Welcome to the first Educate Together Electronic News (ETEN) for 2006. In February we published the first Educate Together School News, which was circulated to a smaller number of readers who are actively involved in our school communities, containing news and information directly relevant to our schools. If you would like to receive this newsletter please send an email to:- subscribe_ETSN@educatetogether.ie
The ETEN however remains our main newsletter with approximately 4,000 readers. We welcome and receive new subscriptions daily through our website http://www.educatetogether.ie <http://www.educatetogether.ie/> . We aim to publish one ETEN every month and it will usually hit your email account on a Friday afternoon. To see an illustrated version of this newsletter click the link below:-
http://www.educatetogether.ie/newsletters/ETEN0601.htm
Educate Together National Forum
On Saturday March 4th, the Educate Together National Forum was held at Waterford Educate Together N.S. Twenty schools sent delegates to the Forum which, given the icy road conditions, was an excellent turn out. Delegates were treated to a talk and DVD presentation by Dr. Sarah FitzPatrick, Deputy Director of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment on the work of the NCCA. Short talks on the work of the National Office and the Campaigns Committee followed. Delegates had a chance to meet and mingle over a delicious lunch organized by Waterford ETNS. The afternoon session involved very enjoyable presentations from Balbriggan Educate Together N.S. and Gorey Educate Together N.S., two of the four new schools that opened September 2005. (Representatives of Galway North ETNS and Tyrrelstown ETNS were regrettably unable to make the journey). Both schools chartered the highs and lows of their first six months and were congratulated by and assured of continued support from the gathered delegates. In the open forum session the vexing issue of temporary accommodation was very much to the fore with many schools once again at the mercy of the Department’s internal resource constraints. It was decided that the National Office should take up Temporary Accommodation as an issue of concern to the sector as a whole. The Forum ended promptly at 3pm with everyone well-fed and in good humour although more time for discussion would have been useful. The National Office of Educate Together would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who made the journey to the sunny but icy south east that Saturday, to Dr. FitzPatrick, and especially to the school community of Waterford ETNS for their natural hospitality and warm, genuine welcome.
The next gathering of the sector will be the Annual General Meeting on May 27th in North Dublin National School Project, Dublin 9. Mark the date in your diaries now! Nominations for Directors of Educate Together are being sought, please see our website for more information.
New Buildings in the Educate Together Sector
In January 2006 the Minister announced that four Educate Together schools are included in the 2006 Capital Building Project: Balbriggan Educate Together N.S., Castaheany Educate Together N.S., Newbridge Educate Together N.S. and Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn. This means that these four schools should be moving into permanent accommodation in 2007. Balbriggan ETNS, Castaheany ETNS and Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn are due to get new buildings while Newbridge ETNS will have their desired premises refurbished. These school join Castleknock ETNS and Monkstown ETNS who are already in the new building progress.Educate Together warmly welcomes this announcement and congratulates the Boards of Managements of all four schools who have worked extremely hard to secure permanent buildings. We are especially pleased for Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn as this school have been in prefab accommodation for 12 years. Educate Together is delighted with this progress. Since 2000, we have opened 21 schools and it has been of enormous concern that to date only one of these schools is permanently accommodated. The slow progress of securing permanent accommodation has become a major restraint on Educate Together’s ability to meet demand from parents for new schools. These developments are a major step forward. We will continue working with the Department to ensure that all four projects get underway in a promptly and professionally manner, and that the buildings are ready for occupation in a timely fashion.
Tullamore ETNS Official Launch
It has been a busy few weeks two of our newest schools. Monday 27th February was a day of celebration in as Mr. Brian Cowen T.D., Minister for Finance, officially launched Tullamore Educate Together National School. Tullamore ETNS opened its doors on Church Street in the town centre September 2004 and today there are 27 pupils enrolled from junior infants to fifth class. The school principal is Fionnuala Morgan and she works alongside Breda Brennan and Stephanie Ormond, teachers and Kathleen Norton, Learning Support teacher. A very committed, hard-working Board of Management, many of whom have been involved since the school was a mere visionary idea, look after the development of the school. Tullamore ETNS is actively seeking permanent recognition from the Department of Education and Science which will then entitle them to a place on the Capital Building Programme from where they can aspire to a permanent school building to cater for more children in the area. Minister Cowen expressed his delight at the school saying “I think it is great that this range of choice is being made available to parents in this area.” He praised Educate Together and continued, “It is very important that this aspect of education be nurtured and supported in the same way as others.” Deirdre O’Donoghue represented the National Office at the launch and asked that the Minister remember this day when his colleague Ms. Hanafin, Minister for Education and Science seeks more money from the Exchequer in the next round of Budget talks! Deirdre also congratulated the school community and thanked Offaly County Council for their assistance in getting the school up and running. Minister Cowen unveiled a painting by local artist Ciarán Brennan, which had been specially commissioned to mark the launch and then wished the school community every success in the future. Please see http://www.tullamoreeducatetogether.ie for more details on this thriving school.
Tyrrelstown ETNS Official Opening
On Friday March 10th, the whole community at Tyrrelstown Educate Together National School turned out to celebrate the school’s opening in their newest premises at Powerstown Road, in the heart of Tyrrelstown. Parents and visitors were treated to concerts and mini-shows in each classroom and then enjoyed a walk around the beautifully-decorated and light-filled school. Tyrrelstown ETNS was located in prefabs at Mary Mother Of Hope N.S. in Clonee for the first 4 months of their existence. They are now thrilled to be based in the centre of their community. This school has almost 100 pupils from junior infants up to second class with very strong pre-enrolment lists for future years. Speaking at the launch, Chairperson Kieron McGrath described the hard work and dedication that were vital in getting this school to where it is today. However the community will not be resting on their laurels; they have great vision to provide excellent all-rounded, multi-denominational education and crucially are determined to secure a purpose-built school within the next few years to facilitate this vision. Minister for Children, Brian Lenihan T.D., who is also the local representative for the area pledged to do all he could to support Tyrrelstown ETNS.
Educate Together would like to congratulate both schools on their achievements. We are very happy to have such vibrant communities as members of our national movement and we will continue to do everything we can to support them as they develop and grow.
