February 10th 2007 – Swords Educate Together National School The second Educate Together General Members Meeting of school year 2006/2007 was held in Swords Educate Together N.S. on Saturday February 10th. Swords ETNS is a rapidly developing Educate Together school based in pre-fabricated buildings in Applewood, Swords. The school opened in 2001 and they are hoping to move into a permanent building very soon. General Meetings such as this are consultative opportunities for representative members of Educate Together schools to get together to discuss matters of common concern, best practise and policy issues that need to be brought to the organisation for decision. A fantastic welcome awaited everyone on the day and a huge congratulations and thanks are due to Swords ETNS Board of Management, Staff, Organising committee, Volunteers, Children and Parents. Representatives from 27 schools in the Educate Together network were welcomed by a warm speech from the Chairperson of SETNS’s Board of Management, Pat McNally. The turnout at the meeting was very encouraging with well over 100 members from all over the country attending.
The Agenda was as follows:
(The powerpoint slides/ notes of the presentations may be downloaded by clicking on the relevant link)
10.00- 10.30 New Schools for 21st Century Ireland – SLIDES– Paul Rowe, Chief Executive, Educate Together
13.30- 11.00 Campaign 2007 – SLIDES– Jane McCarthy, Development Officer, Educate Together
11.30- 12.00 School Size
Presentation 1: Jane McCarthy: SLIDES
Presentation 2: Theresa Hagan, DCU School of Education-SLIDES)
12.00- 12.15 Break
12.15- 13.45 Practical Whole School Approach to Ethos Delivery
Presentation 1: Niamh McGuirk, Teacher, Donabate Portrane ETNS
Presentation 2: Gerard Kelly, Princpal of SETNS
13.45 Lunch
These presentations prompted lively debate and vibrant discussion from the members and the precedings were chaired by Chris Lennon, Director of Educate Together. To conclude we watched a short film of the children of SETNS singing their school song. Overall the atmostphere on the day was very positive and provided great opportunities for networking for all representative. Also on the day ‘Our World, Our Future- a teaching resource on development for Senior Primary Geography, for 5th and 6th classes’ was available for schools to take away. This valuable resource is published by Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs. If your school missed out on your copies please contact Louise Daly at the Educate Together office (01 4292500 or louise.daly@educatetogether.ie)
Other important handouts that some of you might have missed on the day:
Executive Summary of the Business Plan
Campaign 2007 Case Statement
DCU research (literature review) on School Size
