Development Service for Teachers.
Fiona worked with management teams and staff in approximately 300 schools across the country in this role, and for the past year was directly responsible for the coordination of Co. Louth VEC’s programme of teacher professional development. Fiona’s research areas of expertise include teacher professional development, school self-evaluation, student work experience placements and enterprise education.

John Halpin - New Principal SOCC

Mr. John Halpin has been appointed to the position of Principal at St. Oliver’s Community College in Drogheda. John takes over from the outgoing principal Mr. Dan Toole who retires at the end of August 2011.

John first joined the staff of Co. Louth VEC in 1989 teaching Metalwork and Engineering in O’Fiaich College, Dundalk and in 1990 moved to St. Oliver’s Community College in Drogheda. In 2001 he was promoted to the position of assistant principal at the school with responsibility for a range of areas including year head, school timetabling and purchasing officer. John was appointed as acting deputy principal in the school for the 2008/2009 school year, and in September 2009 was appointed to the position of deputy principal in a permanent capacity.

John brings a wealth of experience to the post including extensive classroom teaching experience, as well as state examinations and educational management experience.