Newsletter December 2023

We are nearing the end of the school term and the end of 2023.  It has been lovely to visit schools around the country where our 3^rd year B.Eds have been teaching and assisting in classrooms on their professional placement for the past ten weeks.   It is always a delight to visit schools and meet principals and staff.  We wish, once again, to express our gratitude to our network of schools who support our students and the Centre so very effectively through the taking of student teachers on placement. We always need your offers of placement classrooms so thank you. 

This edition of the Church of Ireland Centre Newsletter has news from the Centre, where we have had a busy semester which included running two conferences. We also feature news articles from some of our schools.  Thank you to those schools who contributed news items. One project launched this term was the sharing of carol service ideas between schools.

Do not hesitate to get in touch with us in the Centre if you have any queries or issues to raise where we may be able to be of support.  

 We wish you and your schools and families a healthy and happy Advent and Christmas. 

Anne Lodge, Geraldine O’Connor, Jacqui Wilkinson, (Newsletter editor)      Roisin O Sullivan (administrator) 

Students on the Church of Ireland Centre’s pathway study the B.Ed programme along with their classmates in DCU.  Certain elements of the programme are unique to them. 

• The CIC students do the majority of their School Placements in Protestant primary schools.  
• They study the RE Cert to prepare to teach the Follow Me religious education programme used in Protestant primary schools and learn about the ethos of those schools.  
• They take modules that study Christianity from a reformed perspective, look at world faiths, explore social and moral issues, and study the RE programmes and cultures of all types of Irish primary schools. 
• They follow the specialism to prepare them to teach in small schools and multi-level classes.  The aptitudes learned in this specialism benefit all those studying to be primary teachers.  There are four modules in this specialism: 
• teaching in multi-level classes
• inclusive classrooms
• project-based learning in the classroom and the school
• teaching and leading in small schools

APPLICATION:

Application is made via the CAO.  Applicants need to include DC004 in their CAO choices by 1^st February on the year of entry in order to be considered for eligibility.  

ELIGIBILITY:

Students on this pathway need to demonstrate a knowledge of, and willingness to support, the Protestant ethos of these primary schools.  Such knowledge and connection can include attendance at primary or post-primary schools under Protestant patronage, active engagement in a range of social and other clubs and activities (e.g. GFS, BB, GB, Church youth club).  It can also include engagement with a parish or church or religious network in any of the Protestant traditions.

Eligibility is assessed by a separate application form sent out from DCU in the Spring.  References will be sought to  assess eligibility.  

GENERAL INFORMATION:

There are a maximum of 32 students per year given places in this stream in 1^st year.  The published points vary from year to year due to the small number of places on offer.  This means it is impossible to pinpoint accurately from year to year.

For more information on the application process, check the D.C.U. Prospectus online

https://www.dcu.ie/courses/undergraduate/institute_of_education/bachelor-education-restricted-entry.shtml

and keep an eye on the CIC website for updates

https://www.dcu.ie/church-of-ireland-centre/Applying-for-BEd-Church-of-Ireland-Centre-pathway-DC004.shtml

Anne Lodge is the contact point for any queries about the DC004 / Church of Ireland Centre pathway through the B.Ed in DCU.  Please email her on: anne.lodge@dcu.ie

A conference for principals / Boards of Management and others associated with Church of Ireland primary schools was held in DCU All Hallows’ on Saturday 7 October.

The keynote speaker was Dr Jacqui Wilkinson from DCU whose research has been previously reported in the pages of this newsletter. She focused on the importance of ethos as being a valuable element of school self-evaluation, involving all members of the school community. 

The other main speaker was Jacinta Regan (NCCA) on developments in primary education linked with the RSE programme. 

There then followed a panel discussion with presentations from three schools and one parish: Anna Ovington talked about Delgany National School’s smartphone policy, Rachel Harper outlined the It Takes a Village initiative in Greystones and Delgany, Sarah Richards spoke of the development of Whitechurch National School’s outdoor classroom, and 4th year B.Ed student Sophie Ray brought news of the Lighten our Darkness by Numbers initiative in Mullingar Union.

But that’s a whole other story: the five Protestant Comprehensives, their origins and early and contemporary stories in Irish and European policy contexts.

This seminar was held in October 2023 and was co-hosted by the Church of Ireland Centre DCU and ESAI.

The event explored the unique story of the five Irish Protestant Comprehensive schools and told part of the story of the establishment and evolution of the comprehensive schools that has tended not to be the primary focus of the histories written to date.  There were five speakers:

Prof. Jim Gleeson gave  an overview of the history of policy of Irish education leading into the establishment of the comprehensive schools.

Dr.  Peter Murray put the education developments at Irish post-primary level in a wider policy context.

Dr. Ken Fennelly presented research about Protestant boarding schools from the 1950s to the 1980s.

Rev. Prof. Anne Lodge presented new research reporting on interview and document analysis to tell the origin and contemporary stories and expression of lived ethos of the Protestant comprehensives. She analysed the relative invisibility of the Protestant Comprehensives in historical accounts.

Prof. Annette Scheunpflug positioned Irish Protestant comprehensives in a northern European and global context.

A full report on the conference can be read at these links:  

https://www.ireland.anglican.org/news/12119/but-thats-a-whole-other

https://www.ireland.anglican.org/news/12120/change-and-redevelopment-in-protestant

https://www.ireland.anglican.org/news/12121/are-protestant-comprehensives-multiply-invisible

The event was filmed – contact anne.lodge@dcu.ie for access to the videos. 

Being part of God’s global church is a privilege and a responsibility. Whether young or old, near or far, we all have a part to play in engaging in the restoration of ‘right relations’ between God and humanity. This is an exciting, if at times daunting, task. 

To help you as teachers root the next generation in this global community, we have adapted our annual children’s resources to suit the classroom context.

Using Nepal as a case study, we have explored issues of climate justice and the consequences of climate change in Nepal. There are 4 sessions with lesson plans, PowerPoint, workbooks and videos (differentiated for use at junior and senior levels) which consider the ways in which our actions can have far-reaching consequences. 

The resource uses Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ”, to connect each session and facilitate key points for learning and teaching. 

The resource is available to all schools by completing this form https://cmsirelandforms.wufoo.com/forms/register-for-switched-on/

At the start of Lent we will be releasing our next teaching resource which will focus on the experience of our refugee partners in Africa.

 How can we walk with them as they embody God’s hands and feet on the ground wherever they find themselves? To find more and access the resource, follow us on social media in the coming weeks.

Note from Jacqui Wilkinson (RE): CMSI is featured in a lesson in Online (4^th class book) of the Follow Me series. It is planned that there will be a new Follow Me website in the coming months and this lesson material will be easily accessible there. For now it is recommended that as teachers plan to teach the lesson in Online that they request the resources based on Nepal. (Incidentally, there is some information about Nepal in the Online book as that was our country of focus when the books were written).You may also want to focus on the new Lent project. 

Celebrating 200 years of Carysfort National School

By: Heather Minion (principal)

The biggest event in our school life happened on Friday 6^th October. We marked the 200 year celebration of the founding of Carysfort National School in Arklow with parents, past pupils and friends. 

We held a celebratory assembly with Archbishop Jackson and Revd Suzanne Harris who helped to lead the worship. We sang some songs, had a fabulous ukulele performance of Somewhere Over the Rainbow by 6^th class, had readings from past pupils/parents and poems from past staff. We were delighted to be joined on the day by two past principals of the school and a number of past staff members. 

Archbishop Jackson addressed the school and spoke about the ABC’s of school life. A was for acceptance, that everyone had to be accepted at school for it to be a happy place. B was for belonging as every child belongs to their school. C was for community as everybody at the school was part of that community.

As principal, I outlined a brief history of the school which was founded in 1823 by the Earl of Carysfort and became a National School in 1908. While the school has occupied different sites the present school was established on this site in 1974 and an extension was opened in 2013. Tribute was paid to the staff who went before us who built the school to what it is today. It was outlined to the pupils that they were a part of the schools’ living history and that future pupils would look back on what happened to mark the bicentenary. 

 Recognition must be given to the super team of staff and pupils who put in a huge amount of work: investigating schools of the past, games and toys in the past, music in the past, creating timelines, interviewing past pupils and teachers, looking at the history of our school and what we like about our school now. The school was so beautifully decorated and it took a lot of work so a huge thank you to the team here for pulling it all together.

After the assembly a tree was planted which we hope will be here for the next 200 years. Visitors were then offered some refreshments and a special cake, after which they were encouraged to visit the displays in the school including a historical classroom. We were lucky to have sourced a teacher’s desk, pupil’s bench, freestanding blackboard and an old roll board. 6^th class were on hand to help point out some of the information. 

Past pupils were encouraged to leave a memory of their time here. 

 It was a great occasion, and it was lovely to welcome the community in to celebrate. Gratitude is also due to the parents and staff who came for the meitheal day and had the school and the grounds sparkling.

Celebrating International Day in Fermoy Adair School

By: Andrea Mutabazi (principal)

Fermoy Adair National School recently celebrated International Day with great enthusiasm, fostering a spirit of unity and cultural diversity among students, staff, and the school community. The event provided a platform for students to learn about various cultures, traditions, and customs from around the world, promoting a sense of global awareness and appreciation.

One of the highlights of International Day was the tasting of cuisine from the different countries, where students and their families contributed dishes from their cultural backgrounds. The aroma of diverse flavours filled the air as attendees sampled delicious foods from around the world, fostering a sense of culinary appreciation and community bonding.

International Day at Fermoy Adair National School was a resounding success, leaving a lasting impact on students and the school community. It was a wonderful celebration of who we are and where we come from.

Celebrating Maths Week in St Saviours NS Rathdrum

By: Antoinette Doyle (principal)

Every year we enjoy a very active maths week and this year was no different. We enjoyed lots of activities including trails in our nearby park, gaining a maths passport from completing different activities, appointing maths wizards and a crystal maze activity. As part of our assembly during maths week we enjoyed a Bible maths trail. It was great fun with number clues linked to the Bible. For example, the children remembered how many loaves and fish there were or how many commandments were given. The children worked in teams from infants to senior classes and once they solved a question they moved on to find the next Bible clue around the school using photographs & images. At the end of the puzzle they added all the numbers together to complete the trail. It was a wonderful full school activity and underlined to the children that maths is everywhere & all around us.

Sand, Stories and Deep Talk

By: Carolyn Good (principal Carrigduff NS, Bunclody)

You know how it goes… when you’ve been teaching all week, there is nothing you’d love more at the weekend than to work with more children! So says every busy teacher who has been persuaded to volunteer in the local Sunday Club or children’s group. I have been a Sunday Club leader for many, many years. While I joke about it, I love it; and working with the Sunday Club kids in Carlow Union is a highlight in my month. Being a teacher helps (as we have many transferable skills) but usually the way I teach RE in school and the way I interact with the kids in church is quite different. There are many programmes I use exclusively in one space or the other but I recently came across one that works brilliantly in both. A year ago I was offered an opportunity to train in a new way of storytelling that engages with children and adults. It was organised by the Church of Ireland Board for Ministry with Children and Families and offered to Children and Families Reps in each diocese. Much to my surprise, off I went willingly during the October mid-term break to a retreat centre in the midlands to listen to and tell stories and play with sand. 

The Out of the Box website describes itself as “from the contemplative tradition and is a type of Deep Talk. Our approach resonates with Brené Brown’s Brave Spaces and the Native American Way of Council. It is influenced by the educational philosophies of Charlotte Mason, Rudolf Steiner and Maria Montessori as well as loose parts play.” 

Deep talk is that type of conversation that allows us to connect with others on a deeper level. It's the kind of conversation that can help us build relationships, solve problems, and find common ground. The facilitator tells a story on sand, a felt circle or even on the ground outdoors. He or she uses small figures and objects to tell the story in a quiet, calm space. The stories are available on the website to subscribing members. They can be printed and videos are available to practise beforehand. There is a range of Wisdom, History, Religions and Christian Faith stories to choose from. After the story the listeners are asked to talk about the parts of the story they liked and did not like. They can explain why and can suggest alterations to the story. They can move or play with the loose parts and can wonder about the story. 

At the end of the retreat and training each Rep was given a full Out of the Box kit for use in the diocese. I have the kit for Cashel, Ferns & Ossory and have used it to tell stories with children and adults both in church and in the diocese; and of course in school. My 3rd & 4th class love the “sand stories” and regularly request them. They have really surprised me with their attention, engagement and focus. They ask fantastic and thoughtful questions and wonder aloud about world topics and current issues. They connect the stories meaningfully with prior knowledge and ethical dilemmas. I would highly recommend the training and the programme. If you want to know more check out the website https://outoftheboxstories.org/ or contact the Children & Families Rep in your diocese.  

Moyle NS Revamp Tyres Project

By Mrs Keaveney (5th/ 6th class teacher)

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, was our thought when we began our project on painting tyres, as an alternative to raised beds in September. The teachers in the school began the school year ready to brighten our school grounds, provide a new outdoor learning area and new play area for the pupils. As we are a green school  we were very conscious of reusing recyclable materials,  involving the school and local community, and having eco-friendly spaces to  create these environments.

We sent out an SOS to the community through our Facebook page and the old reliable ‘word of mouth’ for tyres, unused paint, pre-used outdoor toys and pallets for mud kitchens etc. The response was fantastic. Family members made play equipment from pallets, the local charity shops donated toys, tyres arrived from the local tyre company and old paint was found in school.

The children then had great fun designing and painting the tyres in our school hall and we were so pleased with the end result. We received very positive messages from the school community too. We look forward to planting flowers and vegetables in them in the near future.  Our polytunnel will also continue to be used to  encourage the children to become avid gardeners at home.

We will be very proud to celebrate Moyle School’s 40^th anniversary in March 2024. These new additions will enhance our school grounds and the children will certainly benefit from these exciting changes in the incoming months. We really appreciate the support from the local community and are proud of our efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle!

Have you a   good news story to share from school?  Are you a graduate who has experience teaching in a different context or working alongside teachers in a different role?

Please do consider writing for this  newsletter which is sent to all schools linked to the Church of Ireland Centre, DCU? 

Contact Jacqui 

jacqueline.wilkinson@dcu.ie