2017: “Making Connections: transformation through technology and teamwork” Conferences Category

The Computer Education Society of Ireland (CESI) will hold its annual conference this week-end. The theme this year is "2017: Making Connections: transformation through technology and teamwork". Are you going???? http://www.cesi.ie/conferences/conference-2017/

Timeline Photos

Our Primary Debating Festival has finished for 2016/17. Dylan Dunning, 6th Class in Ballyshannon NS reports: On a mild morning in Maynooth, a delightful debating double header attracted many schools from across County Kildare and Wicklow who were invited to see the final. Thirty three teams debating for the ultimate prize, became two, and later one. In the Plate competition it was Kildare Primary versus St Patricks, Newbridge. In the Cup competition it was Two Mile House and Scoil Eimhín Naofa. It was never going to be easy for the adjudicators Michael Doorley (Concern), Fionnuala Dukes (former Councillor) and Eimear McGinn (Kildare Arts and Library Service) who were called into action to judge this thrilling final. The motion was ‘Child Labour is a Necessity of life in the developing world’. After eight brilliant breath taking speeches, and a closely contested crossfire, the motion was not passed, meaning St Brigid’s Primary, captained by Cerrie Fields, won the debate. Runners up St Patrick’s couldn’t go home depressed because they did themselves and their school very proud. Perhaps on another day they could have been walking home with the prize. If you thought that the Plate debate had a tense conclusion, the second final was an even more nail biting and nerve wrecking debate. In the end Two Mile House were victorious, made up of Julie Kennedy, Caty O’Neill and Pat Bagnall. Conquered by the winning side in the end, Scoil Eimhín Naofa from Monasterevin, blew us all away with their emphatic speeches and defiant answers in the crossfire. But a team lead by Melody, simply couldn’t find that winning formula tested and used against every side (including us) on their journey to the final. Overall it was a wonderful spectacle at Maynooth University, practised to perfection by the 12 fantastic speakers and overseen by three impartial adjudicators, and MC Dominic McEvoy. It is a pity I won’t be there in 2018, although I am sure the next generations to come will enjoy watching tomorrow’s worthy winners of the Kildare Primary Debating festival. ************************************************************************************** A big thank you to Dylan for a great summary of our finals in Maynooth University. Kildare Education Centre and Kildare Library Service would like to thank:- * Maynooth University and in particular their Education Department, and Concern Worldwide for their support * The adjudicators for the final: Fionnuala Dukes (retired County Councillor), Eimear McGinn (Senior Executive Librarian with Kildare Arts and Library Services), Michael Doorly (Head of Active Citizenship with Concern Worldwide) * The parents for all the support and encouragement for their children during the debates * The pupils in the schools who helped, supported and encouraged their school debating team * The principal in each school for encouraging teachers and teams to participate * The co-ordinating teacher/s for their effort, energy and enthusiasm in preparing each school team * The team members for their hard work, preparation, creativity and engagement with the debates. Looking forward to doing it all again in 2017/18.

ISTE

Timeline Photos

What would happen if .....? Sometimes plenty of space and a few simple resources are all that you need to fire a child's imagination and satisfy a child's curiosity. The photo shows 2nd and 3rd class in Coill Dubh NS playing and experimenting with Knex kits. These kits are one example of a resource schools can borrow from Kildare Education Centre. Other resources include Bodhráns (preferably after you have attended a short course), Samba drums, Lego Mindstorms kits, certain testing kits and data projectors. Contact the Education Centre to find out more.

Drumcondra Education Centre

ISTE

Timeline Photos

Kildare Education Centre Primary Chess Festival 2017 16 schools participated in this year’s Kildare Education Centre Primary Chess Festival. From the preliminary rounds the schools qualified for the main competition or the Shield. The finals were held in St Brigid’s Primary School, Kildare Town on Tuesday 14th February 2017. The final of the main competition was a very close event. It was tied after three matches and it all rested on the last match. Two Mile House NS emerged as winners of the 2017 Kildare Education Centre Primary Debating Festival. St Laurence’s NS, Crookstown were very close runners-up. St Brigid’s Primary School, Kildare Town took the honours in the Shield, with St David’s NS, Naas as runner-up school. All participants received certificates, acknowledging their achievement on reaching the finals. Prizes were also awarded to St Laurence’s NS, Crookstown and Moone NS for playing the most games in their schools – and encouraging many others to play chess. Almost 400 games of chess were played during the Primary Chess Festival. Thank You A big thank you goes to the principal, teachers and staff in St Brigid’s Primary School in Kildare Town for being excellent hosts. Thank you to the fantastic teachers for giving of their time to promote and develop chess in their school, often as an after-school activity. Thank you to the principals in those schools for supporting their teachers and students. Finally, thank you to Liam Murray who was outstanding as co-ordinator for the Chess Festival. Winning Team: Two Mile House NS: Keith Lyons, Pat Bagnall, Michael Collins & Sam Collins Runner-Up St Laurence’s NS, Crookstown: Katelyn McElhinney, Jamie Walsh, Katie O’Grady & Scott Cardiff. Shield: Winner: St Brigid’s Primary School, Kildare Town Runner-up: St David’s NS, Naas.

Timeline Photos

What do you know about Digital Citizenship and its implications for your classroom? As students become citizens of the digital community, they must be guided to behave responsibly online and to develop good judgement when interacting in a global digital society. This course for post-primary teachers will focus on teaching students their rights and responsibilities as digital citizens. It will examine: * Digital Citizenship online and in the classroom. (What does it mean to be a good citizen and a citizen in the digital world?) * Being ethical online (Citing sources, Copyright etc) * Identifying safe sources of information for students * Managing myself online (Digital footprint, online identity & social networking) * Staying safe online (Cyberbullying, Sexting, Inappropriate content) The course starts on Tuesday 7th February. There are a few places left. To book go to: http://bit.ly/2kxdYvI (Photo: Gerd Altmann @ pixabay.com)

Timeline Photos

St Brigid - Eternal Feminine - Annual Celtic Heritage Lecture 2017 We are thrilled to have Professor Máirín Ní Dhonnchadha from NUI Galway as the speaker at this year's Annual Celtic Heritage Lecture. Professor Ní Dhonnchadha is Established Professor of Old and Middle Irish and Celtic Philology at NUI Galway. The talk, with a question and answer session, will begin at 20:00 in the Education Centre on Friday 3rd February. This is part of the week-long Féile Bríde festival of celebration, now in its 25th year. This year's theme is Brigid: Flame of Justice and Peace, perhaps an appropriate theme for our modern world. All are welcome, and we ask that you tell others about it. Admission is free and refreshments will be served afterwards. For more informatoin on Féile Bríde see: http://solasbhride.ie/feile-bhride-2017

Timeline Photos

Primary Debating Festival Finals We are at the end of our Primary Debating Festival journey for 2016/17. The finals will be held in the Aula Maxima in Maynooth University on Friday 17th February. Congratulations to everyone from each of the 33 schools who have participated so far, as they have made the Festival what it is. We will be inviting all teams to the finals. The motion for the finals is "Child Labour is a necessity of life in the developing world" and the running order is: 11:00: (Plate) St Patrick's NS, Morristown V St Brigid's PS, Kildare Town 12:00: (Cup) Two Mile House NS V Scoil Eimhín Naofa, Monasterevin The Primary Debating Festival is organised by Kildare Education Centre in partnership with Kildare Library Service. We are grateful for the support of Concern and Maynooth University. (Photo: 3dman_eu @ pixabay.com)

Photos from Kildare Education Centre's post

Special 1916 lapel pin - available from Kildare Education Centre Last autumn, a competition to design a special commemorative 1916 lapel pin was run by Kildare County Council’s Decade of Commemorations Committee with Kildare Education Centre. Chosen from hundreds of entries as the design for the pin was one by Luke Hand. We want to congratulate Luke, aged 9, a fourth class pupil at St Brigid’s NS, Ballysax and his teacher is Cliodhna Byrne. At a special ceremony last December, Kildare’s surviving centenarians were presented with a copy of this special commemorative 1916 lapel pin in Aras Chill Dara. The pins, of which there is a limited number, are being made available to members of the public free of charge, and can be obtained at local libraries or Kildare County Council’s Aras Chill Dara headquarters. The Kildare Education Centre has a limited supply of the pins. If your school would like some, please contact us to arrange for their collection.

Timeline Photos

Thank you for your continued support during 2016 and we look forward to welcoming you to the Education Centre in 2017. The Education Centre will re-open on January 3rd 2017. Our hope for you this Christmas is to have time - to remember, with smiles not tears - to give, of yourself more than things - to receive, the person regardless of the gift - to be, in the moment not some tomorrow and to laugh and infect the whole world with your laughter. Happy Christmas