BellTime Magazine Spring Summer 2015 by BelltimeMagazine

Spring/Summer 2015 Bi-Annual Free School Magazine to every secondary school in Ireland

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Engage Education Ireland are an award winning Teaching Business based in Stephens Green, Dublin City Centre. What do we do? We help you progress your teaching career! Whether you're a Newly Qualified Teacher or an experienced teacher we work with you to secure you not just any role - but the right role! We provide Full-Time Long Term and Permanent teaching opportunities in over 1,350 Primary and Secondary schools across the UK. Our services include Profile, SGP and we also offer our signature Teacher Recruitment Event 'iday' to quality Irish Teachers. We run these events over the course of the year facilitating people searching for September and January starts. The iday events are held in several locations including London, Leeds, and Dublin. This exclusive event offers teachers the opportunity of interviewing face to face with multiple schools on one day. These interviews are tailored to your skills and requirements. London and Leeds iday events comprise of a FREE four day trip to the UK - interview with schools, attend CPD within an English school, and a chance to visit 2 schools that you have interviewed

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Engage Education iday event dates: May 18th May 26th June 8th June 9th June 22nd June 29th July 8th

London Dublin City Centre London Cambridge London Leeds London

To secure your place on one of these events please forward your CV to Robert.elliott@engageeducation.ie or call (01) 554 7332 for more information â&#x20AC;&#x153;The iDay was a great experience and would highly recommend to any NQT or teacher looking for full time employment to take part.â&#x20AC;? J. Moran - GMIT Graduate 2013.

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FOREWORD From The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union Hi everyone! Welcome to the Spring / Summer edition of BellTime magazine. My name is Rob O’Donnell, I am a sixth year student in The Abbey School Co. Tipperary and I am also the newly elected President of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU). We are delighted to have been asked to contribute to this edition of BellTime magazine. It is a busy time of the year for everyone in all levels of education. Exams are just around the corner, and hopefully the Summer sun will be there too. Whether you will be sitting State Examinations or Summer tests, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best of luck and wish all students and teachers a very happy and fun-filled Summer too. Exam season can be a stressful time of the year so make sure to get plenty of rest and speak to your family or friends if you are feeling any way worried. Always believe in yourself and your potential. We here in the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union are the national umbrella body for secondlevel Student Councils. We aim to represent and connect Irish second-level students the length and breadth of the country, ensuring that the voice of the Irish second-level student is heard, respected and viewed as an equal voice. We strive for innovation and democracy within the Irish education system and we want students to become actively involved in the decision making process that shapes their education! So how can you get involved with ISSU? We will be running our online Exam Blogs shortly so if you are interested in participating with content, make sure to keep an eye on our website www.issu.ie over the coming weeks! You will see later on in this edition an introduction to who we are, what we do and what we are hoping to achieve over the coming year also. Our doors are always open and between our 10 elected National Student Executive officers and small administration team, we believe that we can challenge, empower, engage, listen and communicate to others what young people have to say. We hope we can contribute in a positive manner to our education system and continue our platform of achieving meaningful student voice and input, and have a great time and fun in doing so also! We hope you enjoy this edition of BellTime magazine! Make sure to check out their website and download their app which is available on Apple Store and Playstore too. It is a brilliant resource for keeping up to date with education and relevant news for students, teachers and parents! Don’t forget to have a read of our information spread later on in the magazine also! Le gach dea ghuí,

Rob O’Donnell 4

BellTIME Editor Note Welcome to the Summer edition of BellTime Magazine. We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone sitting exams the very best of luck and fingers crossed! Make sure to visit our website www.belltimemagazine.ie to check out all the latest news & sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with our upcoming issues. Any questions just email: info@bellmedia.ie and we will be sure to respond. Many thanks to Rob O’Donnell, president of ISSU, for introducing the Summer issue of BellTime magazine and to all our advertisers and contributors. Fancy an Interrail Pass for 32 Countries around Europe or the chance to win a Tablet? Just Like and Share us on Facebook to be in with a chance. Oh! And we also have 50 Student Cards to give away too!!!! Summer is here and BellTime Magazine is feeling Generous! Don’t forget to download the BellTime App on AppleStore & PlayStore from the middle of May or Check out our I Book available the middle of May also. We have many more prizes and giveaways up our sleeve so keep your eyes peeled at www.belltimemagazine.ie. Good Luck with the Exams & Enjoy the Holidays! We will be back in the Autumn with lot’s more School News. Enjoy the holidays, Rachel Hanna Editor BellTime Magazine is published by Bell Media, The Close, St. Alphonsus Rd, Dundalk, Co. Louth Mob: 083 4451900 Email: info@bellmedia.ie Web: www.bellmedia.ie/ www.belltimemagazine.ie Publisher/ Editor: Rachel Hanna MOB: 083 4451900 Advertising: info@bellmedia.ie Advertising Contact: 083 4451900 Printing: Boylan Print Distribution: DPD Graphics: Vision Design ISSN: 2009 - 7867

Contents c Bell MediaTM BellTime Magazine is published by Bell Media and distributed to 722 Secondary Schools nationwide and associated youth organisations and educational institutions. Articles published in BellTime are also available on our website www.belltimemagazine.com and on our app.

The views expressed in this magazine are those of the individual authors and are not necessarily endorsed by Bell Media. While every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this publication is up to date and correct, no responsibility will be taken by Bell Media for any error which might occur. While every effort is made to ensure the reliability of advertisers, Bell Media cannot accept liability for the quality of goods and services offered.

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CONTENTS

Education National Learning Network – Life After School Higher Education Authority – Erasmus/ Study abroad or traineeship experience Europass – The European Skills Passport Careers Portal Irish Tax Institute – Top 5 Reasons to choose a Career in Tax Science Foundation Ireland – STEM Careers FIT – The New IT Apprenticeship style pathway to a Career Bord Iascaigh Mhara – Looking for a Career with a difference? Institute of Chartered Surveyors – Do you like dealing with people? Teagasc - Fancy a Career in Horticulture School Business & Student Finance The School’s Business Partnership – Empowering Students to take control of their future The Credit Union – Clued In – The new personal finance resource aimed at secondary school students School Resources Safefood – Education programme for Schools Youth Groups & Student Awards Student Enterprise Awards – The wait is over! Aviva Schools’ Fitness Challenge – The Winning Results Youth for decent Work Awards – Youth Connect Irish Secondary School’s Union – Have your Say! Dublin City Council – Summer Events Transition Year Gaisce – The President’s Award Celebrates it’s 30th Anniversary Transition Year Ireland – Have you booked your place at the TY Expo? Follow the Camino – Ty Camino Travel Report Environment The Environmental Protection Agency – See It? Say It? Environmental Complaint Reporting App Eco Unesco – Youth Empowerment through Environmental Action Sport & Adventure Outdoor Education Ireland – National Network of ETB Outdoor Education Centres Culture & The Arts The National Library – Fantastic Educational Programme for post primary schools No. 29 Georgian Museum – Journey Back in Time at Number 29 Volunteering Volunteer Ireland – Get Involved! School Tours & Summer Fun Zipit Forest Adventures – Exciting Activity 1916 Rebellion School Tours – The Easter Rising Global Languages and Tours The Military War Museum – “World War” Experience School Tour Package ePublish - Creators of enhanced digital books Mental Health Headstrong – Supporting Young People’s Mental Health Spirituality & Faith The Christian Brothers – Making a difference in the lives of others BellTime Magazine & The Irish Film Institute Competition Results USIT - Summer Camps Useful Websites Competition Time at BellTime Magazine National Learning Network - What to do next

Many thanks to all our advertisers and contributors

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Life after School - What is Available to Students Who Require Additional Supports? Sitting in a classroom, surrounded by friends, students can see that everyone is different. Looking at everyone in their uniform, you might think that everyone is very the same but they aren始t. Some are good at maths, others at languages, some are very artistic, while others might be great organisers. There are jobs and careers for everyone, depending on their strengths. When it comes to deciding what to do after school, students might be not only looking at a course that suits their skills, but also how the course is delivered and what supports are available to them.

The structure of the CAO points system can be a barrier to higher education for many students. The competition for a limited number of places is fierce, not just for special needs students, but for everyone. There are, however, a limited number of places available to students with disabilities on the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) and the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE), both schemes offer college places at reduced points www.accesscollege.ie. Next to the CAO route is the option of taking a 1 or 2 year Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) course. A variety of courses are available nationwide and the criteria for entry is less rigorous. But can you be sure your specific educational needs will be met by these providers? To date they don始t have intensive support services in place to support students with specific learning needs, or the resources to provide individual action planning or one-to one support.

Further Education supporting Special Needs

National Learning Network (NLN) has 36 training centres around the country which offer QQI certified courses through experienced tutors to small groups of students. NLN始s specialist expertise provides courses for early school leavers, students who have gone through illness or injury, students with Autism Spectrum Disorder or students who have a disability.

NLN employs a team of experienced tutors and specialists who are dedicated to supporting students with specific educational needs, so that they can meet the goals that they set for themselves. Before a student starts a course they are invited to meet with the tutor so that they can discuss any particular needs they have or specific issues with learning. Together they develop an individualised learning plan which sets out your goals and the milestones you need to meet to achieve these goals.

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From the protected school environment to a more independent life

NLN offers a practical helping hand to students, when they are moving from the protected school environment to a more independent, adult life through education and additional supports. Each student is encouraged to participate as part of a team, and they are also supported individually for any specific needs they might have. Courses are flexible and students can start a course at any time during the year due to the continuous intake policy. A range of courses are available including information technology, catering and culinary skills, business studies, computer design, horticulture, performing arts, retail, office skills, employability skills, sport and leisure management and employer based training.

NLN offer a range of specific supports to students on its courses. These could include learning supports such as an individualised learning plan, a dedicated key worker, support with learning including literacy and numeracy skills training, ICT basic skills training, job seeking skills training and support to find and apply for suitable further education and training options. NLN focuses on the person which allows students to be supported in all aspects of their lives throughout their training course. These could include ensuring a student is in appropriate accommodation, has access to the grants, allowances or training payment they are entitled to, has access to support agencies in their local area such as community or other medical supports. NLN offer a range of learning options for students including in-centre training, blended learning options to include learning in a training centre combined with training in a student始s local community and self-directed learning at home. To find out more about NLN始s courses, visit the website www.nln.ie or call us to discuss the options that we can provide for students: 1890 283 000.

Erasmus+ study abroad or traineeship experience. Over a million European students have taken part in the programme since 2007. Just why has the Erasmus+ programme proven to be such an enduring success?

Is it just the chance to escape our gloomy weather to enjoy a year in sunny Spain or Italy? Or the prospect of a visit to Germany or Sweden? An Erasmus exchange is far more than just a holiday abroad. It’s a unique opportunity to develop your skills, learn more about other cultures and languages, all while boosting your employability. Traditionally, for many, the Erasmus programme has been seen primarily as a chance for students to really develop their language skills. Through direct immersion in a country speakers of foreign languages do really polish their skills. However, these days, a student doesn’t have to be bilingual to go on exchange. There are also plenty European universities who cater to English speaking students. The University of Oslo, for examples, offers exchange students more than 800 courses taught in English along with Norwegian language courses. So while students can still avail of the language benefits of an exchange, there’s even more on offer than there used to be. For many students, Erasmus exchanges, these days, are more about the opportunity to expand their horizons. As the

Irish National Agency: Erasmus+ Head of International Education Higher Education Authority Brooklawn House Shelbourne Road Dublin 4 Tel: +353 (0)1 2317191

www.eurireland.ie

Check out our Facebook Page at Erasmus Ireland

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programme is designed to allow students to study abroad while still earning credits at their home institutions, many take it as an opportunity to study aspects of their degree that they would otherwise never have the chance to learn. A legal student in Cork, for example, can take the chance to go to the Netherlands to study aerospace law, thereby opening up a whole new avenue for them after they finish their education. An engineer in Galway can go Germany to work in Bavaria, helping to design new BMWs. For many students, it’s about the opportunity to stand out in an increasingly crowded job market and add new experience to their CV. With Irish businesses becoming increasingly internationalised, individuals with experience of working or studying abroad are increasingly valued by many businesses. Erasmus graduates bring with them valuable market knowledge and a demonstrated ability to work and prosper in a multicultural and international environment. So whether you’re going abroad to improve your language skills, study something completely new and different or looking to stand out to employers, Erasmus+ has something to offer everyone. For more information about Erasmus+ drop by the booth at the Higher Options Fair in September 2015 or just send a quick email to the address in the advertisement.

My year in Santiago de Compostela was, without any doubt, the best experience of my life thus far. I left Cork in August having never lived away from home, so it was a huge challenge to undertake. The opportunity to study abroad was fantastic, both for the educational experience and for the life experience outside the classroom. Nikesh Chopra, a BA International student, who spent an academic year at Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Let Europass showcase your skills

Europass is an EU wide service working to make sure that your skills, abilities and qualifications are understood by education and training providers and employers at home and across Europe. Europass is also an effective on-line career management system, helping you to store personal records systematically. Europass has five key tools that provide information according to a clear template that has been agreed across the EU: Europass CV: helps you showcase your skills and achievements. The CV can be uploaded to Europe wide job-search engines and is widely used by employers for recruitment purposes. It is one of the most popular CV templates in the world- almost 35,000 CVS are created by individual users daily! Europass Diploma Supplement: higher education institutions provide this supplementary information to graduates, personalised to the particular programme of learning that you followed and the award you achieved Europass Certificate Supplement: explains your vocational qualification and is available online to download. It is issued by QQI for major, supplemental and special purpose awards at levels 5 and 6 Europass Mobility: this document is a formal record outlining learning achieved through your experiences in work and study overseas. These opportunities are part of many programmes of learning in vocational and higher education under Erasmus+, and the Mobility document provides an important record for your future Europass Language Passport: provides an opportunity for you to benchmark your language skills according to the common European Framework of Reference for Language. This gives you an opportunity to track your won progress and plan your future learning

All these documents can be saved on-line by creating your own European Skills Passport. This becomes your career management and development portfolio, where you should keep any

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references, records of any employment experience, awards and achievements. Then as opportunities come your way, you are ready and can meet deadlines easily.

Are you

• Working with senior cycle students a part of the whole school guidance team, as a professional guidance counsellor or as a work experience coordinator? • Preparing Diploma Supplements for students in Higher Education? • Looking at Mobility opportunities under Erasmus+? • Looking for Certificate Supplements for students in Further Education and Training?

Make sure your students prepare a CV that will really take them places: help them develop good career management skills. Clarify what a Diploma Supplement and Certificate Supplement will do for your students and how to get the best from transnational participation in EU wide programmes under Erasmus+. In 2015 we will • Engage effectively with the guidance community so that Europass documents provide a relevant and useful resource in the classroom. • Provide you with Fact-sheets for individual tools, promotional materials and educational tools. • Participate in national events in support of the work you do in providing the best opportunities for the young people you serve. • Provide you with an e-zine which will assist you in keeping up to date with related EU initiatives.

How do I use Europass?

Log onto www.Europass.ie and follow the signposts to the documents that interest you Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay informed and receive alerts about opportunities to work, study or volunteer in Ireland or overseas

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Choose a career in tax as an AITI Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) What is a career in tax all about?

Tax is at the heartbeat of all commercial transactions – and impacts everyone from individuals right through to large multinational companies. Tax is based on legislation, so coming up with tax advice means unravelling and investigating the rules in legislation and putting together tax advice that makes a real financial difference.

What type of work will I be doing?

A career in tax as a CTA could mean working with and advising some of the key people and corporates in Ireland and abroad – from home-grown tech start-ups, pioneering biomedical multinationals, global investment banks to the leading entrepreneurs with the most innovative and revolutionary business concepts. It could mean working with the Revenue Commissioners, Department of Finance or the EU Commission advising on key areas of Irish and EU tax policy and shaping the legislation.

Where could I work? CTAs work in: • • • • •

Professional services firms Legal firms The corporate sector Financial services Public sector

There are 5,000 CTAs working in Ireland, and over 28,000 CTAs working all over the world.

What do I need to study at college to become a CTA? It’s more about your qualities and skills that you bring to the career rather than what you study at college. A lot of CTAs have studied business, accounting, or law at college, but graduates from engineering, science or humanities, go on to have really successful careers in tax. Here are some of the top skills for a career in tax: • • • •

A creative thinker • A flair for innovative problem solving Analytical know how • Persistent and resilient A natural communicator • An aptitude for numbers Commercial acumen

So, if I want to work in tax, I need to qualify as a CTA – how do I do that?

If you graduate with a Level 8 degree (in any discipline), you can register with the Irish Tax Institute as a student. There are three parts to the qualification, but depending on your undergraduate degree (or postgraduate degree); you may be entitled to some exemptions from Part 1. After you complete all three parts, you will be a CTA. Normally you will get a tax trainee role with a firm, so you will be working during the day while doing this qualification part-time. Firms generally advertise on the “milk round”, so look out for this in your final year at college.

What should I be doing if I am interested in becoming a CTA?

It’s never too early to make career decisions! Here are a few suggestions: • Check out www.careerintax.ie for everything you need to know about the career and the qualification! • Talk to your career counsellor or business studies teacher – they are a great starting point to guide you in the right direction. • Speak to people in the profession - they will give you great ideas about where to start!

For more information visit careerintax.ie

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Students Encouraged To Look Beyond Science Stereotypes When Making CAO Decisions Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) has called on Leaving Certificate students considering their CAO options to avoid ruling out science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) courses simply because of misperceptions or stereotypes. According to new research conducted by Amárach Research as part of SFI’s Smart Futures programme, students’ main concern when making their CAO choice is whether they will “fit in”, ranking it higher than other factors like career prospects. Dr. Ruth Freeman, Director of Strategy and Communications at SFI, said “We know that there are a number of stereotypes about STEM careers that may discourage a student from choosing these subjects for their Leaving Cert, or as part of the CAO. The reality, however, is that there is a huge variety of careers in areas like technology or science. There are exciting prospects for STEM graduates in well paid roles that are making a real difference to our society. From 2004 to 2014 employment in ICT companies grew by more than 30% and salaries in these companies are 29% above the national average.” “Given that one of the most frequent conversations with anyone sitting their Leaving Certificate over the coming weeks will be what they are choosing for the CAO, we want to ensure that students are fully informed before making their decisions. Sometimes potential career routes aren’t as obvious to students and parents when thinking about science, technology, engineering or maths. SmartFutures.ie offers the opportunity for students and parents to read profiles of people studying and working in a variety of exciting areas like pharmaceuticals, cybersecurity, data science and biotechnology.”

Exploring Career Paths The Smart Futures programme, which is managed by SFI Discover and coordinated in partnership with Engineers Ireland, is an online resource for students and parents, featuring real life STEM career stories and video interviews with people working in a diverse range of industries. Students are encouraged to visit www.SmartFutures.ieto explore different career paths before making CAO and career decisions. The main findings of the survey include: · 62% of all students surveyed said that ‘fitting in’ was the most important factor in deciding what to study at third-level · This was even more important to female students, with 65% highlighting it as their biggest influence · Career prospects were found to be the second most important factor (56%), followed by academic reputation of the college (28%) and entry requirements (23%) · The influence of parents was rated as less significant at 19%, and even less influential were school career guidance/teachers (13%) · 51% of students felt STEM courses offer good career prospects · 84% of STEM third-level students surveyed were confident they would find a job they enjoy after college · 91% of students agree that STEM is important for the development of the Irish economy

Role Models and School Visits A great way to introduce students to real people working in science and technology is to invite role models from industry and research to come into the classroom. Smart Futures offers free career talks from STEM volunteers. Teachers, TY coordinators and guidance counsellors are encouraged to visitwww.smartfutures.ie/about/schoolvisits or contact smartfutures@sfi.ie for more info. 15

LOOKING FOR A CAREER WITH A DIFFERENCE? IRELAND’S FISHING INDUSTRY MAY HAVE THE CAREER CHOICE FOR YOU! Are you struggling to find a career that you feel suits you? A career that is hands-on and rewarding? How about a career in the Irish Fishing Industry? Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Irish Sea Fisheries Board, the state agency with responsibility for developing the Irish Sea Fishing and Aquaculture (fish-farming) industries provides an extensive programme of training in the catching, aquaculture and seafood processing areas. So, whether you find the role 4 skipper or engineer on board a commercial fishing vessel an exciting option or being part of Ireland’s growing fish-farming business is of interest to you; BIM has a course that will provide you with the relevant skills and qualifications to make your dream career a reality. The courses offered by BIM’s National Fisheries College of Ireland, Castletownbere, Co. Cork are all certified training courses including:

Deck Officer (Fishing Vessel) Certificate of Competency (Department of Transport)

Those who have chosen a career in fisheries and have a minimum of 2 years sea service can progress to command positions through the acquisition of Deck Officer Certificates of Competency. These highly practical courses teach a range of navigation and safety skills to those whose ambition is to become a skipper or mate of a commercial fishing vessel.

Aquaculture Training Courses

These courses range from a very basic module aimed at giving new entrants a foundation in fish farming methods to higher skilled training mentioned below for those who have some experience of fishing or fish farming and who wish to learn or improve their knowledge of fish and shellfish aquaculture techniques. Practical engineering, boat handling and safety at sea skills are also taught to facilitate employment on fish farms. BIM offers aquaculture courses at QQI level 3, 4, 5 and 6. For further information on all courses and to apply, please visit www.bim.ie,

email training@bim.ie or call 01-2144100

Safety Training

BIM also run ongoing safety training courses covering Personal Survival Techniques, Elementary First Aid, Fire Prevention and Safety Awareness. These courses form part of the basic syllabus of all other courses, and are offered independently to those already in the industry. This training is mandatory for all fishing industry personnel. Courses are held at BIM’s National Fisheries College of Ireland, Greencastle, Co. Donegal, BIM’s National Fisheries College of Ireland, Castletownbere, Co. Cork, on BIM’s two mobile Coastal Training Units and at other coastal locations.

BIM’s Enhanced Safety Training Scheme is a 1day course designed to provide the skippers and crews of registered fishing vessels with up-to-date training in personal survival techniques, first aid, fire prevention and health and safety in the workplace.

Those successfully completing the course or new entrants successfully completing BIM’s 3-day Basic Safety Training can avail of a special incentive under BIM’s Safety Equipment Scheme. This provides grant aid of up to 60% towards the cost of purchasing Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) fitted with an integrated Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). The 1-day Enhanced Safety Training Scheme is open to the skippers and crew members of all vessels registered on the Fishing Boat Register.

BIM offers equal training opportunities to all and safety, conservation and sustainability issues are addressed throughout. To view the careers profile of BIM’s students, check out www.careersportal.ie

Training Programme Dates for 2015

> 3 day Safety Training-on-going. > 1- day Enhanced Safety Training-on-going. Deck Officer (Fishing Vessel) Certificate of Competency > (Department of Transport)- September 2015

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A Career as a Property Surveyor Do you have strong business acumen? Are you a creative problem-solver? Do you like dealing with people? Are you looking for a varied career that puts you at the heart of organisations globally? Property surveyors are highly trained professionals who specialise in one of the following areas: • • • • • • • •

Estate Agency Asset Management Commercial Property (retail, office, industrial, hotels and leisure) Valuation and Investment Property and Facilities Management Planning and Development Arts and Antiques Forestry and Rural Land

Where do they work?

As a Property Surveyor, you might find yourself giving advice to Google on where best to locate their new offices or helping Forever 21 or Abercrombie & Fitch identify the best retail pitch in a city centre. In terms of residential property, a surveyorʼs role can vary from assisting a young couple buying their first home to providing professional valuation advice to a financial institution to sourcing suitable accommodation for an international film director looking for a short-term letting.

As a surveyor in the public sector, you could be at the heart of Government decisions regarding Stateowned properties and portfolios, including offices and forestry.

‘My knowledge and experience of the surveying profession allowed me to work in one of the largest tech firms in the world right on my doorstep.’ - Davina Gray - Real Estate and Work Place Service Analyst, Google

What sort of subjects should you be interested in to pursue a career in this area?

An interest in business is a distinct advantage. But property is a wide ranging career, and courses include subjects such as law, economics, information technology and management. Itʼs worth noting that property surveying tends to be a very sociable and team-based career – ideal for those who enjoy interacting with and meeting lots of new people.

The SCSI offer free schools initiatives including school visits, work shops, work experience placements and Surveying Week for TY Students.

To find out more about our free schools initiatives, surveying courses and school visits, go to: www.scsi/acaeerinsurveying or contact SCSI, School and College Liaison and Promotions Officer, Catherine Noble on 01-6445500 or cnoble@scsi.ie

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Teagasc Education and Training In excess of 3,700 learners participate annually in occupationally oriented Teagasc further education programmes and Teagasc linked higher education programmes with annual enrolments for these programmes being in the order of 2,400. Teagasc uniquely among education providers is substantially involved in both further education and higher education provision. The integration of agricultural research, knowledge transfer and education under the Teagasc umbrella bring core strengths and expertise to agricultural education.

their work experience on suitable dairy farms in New Zealand. The minimum qualification entry to this programme is a Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture or equivalent. The programme is targeted at those seeking occupations as dairy farm managers, those seeking to enter dairy farming through partnership arrangements and those intending to return to home dairy farms. Further details may be obtained from the programme co-ordinator, Marion Beecher (marion.beecher@teagasc.ie).

Further Education

Teagasc has long been involved in horticultural education at the Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture in the National Botanic Gardens and at Kildalton College, Piltown Co.Kilkenny. Teagasc horticultural programmes are recognised for their ‘hands on’ approach in developing a wide range of horticultural skills. Teagasc has redeveloped its Level 6 horticultural programmes with emphasis on 4 main streams: horticultural food crops; nursery stock production, landscaping and sports turf management. Teagasc is keen to attract Level 5 graduates of other horticultural schools and colleges who may wish to progress to a Teagasc Level 6 programme. For more information contact John Mulhern, Principal at the Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture, Botanic Gardens (john.mulhern@teagasc.ie) or Ciaran Walsh Asst. Principal (Horticulture) at Kildalton College (ciaran.walsh@teagasc.ie). Teagasc also partners with Waterford Institute of Technology in the delivery higher education programmes (Levels 7/8) at the Botanic Gardens and at Kildalton.

The Level 5 Certificate in Agriculture is the core entry programme to Teagasc agricultural further education with typically 1,100 or more enrolments annually. Of these enrolments; typically 55% are for full time courses, about 25% enter distance education programmes and 20% enter part time courses. Three Teagasc colleges offer agricultural programmes: Ballyhaise, Clonakilty and Kildalton and three private agricultural colleges also offer Teagasc programmes: Gurteen, Pallaskenry and Mountbellew. In addition to ‘Green Cert’ programmes colleges also offer specialised advanced agricultural programmes at Level 6.

Higher Education The higher education sector has long viewed Teagasc as an essential agricultural education partner given Teagasc’s fundamental lead role as a science based organisation for the agri-food sector. Teagasc partners with UCD and 6 Institutes of Technology in higher education provision

Teagasc Professional Diploma in Dairy Farm Management Teagasc recently introduced a UCD validated Professional Diploma in Dairy Farm Management programme. This is a fulltime two year professional work experience based programme on Teagasc approved commercial dairy farms. This Professional Diploma also incorporates coursework and discussion group meetings with input from Teagasc leading dairy researchers, educators and dairy knowledge transfer specialists. Participants may also complete part of

Horticulture

Equine Courses/ Forestry Courses Teagasc Kildalton College is a nationally recognised equine education provider offering high quality practical programmes in horsemanship and stud management. Contact emails: crea.english@teagasc.ie or joan.lenihan@teagasc.ie Teagasc Ballyhaise College provides Level 5 and Level 6 programmes in forestry focussed at those seeking careers in the forestry sector. Contact email: marianne.lyons@teagasc.ie

For further information on Teagasc courses go to http://www.teagasc.ie/training/

Business in the Community Ireland

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Ireland has established a strong international reputation in education. Developing our educational system and ensuring Ireland becomes a knowledge economy is a prerequisite for all in Irish society, especially Irish business.

Business in the Community Ireland through its Schools始 Business Partnership partners schools with business and empowers young. Our vision is to empower young students to take control of their future and to develop an appreciation for education. We aim to positively impact on educational inclusion in Ireland by working with students who are at risk of leaving school

T: 01 874 3809

www.bitc.ie

early. Students gain insights into the working world and can see first-hand potential career paths that can be open to them through school completion. Over the past decade, we have developed over 300 partnerships between schools and business, impacting over 24,000 young students in Ireland. It is a partnership with Government also - the Departments of Education & Skills and Children & Youth Affairs who provide some funding. The lead sponsor is Marks & Spencer Ireland since 2001; other sponsorship partners are Cornmarket and the ESB Generation Fund.

Developing our educational system and ensuring Ireland becomes a knowledge economy is a prerequisite for all in Irish society

Our Programmes

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The Student Mentoring Programme strives to encourage students to stay in school, increase their self-esteem and develop an awareness of the workplace over the course of their senior cycle. The final two years of education are extremely important for many students. Our Student Mentoring Programme provides employees with the opportunity to be a positive influence in a young personʼs life by mentoring them. Over 1,470 students and 1, 1299 mentors have participated to date. The Skills @ Work Programme provides students with a unique insight into the world of work. Employees have the opportunity to share their experience of life, study and work with senior cycle students. Over five sessions, students are provided with assistance to learn about the partnering company and its business, to consider career and further study options available to them when they finish school. For employees, this is an opportunity to enhance and develop their presentation and communication skills while adding diversity to the working day.

Management Excellence for Principals (MEP) involves senior business leaders sharing their expertise and experience with educational leaders through a series of workshops over the course of the school year. Workshop topics include: Leadership, Time Management, Performance Management and PR & Marketing. Almost 800 post primary principals have participated to date.

Management Excellence for Teachers (MET) aims to harvest the knowledge, skills and expertise of Irelandʼs visionary business leaders by facilitating them in providing professional development to whole school staffs. The programme creates the space for Irelandʼs top businesses to share company and staff skills through workshops with a school staff on topics that have been identified by that school staff eg teamwork, communication skills, learning styles, change management & stress management. STEM ʻSeeing Is Believingʼ In 2013, BITCI researched best practice nationally and internationally to develop supports for science teachers and the outcome was the development of Seeing is Believing for science & technology teachers and guidance counsellors. Nine have taken place since 2013 and companies visited include: Intel, Microsoft, Becton Dickinson, AOL, Vistakon, Cook Medical, Analog, Janssen, GE Healthcare, PM Group, Diageo, Siemens Diagnostics, Pramerica, LYIT, LM Ericsson, Symantec, BT and Zurich.

Time to Read (primary schools) is a literacy enhancement initiative. It provides 2nd class children with the opportunity to receive reading support from a business volunteer. The programme aims to increase the enjoyment of, and confidence in, reading whilst encouraging self-discovery for the participating children. Time to Read, Irelandʼs first business to education reading initiative, is taking place in 24 primary schools this year.

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Launch of Clued In Personal Finance Resource Credit unions have launched, Clued In, new personal finance resource aimed at second level students. Clued In explains personal finance and the role of credit unions in a concise, easy to follow, engaging format. The resource will help students, guided by their teacher, to explore their relationship with their finances, good and bad. It also looks at ways we can all make smarter, more informed decisions. For young people especially, the ability to oversee their finances has never been more important: from learning how to budget to managing their borrowing; from understanding the forms and sources of credit to understanding how to have a positive relationship with money. Above all, if money skills are learned at an early stage, it is likely that they will stay with you for life. The health of a person’s relationship with money is not determined by how much a person earns. Rather, financial health is having a conscious and sensible attitude to money that is satisfying and doesn’t put an unnecessary burden on the individual. It’s is about being in control of your own financial destiny.

Clued In has been designed for delivery by teachers in a classroom setting. The teachers’ handbook accompanying the resource guides the teacher through the resource. It includes a range of exercises which will encourage students to apply the theory to real world situations and understand the financial choices available to them. The students are taken through the resource via a series of slides. There are also a number of hand outs for students which contain exercises related to the topic at hand. The resource is principally aimed at Transition Year Students, but it is also relevant for students of Business Studies, Home Economics, LCVP etc. The resource is divided into five sections, each with its assigned learning objectives and activities. These sections are designed to be delivered either as standalone sessions of an overall Personal Finance Module. The section are as follows: 1. Money and Me Money is often important to young people but it can create challenges and worries for them. This section helps students explore what money means to them. It will help students identify how important they perceive money to be, explore the different attitudes people have to money and reflect on the steps which can take to improve their relationship with money.

2. Spending and Budgeting This section introduce the concept of ‘needs’ and ‘wants’, and discuss how these change as we move through different life stages. The section also develop students understanding of budgeting and make the financial implications of their personal choices. It also explores the factors which influence purchasing decisions. In relation to exercises, students are tasked with developing a budget for a number of teenagers. They are also given some real life budgetary scenarios and challenged to make ends meet when things don’t go as planned!

3. Credit and Debt This section explores particular areas of personal finance. In relation to credit, it analyses the features of the various forms of credit available – personal loans, hire purchase, credit cards, mortgages, moneylenders etc. It explores the factors which lenders use to determine whether to issue credit and how damaging your credit rating can impact on a person’s ability to borrow. The section explores Good Debt (debt that is used for a productive purpose e.g. an education loan) and Bad Debt (unsustainable, high interest forms of credit). It examines credit cards in detail and highlights the advantages, disadvantages and dangers of not repaying credit card bills in full. Finally, it explores the causes of financial difficulty and the warning signs to be aware of. This section has a range of exercises through which students can explore the topics of credit and debt further.

4. The Role of Credit Unions This section explores the role played by credit union in local communities. It highlights how credit unions differ from other financial institutions, with the not-for-profit, member service ethos at the heart of credit unions’ activities. It includes a number of exercises to examine students’ knowledge of credit unions and how they operate. 5. Projects At the end of the resource, the students may choose to undertake a particularly project related to the above content. These projects are designed to reinforce key learning points of the module content. Additional information on the resource is available at www.cluedin.ie.

Pictured at the launch of Clued In, were Niamh Murphy (17), Irish and Ulster Rugby star Paddy Jackson and Ailise Dunne (16)

> Additional information on the resource is available at www.cluedin.ie

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Food Labelling

The labels on our food and drinks don’t just advertise brand names and brand attributes – they also contain information from food manufacturers about what ingredients are in their products. Food labelling is important because it ensures products are accurate, not misleading and safe to consume. For consumers, food labelling is really important because it educates us about the food we buy and helps us store and use food safely. And from a healthy eating point of view, food labelling also helps us to make informed choices when comparing food labels. ‘What’s on a Label’ is safefood’s free education resource for this topic and newly updated to include the latest legislative changes in this area. Aimed at Junior Cycle and Transition Year students, the resource also supports the SPHE curriculum and was developed with input from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute (INDI). Full of practical labelling examples, ‘What’s on a Label’ is designed to help students learn lifelong skills in an engaging and interactive way, and empowers students to make more informed choices about the foods they eat.

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Learning about Food Safety

Food poisoning can happen very easily but is also easily avoided and every year, thousands of people suffer needlessly from illnesses caused by food poisoning. Learning about food safety helps students gain knowledge that they can bring with them beyond school and throughout their own lives. ‘safefood for Life’ is a certified food safety training programme that not only teaches students about the basic principles of food safety but it also allows them the opportunity to sit an online examination and on completion, gain the minimum level of training to work in the food industry. Topics covered in the interactive resource include personal hygiene; food contamination; food delivery and storage; food preparation and cooking; cleaning and design of food premises. Developed with input from industry and public health stakeholders, ‘safefood for Life’ is accredited by the Environmental Health Association of Ireland with the online certificate valid for five years.

To find out more about these and other safefood free education resources,

visit www.safefood.eu/education or email info@safefood.eu

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Top Student Enterprise Awards for Offaly, South Dublin and North Cork Teens The top category awards at this year’s Student Enterprise Awards National Finals (held on April 22nd 2015), organised by the Local Enterprise Offices, have gone to enterprising teens from Offaly, South Dublin and North Cork. 16-year-old Shíofra Ryan from Offaly took the overall Senior Category prize for ‘An Tionchar’, meaning ‘Impact’ in Irish, which has patent-pending designs on a boot for hurling and camogie players. The transition year student from St. Brendan’s Community School in Birr is already in discussions with manufacturers, to produce her invention on a bigger scale. The Intermediate Category, which is open to second and third year students, was won by Dara Ward from ‘My GAA Journey’ of Coláiste Eanna in South Dublin. The top prize in the Junior Category, for first year students, went to Mary O’ Leary, Eva Fitzgibbon and Ciara Litchfield from ‘Bring a Fairy Home’ at St. Mary’s Secondary School, Charleville in North Cork.

Co-ordinated by all 31 Local Enterprise Offices across Ireland, the 13th Annual Student

Enterprise Awards National Final in Croke Park saw 300 student entrepreneurs showcase 74 different businesses, across Junior, Intermediate and Senior Categories. 17,000 students from 370 schools take part in the programme every year. Awards for Innovation, Best Display, Intellectual Property Awareness and Social Media were also presented to schools as part of the €10,000 prize fund. The Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation,

BellTIME Mr. Damien English T.D., presented the awards on stage in Croke Park, saying: “ It is important that we continue to develop links between the education system and the real economy, so that school leavers are equipped with the skills, expertise and practical knowledge of business operations that will enable them to consider selfemployment as a career option.”

Minister English added: “It is extremely satisfying to see entrepreneurship as a career option for students becoming more mainstreamed thanks to the cumulative impact of programmes such as the Student Enterprise Awards, run so successfully by the Local Enterprise Offices. The enthusiasm of the winners – and all participants – should be acknowledged as well as their ingenuity and “can do” attitude which gives great hope for this Country going forward. By supporting the aspiring entrepreneurs of today, the Local Enterprise Offices are fostering the job creators of tomorrow.” Stephen Walshe, Chair of the Enterprise Education Committee with the Local Enterprise Offices, praised the work of the students and schools, adding: “Every year, the Student Enterprise Awards encourage students from all over the country, to develop new enterprise concepts and products, learning about the business world in a ‘hands on’ way. Now that they’ve started their entrepreneurial journey in the classroom, the Local Enterprise

Offices are there to help them with their aspiring businesses in the future too.”

Kieran Comerford, the Chair of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices, delivered the opening address at the ceremony in the Hogan Suite. Last year's Junior Category Winners, 'Sheep Watch' from St. Oliver’s Post Primary School in County Meath, told guests about their recent €10,000 crowd funding investment, as well the new prototype for their sheep monitoring collar.

The Social Media Awards were supported by Essential French and the Intellectual Property Awareness Awards were supported by the Irish Patents Office. The 2015/2016 programme starts in September, with full details available at www.studententerprise.ie or by searching #studententerprise on social media. Why not get in touch! studententerprise.ie Twitter: @StudentEntAward Facebook: /SEAsIreland YouTube: StudentEnterpriseIE 31

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Schools’ Challenge offers first ever measurement of fitness norms for Irish teens Aviva Health Schools’ Fitness Challenge reveals Irish School Boys are 53% Fitter than Girls Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring TD and Irish International Rugby player, Robbie Henshaw announced the winners of the Aviva Health Schools’ Fitness Challenge 2015 at Aviva Stadium on 15th April 2015. The national challenge, which measured the fitness of 1st to 4th year secondary school children, had two overall winners; • Ireland’s Fittest School, Boherbue Comprehensive School in Co. Cork, and • Ireland’s Most Improved School, Scariff Community School in Co. Clare. Boherbue Comprehensive School completed an impressive 133 shuttles to be named Ireland’s Fittest School while Scariff Community School completed 47 additional shuttles between phases to be awarded the Most Improved School title. Speaking about the results, Prof Niall Moyna of the Centre for Preventive Medicine in Dublin City University said; “The winning schools and the other participating schools have demonstrated how simple it is to make large improvements to fitness over such a short period of time. Next year we are looking forward to being able to utilise all the data over the past three years to develop standardised norms for fitness levels of Irish school children for the first time. The fitness of the children across the country needs to be treated as a priority and this new method will enable us to demonstrate the exact state of our youth and enable school, teachers and parents to accurately measure fitness levels.” The Aviva Health Schools’ Fitness Challenge, which has been ongoing for three years, is the first time that the fitness levels of students have been objectively assessed. Using the data of the past three years of over 58,000 children, Aviva Health, the Centre for Preventive Medicine in Dublin City University, now have sufficient information to develop national standardised norms for the fitness levels of children in Irish secondary schools.

The Aviva Health Schools’ Fitness Challenge demonstrates that exercise intervention at a young age can improve fitness among school-going children and that continually assessing fitness levels can improve the overall health of the nation. Key findings from the 2015 Aviva Health Schools’ Fitness Challenge include: • A total of 10,289 students (5,261 boys and 5,028 girls) from 24 counties across Ireland successfully completed the challenge in 2015 • While girls’ fitness remained constant over the four school years there was a gradual increase in boys, from an average 65 shuttle runs in 1st year to an average 85 shuttle runs in 4th year students, a 30% increase o In 2013 boys completed an average of 62 shuttles and this year they completed an average of 74 shuttles, an increase of 19% o In 2013 girls completed an average of 38 shuttles and this year they completed an average of 43 shuttles, an increase of 13% • The 2015 results show that boys are now 53% fitter than girls compared to 45% fitter last year highlighting the widening fitness gap between the genders

• The fitness levels of both Irish girls and boys are above the European average and they currently lie in the top 20%, however, the EU standard is worrying low • Dublin, Donegal and Oﬀaly were the top three participating counties in this year’s challenge While Irish school-going children’s fitness levels are above the European average, the current aerobic fitness norms for European adolescents published in the HELENA study are very low and do not reflect the minimum levels required for optimal health among Irish teenage girls and boys. The Aviva Health Schools’ Fitness Challenge 2015 was devised by Professor Niall Moyna from the Centre of Preventive Medicine in Dublin City University and the Wellness Initiative Alliance. Prof Moyna continued; “To encourage children to start good fitness behaviour early, a new Health Science curriculum could be developed at both a Junior and Senior cycle that combines education on human biology, chronic diseases, home economics and lifestyle

including physical activity, diet, smoking, alcohol and stress. Educating children about what physical activity actually does physiologically will help them understand how the body responds to exercise.” James Parker, CEO, Aviva Health Insurance speaking at the awards said, “As a health insurer, it is very important to us to encourage our customers to take a pro-active approach to their health to manage the cost of obesity related claims. Aviva Health Insurance paid over €7million last year in claims for treatments where obesity is a key risk factor. We were delighted with the level of participation in the Aviva Health Schools’ Fitness Challenge, which really highlights the importance of tracking the fitness levels of our youth to improve the health of children in Ireland. We congratulate the winning schools and we hope their achievements will inspire others to take part in next year’s programme.” For further information on Aviva Healths Schools’ Fitness Challenge 2015, and to view participation & fitness maps for all counties, please visit

www.avivahealth.ie/fitnesschallenge

Nominees with Aaron Heffernan

Youth for Decent Work

Awards

This was the second year of the Youth for Decent Work awards and the judges were absolutely astounded at the quality of the work from our second-level students and their teachers, again this year. When the competition was launched in August 2014, we were concerned that the topic may perhaps be a little challenging, too complex or perhaps something which students really didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think concerned them, well how wrong could we be!! Students took the topic of Income Inequality and interpreted it as their own. 93 videos later, we had the unenviable task of shortlisting the talent into just 32 teams for the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choice Awards which caused great excitement amongst the teams. But the Royal School in Cavan clinched the spot with an endorsement from the up and coming young band The Strypes and 34% of the vote. Those 32 teams were then in the running for the 18 nominated places which meant the opportunity to have their film screened in the beautiful and iconic Screen 1 Savoy Cinema, home to many famous celebrity premieres and now an audience of close to 700 of the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; peers, family and friends. Another difficult task but with such an amazing array of talented actors, fantastic sets using local facilities, great direction and superb editing made it all the more enjoyable and worthwhile. The energy and enthusiasm which came through their work was inspiring and students fully engaged 34

Aaron Hefferenan Awards Host

with the topic and embraced the competition with such creativity and fun. It is down to their commitment and dedication in bringing their ideas to fruition in such an engaging and fun way that makes the competition so successful and the event so enjoyable and such fun. The amount of hard work that went into each production was a credit to the students and their school and we feel that every team that submits a video is a winner in terms of their learning, their teamwork and the free day from school to catch a glimpse of themselves on screen. We have learned a lot from this competition and awards event, no less that our students are AWESOME really and truly, the standard of production, the meaningful interpretation and the continuous engagement were well beyond our expectations. We have struggled to find the right words to articulate some of these concepts, students have taken up the challenge and succeeded superbly and are an example for their peers. A very big congratulations to all our students, but particularly our winners on the day who were;

Winner of Best Overall Video with YC Champions CBS Thurles

Members from some of the nominated teams in Green Room

SCHOOL Royal School, Cavan

TEACHER TEAM Ashley Dennigan Sara Whitley, Kate Agaba, Andrea Chan, Claire Turner

AWARD PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD

Adamstown Community College, Co. Dublin

Siobhan O'Dwyer Diana Panova, Monica Pociute, Megan Walsh, Isabella Carey

BEST INTERPRETATION

CBS Thurles, Co. Tipperary

Martin Power

Eoin Corbett, Adam O'Dwyer BEST OVERALL VIDEO

Clonkeen College, Blackrock, Co. Dublin

David Traynor

Robert Bass, Eoin Kennedy, Rory Fitzpatrick, Oisín Monks

MOST ORIGINAL CREATIVE

Youthreach Macroom, Angela Doherty Co. Cork

Ellen Murphy, Gary O'Connor, BEST ACTING Myles O'Driscoll, Kiara O'Mahony

Colaiste Bride, Clondalkin, Dublin

Maire Sheehy

Isabella Shortt, Jessica Kenny HIGHLY COMMENDED

Moyne CS, Longford

Eimear Heaney

Elijah Omotosho, Aidan Sheridan, Keelen Devlin, Adam Gantley

HIGHLY COMMENDED

All in all, another very enjoyable event. We want to say a very big thanks to all our schools, teachers and students who have participated in this competition, it is you who have made it what it is. And remember, there is always next year ……. Keep in touch for the release of next year’s theme before the Summer. To see the all the videos entered, including the winners and shortlisted teams, go to

www.youth-connect.ie

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The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union The ISSU has long held the belief that students should not have to pay for their voice to be heard. Schools can join the ISSU by applying online at www.issu.ie and taking a vote within their student council. Membership is FREE and is open to all second-level student councils in Ireland. This includes those in second-level schools and centres of education (YouthReach). This allows students and schools to be represented at ISSU events and have the student voice heard! We also provide student council training to members, and are available to provide guidance and advice for student councils. The National Student Executive (NSE) maintains the work of the ISSU on a daily basis by representing and working on behalf of Irish second-level students. They liaise with relevant Education bodies, and other Youth Organisations both in Ireland and abroad. Elections take place yearly at the Annual General Assembly / Annual General Meeting and any student from a member school can put themselves forward for election. This year, students officially take on their roles as ISSU Officers from the 1st of May 2015.

www.issu.ie

National Student Executive 2015-2016 PRESIDENT

Rob O’Donnell

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Joanna Siewierska

EDUCATION OFFICER

Jane M. Hayes Nally

WELFARE AND EQUALITY OFFICER

Isabelle Geraghty

INTERNATIONAL OFFICER

Gearóid Dardis

OIFIGEACH NA GAEILGE

Liam Morris

CAMPAIGNS AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Art O’Mahony SECRETARY

Helen Ryan

STUDENT COUNCIL SUPPORT OFFICER

Alex Fogarty

HONORARY PRESIDENT

Craig McHugh

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16th & 17th May Docklands Summer Festival http://www.docklandssummerfestival.com/

23rd & 24th May DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTING

Summer Festivals

Dublin City Council Events Unit has a jam packed year round programme of Festivals and Events that brings variety, entertainment, animation, vibrancy and fun to city streets, parks and public spaces. The summer season is particularly exciting with lots of free family entertainment taking place in the outdoors.

Battle for the Bay http://battleforthebay.com/

14th June Dublin Kite Festival http://www.dublinkitefestival.ie/

10th - 12th July City Spectacular http://cityspectacular.com/dublin

Waterways Ireland Docklands Summer Festival taking place on 16th & 17th May in the regenerated Docklands area of the city. This festival is in its fifth year and is a good example of a partnership approach, in this case Waterways Ireland, Docklands Business Forum and Dublin City Council coming together to deliver a quality family festival in a world class urban recreational environment incorporating both water and land activities. This yearʼs festival will include an International Wakeboarding competition, Kayaking, and a range of family on-street entertainment Another established event that utilises the magnificent Dublin Bay is the Battle for the Bay Kitsurfing, SUPing and Extreme Sport competition. Come on down on 23rd – 24th May for a unique weekend at the beach offering a wonderful blend of watersports and music. The concept of the battle is very simple: Wind, Water…and Fun! The best riders in the country and from around the globe will come and compete in one of the best Kitesurfing spots in the world at Dollymount Beach Our Dublin Kite Festival will take place during the summer at North Bull Island, with free entertainment all day long it really is the perfect way to spend a summer day with family and friends while showcasing one of the cityʼs most beautiful natural assets which many may not know has a UNESCO Biosphere designation. This yearʼs Dublin Kite Festival will attract kite fliers and spectators from across Ireland and overseas and is sure to be an exhilarating event from start to finish.

One of Irelands biggest summer festivals Laya Healthcareʼs City Spectacular will be celebrating 10 years on 10th – 12th July in one of Dublin City Councilʼs finest event spaces Merrion Square Park. Alongside the worldʼs best street performers the festival has expanded throughout the city to include concerts, food events, outdoor screenings inviting thousands of people to enjoy a free family festival that transforms the city and showcases what it is that makes Dublin City so spectacular. http://dublincity.ie/events Twitter @events_DCC

All festivals are action-packed and completely free of charge.

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Five Reasons to take part in Gaisce - The President’s Award Gaisce - The President’s Award is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, having been founded by President Hillery in 1984 as a national personal development programme for young people between the ages of 15 and 25 in Ireland. Thirty years and four Presidents later, over 300,000 Awards have been achieved, making Gaisce one of the best recognised and most prestigious youth awards available in Ireland. Last year more than 20,000 young people accepted President Michael D Higgins’ direct challenge to dream big and fulﬁll their potential. But perhaps you haven’t taken part in Gaisce before, or maybe you haven’t even heard about it. Why should you get involved? Here are our top ﬁve reasons to get involved in Gaisce!

1. Decided by you, for you The Gaisce programme is self-directed: each participant chooses their own activities (with the assistance of a President’s Award Leader or PAL, of which there are more than 1,500 across Ireland – big thanks to them!). This means that everybody’s challenges and goals for achieving their Award are entirely diﬀerent and entirely personalised: you won’t get stuck doing something that you won’t enjoy. It’s up to you to try new activities out and ﬁnd something that you want to stick at and improve while completing your Gaisce Award. This also means that you’re not competing against anybody else: it’s simply a challenge that you set yourself to reach your own goals and improve at something that you want to do. There is no time restriction and no pressure from anybody else: it’s entirely up to you to make sure that you get involved in and spend time doing your chosen activities. After all, it’s you who will be getting the Award!

2. Open to anyone The Gaisce Award isn’t only available to a limited group of people: it is open to any young person between the age of 15 and 25 in Ireland. A whole variety of organisations now oﬀer the Gaisce Award programme, so you can get involved through any of them: maybe your school or college, but also through your local youth group, Foróige, or local volunteering groups such as a youth café. Once you have registered with Gaisce, and have been assigned a President’s Award Leader by the organisation that you are participating through, you select your own activities and can get to work on them. This means that if you have any speciﬁc time, disability, or other special requirements you are free to choose activities that work for you and that you know are challenging while also being achievable. Once you’ve agreed those activities with your PAL, you’re good to go and start working towards those goals. You can also receive a Gaisce Award if you live in Northern Ireland: if you register and complete your Award through the Duke of Edinburgh programme, you can choose to receive either a DoE Award or a Gaisce Award once you have achieved the standard.

3. Helping you to get places Having been around for thirty years and with the President of Ireland as the patron of the Award, a Gaisce Award is recognised nationally and internationally as a huge achievement. It shows employers and others that you have the ability to set your own challenges and goals, and then can work consistently to achieve those aims. It demonstrates a level of self-motivation and hard work that is highly valued by employers, and so looks great on a CV. What’s more, the Gaisce Award isn't just recognised in Ireland but internationally as well. Gaisce is aﬃliated with the International Award, which runs a similar programme in a large number of countries around the world. So when employers abroad see a Gaisce Award on your CV, they’ll know about the type of work and eﬀort that you put in to achieving it.

4. Rewarding experience If you don’t believe us — listen to what people who have achieved a Gaisce Award have to say! All of these comments come from young people who have achieved an Award: ‘Gaining confidence and stuff like that so to me that was the most beneficial part and the thing I learned most from about myself.’ ‘The achievement is huge. And it does increase your self-esteem.’ ‘It’s a lifetime achievement: to challenge yourself, to see how far you could push yourself, … and [to discover] where your limits are.’ ‘I believe in myself – as corny as that sounds! The harder the challenges, the more determined I am to finish them and to complete them.’ ‘I liked looking back at the year and saying that I actually achieved something new.’ ‘The independence is brilliant: there is no feeling like it, knowing that you can pull something off.’

5. You can register at any time! There’s no closing date to get registered with Gaisce! Once you have found a PAL who is willing to take you on and help you to complete your Award, you can get started by registering on the Gaisce website: www.gaisce.ie. After that, it’s up to you to complete the requirements for each activity in your own time, and to keep in touch with your PAL as you do. You can work on your activities at any time of year, and your activities don’t need to be carried out in consecutive weeks, so you can make the Gaisce Award work around your life. Are you doing the Gaisce Award already? Gaisce would like to hear from you! We want to hear your stories and see your photos from your time doing Gaisce. If you’d like to get in touch with Gaisce: Send us a message on Facebook: facebook.com/GaisceAward Tweet us: @GaisceAward Send us an email: mail@gaisce.ie

For more information on Gaisce - The President’s Award, visit www.gaisce.ie. 39

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Bank of Ireland Sponsors Transition Year Ireland’s TY Expo 2015 Issued Monday, 13 April 2015: Today Bank of Ireland and Transition Year Ireland (TYI) launched the inaugural Transition Year Expo 2015. The event will be hosted in Kilkenny on Wednesday, 16 and Thursday, 17 September 2015, and its aim is to help Transition Year students make the most of this important year. The Expo will bring together 10,000 TY students from around the country, accompanied by their teachers and TY coordinators, to discover, connect and be inspired about this very formative year of schooling. The event will see 100 exhibitors promoting programmes, competitions and courses. Exhibitors will range from law, entrepreneurship and engineering, to fashion design and app development, GAISCE, young social innovators, Sci- Fest, Junk Kouture, Youth Connect and many more. This is the very first time that students will be able to meet TY experience providers before deciding on what they want to accomplish during their TY school year. Henry Shefflin, Head of Customer Recruitment, Bank of Ireland (pictured), attended the launch event in his home county Kilkenny noting that ‘this is will be a hugely exciting event for Kilkenny to host, with schools from around the country in attendance. It is great to meet Harry who is an ambassador for the event, he exemplifies what can be achieved by secondary students across the country and we hope the event will inspire students to make the most of their TY year. Edwin Landzaad, Managing Director of Transition Year Ireland, explained that “The aim of Transition Year Expo 2015 is to put students and teachers 40

face- to- face with the best opportunities available to them. There are so many great programmes and competitions available to TY students, but students have a hard time accessing all the information, especially within the time they have available. Our website and social media platforms go a long way to overcome this challenge, but the Transition Year Expo 2015 takes this information sharing to a new level, as it puts students and teachers in direct contact with the exhibitors.” Laura Lynch, Head of Youth, Bank of Ireland said “As Ireland’s leading Bank for students we are delighted to sponsor the Transition Year Expo 2015. It is a fantastic opportunity for TY students to discover all the possibilities and options open to them for the year ahead. Transition year is a very important year for students and the event will showcase all that is on offer. Bank of Ireland has a comprehensive secondary school programme that includes the Bank of Ireland School Bank, the Learn to Earn financial literacy programme, financial field trips, our sponsorships of Junk Kouture, the Catherine Judge Memorial Award, Bond Trader Challenge events and sports and enterprise initiatives – all of which will be on display at the event. I encourage students, teachers and TY coordinators to come to the event for what I am sure will be both informative and fun for all involved.” Transition Year Expo 2015 has the support of Mary Kenny, Senior Manager, Integrated Services, School Completion Programme (SCP). SCP work primarily in DEIS schools to

actively promote and support senior cycle students. “We’re encouraging DEIS schools who offer TY to attend Transition Year Expo 2015. It will offer an unrivalled opportunity to SCP coordinators and their students to explore the vast array of learning and development opportunities that can be derived by undertaking some of the programmes which feature. I encourage DEIS schools interested in taking their TY students to the event to contact their local SCP coordinator or myself.” Harry McCann, the Transition Year Ireland Ambassador, is a Transition Year student from Scoil Mhuire and embodies what TY is all about. “You can sit back and consume what your school offers you, and you will have a good year. But if you find some of the things that you really want to do, proactively seek out some of the fantastic opportunities on offer, you will have a great year. There is time enough for you to participate in your school programme and have plenty time left over for additional events.” To register for the event and for updates and further information visit www.tyireland.com For further information contact: Edwin Landzaad, Transition Year Ireland Tel: 089 212 1417 email: transitionyearireland@gmail.com Clare O’Riordan, Group Communications Tel: 076 623 4772, email: clare.o’riordan@boi.com

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Henry Shefflin (BOI Head of Customer Recruitment), Edwin Landzaad (MD Transition Year Ireland), John Hurley (CEO Kilkenny Chamber) and Harry McCann (TY student and TYI ambassador) pictured at the launch of TY EXPO 2015 in Kilkenny on 13 April 2015

BANK OF IRELAND SPONSORS TRANSITION YEAR EXPO 2015 SCHOOL COMPLETION PROGRAMME SUPPORTS DEIS SCHOOLS TO ATTEND We are delighted to announce that Bank of Ireland is the main sponsor for TY EXPO 2015. We are equally delighted to announce that DEIS schools who wish to attend the EXPO can expect the full support from the School Completion Programme. Mary Kenny, Senior Manager at Integrated Services, School Completion Programme (SCP) said that she encourages DEIS schools who offer TY to attend the EXPO. “The EXPO will offer an unrivalled opportunity to SCP Coordinators and their students to explore the vast array of learning and development opportunities.” DEIS schools should contact their local SCP coordinator or Mary Kenny direct. If you’re looking to explore new (and some familiar) opportunities with your TY students and teachers, book now! Students will discover a whole range of possibilities, with an opportunity to connect directly with the people who offer fantastic programmes, activities and competitions. TY EXPO 2015 will help your students get direction and be inspired for the year.

and region. These can be downloaded from www.visitkilkenny.ie/brochures. Entrance is €10 per student, Teachers enter for free AND have access to the Bank of Ireland VIP lounge for coﬀee, refreshments and a chat. DEIS schools should liaise with their local SCP coordinator or Mary Kenny for ﬁnancial support. If you would like us to send you a reservation form please email us. You can also download it from www.tyireland.com (follow link to TY EXPO 2015). Please note that DEIS schools must still reserve a space, irrespective of SCP support. For more information and regular updates on TY EXPO 2015 and all things TY, go to www.tyireland.com or follow us on Facebook and twitter. I look forward to seeing you in Kilkenny in September. Edwin Landzaad transitionyearireland@gmail.com

Kilkenny makes for a great day trip and the Kilkenny Tourisim Board have published great maps of the city 41

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TY Camino Travel Report Our large group of transition year students - 48 boys & 6 parents - from Gonzaga College in Ranelagh walked the last section of the French Way to Santiago over 6 days, with accommodation & meals and airport/luggage transfers organised for us by Follow the Camino. It surpassed all our expectations (as did the fabulous weather we had). None of us had walked any of the Camino previously, and that was good as we were all discovering it for the first time. There's nothing to do but walk every day! But the highlight of this was the great camaraderie we saw that emerged between the boys. They weren't plugged in to digital devices, hardly even used their phones to take photos in fact - they just talked the whole time, & moved between different groups. No matter how tough you might have found the walk at times, you learned you had to keep on going and to really pay attention to your feet. That Compeed is invaluable! As well as that, the tough times were largely forgotten when you finished! In fact, if it wasn't tough sometimes then there would be no sense of achievement at the end. In the hostels, some experiences were better than others, but since everyone was out of their comfort zone it was all very equalizing! We all learned to tolerate snoring, disposable sheets, sharing bathrooms, lost property (A LOT with teenage boys!) and noisy night-owls... It will become a lasting and shared memory for all the boys, and the 6 parents, and something almost every one of us will repeat. Gina Boles

educamino.followthecamino.com

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See It? Say It! ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLAINT REPORTING APP The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed an iPhone and Android App, called See it? Say it!, to help people to report environmental pollution in their towns and villages.

The new App makes it easy for people to report a pollution incident the moment they see it. Using the App you can now take a photograph of a pollution incident, add a summary description of what you want to convey and your contact details and this will automatically be sent to the relevant local authority for follow up (and the app will add GPS location coordinates). This App complements the 24 hour nationwide environmental complaints phoneline - 1850 365 121 which is already in place. So, you can now report issues such as backyard burning, flytipping, water pollution, odours and littering by using the new App or by phoning the complaints line.

The existing environmental complaints phoneline is also available 24hrs a day, 7 days a week and all calls are answered by dedicated staff who pass the reported information to the relevant body for follow up such as local authorities, the GardaĂ or the EPA. Local authorities have welcomed the App, as it complements the systems they already have in place for dealing with environmental complaints. Local authorities urge the public to make use of the new App and to also continue using the National Environmental Complaints Line as their help is critical in assisting to tackle the minority of society who recklessly endanger the environment through inappropriate and illegal activities. 44

BellTIME What can you report using the App? Types of complaints Waste dumping and littering Air backyard burning/odour/spray painters Noise commercial premises/small factory Water fish kill or pollution These complaints are very useful to the local authorities in that they are generally very accurate in terms of the locations given (GPS coordinates) and often the pictures added can be very helpful. They can also be used to organise more substantial responses to environmental matters such as those listed in the table below

Sample initiatives (taken on foot of environmental complaints to Councils) Waste • Hidden cameras at dumping hot spots located based on complaints from public • Helicopter flyovers • Road checkpoints Water • Using complaints to help track down problems e.g landspreading too close to a river or well or pollution caused by septic tanks Air • Complaints have helped to stop illegal spray paint use in car refinishers Noise • Helps identify small factories causing too much noise

What happens to my complaint? When you notice environmental pollution of some kind and make a submission it will be directed to the relevant local authority for a response. You will see your submission on the FixYourStreet.ie website. The FixYourStreet website is used by all local authorities for tracking many issues – including environmental matters and you should see a response to your submission there within a short time. You will be asked for contact details, as the local authority may wish to contact you for further details. It is important to remember to include any information that could help the local authority in finding the culprit – for example, this might include a car registration number.

1. Complaint submitted through App

2. Complaint automatically submitted to FixYourStreet.ie

Members of the public can also contact their local Council directly with their complaints. However, the App and the FixYourStreet website means that your submission will be passed on to the relevant authorities and acted upon. You can find out more about making an environmental complaint on the EPA website www.epa.ie

Who should use the app? The App is available free of charge for anyone to use. However, certain people will find it particularly useful such as walkers, anglers, residents committees and Tidy Towns Committees. Indeed when the iPhone app was launched it was the top App, of this type, downloaded for Ireland. Over 1000 complaints have been submitted via the App during 2014 and it is expected that this will rise with the addition of the new Android version of the app.

Where do I get the app?

1. Donegal Gartan OETC www.gartan.com Ursula MacPherson 074 9137032 office@gartan.com 2. Monaghan Tanagh OETC www.tanaghoutdooreducation.com Michelle Forester, 049 5552988 michelletanaghOEC@eircom.net 3. Offaly Birr OETC www.birrOETC.ie Mary Clarke 057 9120029 info@birrOEC.ie 4. Wicklow Baltinglass OETC www.baltinglassOETC.com Paul Scott, 059 6481002 info@baltinglassOEC.com 5. Wexford Shielbaggan OETC www.shielbagganOETC.com Colin Gibbon 051 389550 info@shielbagganOEC.com 6. Cork Kinsale OETC www.kinsaleoutdoors.com Victor Fusco 021 4772896 info@kinsaleoutdoor.com 9. Limerick 7. West Cork Kilfinane OETC Fastnet Marine & OETC (Schull) www.kilfinaneOETC.com www.schullsailing.ie Keith Bickford 063 91161 David Harte 028 28515 info@kilfinaneOEC.com info@schullsailing.ie 10. Clare 8. Kerry Burren OETC Cappanalea OETC www.burrenOETC.com www.cappanalea.ie Joanna McInerney 065 7078066 Donal Dowd 066 9769244 burrOEC@eircom.net info@cappanalea.ie

11. Galway Petersburg OETC www.petersburg.ie Trish Walsh 094 9546483 info@petersburg.ie 12. Mayo Achill OETC www.achilloutdoor.com Tim Daly, 098 47253 info@achilloutdoor.com

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Outdoor Education Ireland Outdoor Education Ireland is a network of 12 public Outdoor Education and Training Centres located throughout Ireland. We have over 35 years of experience in providing outdoor experiences to all sectors of the community. We are under the patronage of Education and Training Boards. The wide range of courses offered by OEI members encompasses both adventure and environmental education and they are delivered through the medium of adventure sports. Our activities act as a vehicle, encouraging and requiring individuals to utilise the best of their capabilities and skills to overcome risk and problem solving situations.

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Outdoor Education and Training Centres provide the following activities on a residential and day basis.

We provide: • Educational and fun activities to all sectors of the community. • Outdoor learning programmes designed to meet the needs of your group • Enthusiastic delivery focusing on positive personal development and enhancement of life skills • Enjoyable and memorable experiences to last a lifetime • Highly qualified and experienced staff, all Garda vetted • Excellent safety record and highest operational standards

Contact any of our Outdoor Education Centres today to organise an adventure experience of a life time. See www.oei.ie for further details on individual centres.

www.oei.ie

Canoeing Survival Skills Sailing Archery Kayaking Team Building Gorge Walking Obstacle Course Raft Building Indoor Rock Climbing Orienteering Ropes Course Abseiling Hillwalking Rock Climbing Climbing Tower Zip Line Mountain Biking Shelter Building Camping Gaisce Award Caving Coasteering Surfing Body Boarding Windsurfing Field Studies/Ecology Adventure Camps Outdoor Education and Training Centres also provide specialist skills courses, leadership and instructor training, and adventure sport coach training. 49

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The collections of the National Library constitute a unique learning resource for students of all aspects of Irish history and culture. With a long tradition of supporting post primary students and their teachers, we have devised a broad educational programme providing a wide range of services. Exhibitions & Workshops World War Ireland focuses on the unique aspects of the Irish WWI experience. School groups are brought dramatically inside the lives of those who experienced WWI, with learning worksheets available to enrich and deepen the visit. The NLI's major exhibition Yeats: The Life and Works of William Butler Yeats is a rich educational resource for post-primary students. In particular, our education team have developed special tours aimed at Leaving Certificate students of History and English. To complement the Yeats experience, we also have a Leaving Certificate History Workshop and Tour, specifically developed for the Leaving Certificate History Course and in particular the documents based question and the special topic project. Tours and workshops can be booked for Tuesday and Thursday mornings, at least two weeks in advance.

These tours normally last approximately 30 minutes and are limited to 15 students. Each group of students must be accompanied by at least one teacher/adult. Contact learning@nli.ie to book, or for more information. If you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make it to Kildare Street, the National Library can also come to you, with a selection of colourful exhibitions available in travelling format. The exhibitions, which cover topics from heraldry to maps, and from newspapers to World War I, consist of a number of information display stands that are easy to transport. Online exhibitions can also bring the treasures of our collections into the classroom, and include the heavily used 1916 Rising: Personalities and Perspectives (http://www.nli.ie/1916/ ) Our Twitter (@nlireland) and Facebook streams also post content from the collections every day, introducing you to amazing treasures from the archive.

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Learning Resources To help Leaving Cert History students make the most of our collections we have prepared a downloadable guide, available from our website at www.nli.ie We also have six historical documents-based case studies, developed in association with the National Council for Curriculum & Assessment (NCCA), which can be downloaded freely from the website. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget, too, that our online catalogue at http://catalogue.nli.ie has nearly 70,000 images freely available, including 40,000 historic photographs of locations and events across time and space. Poetry Aloud Poetry Aloud is the annual poetry speaking competition organised by the National Library and Poetry Ireland. It is open to all post-primary school students on the island of Ireland. With over 1778 entries in 2014, we are looking forward to even more involvement in 2015. Watch out for competition details and information next September, and contact us learning@nli.ie if you would like to know more. With so much to do at the NLI, why not make 2015 the year you take part in a workshop, enter Poetry Aloud, check out our digital photographs, or download our resource guides? And for any feedback or questions, get in touch at learning@nli.ie

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Discover your passion through volunteering With summer fast approaching, you might find yourself fantasizing about some quality time away from your textbook, daydreaming of summer days spent outside the classroom! Summer can be an ideal time for trying out hobbies, developing skills and making new friends. You need to make time for yourself and for discovering where your passions lie. What better way to achieve this than through volunteering?

When you think of volunteering, what image springs to mind? Someone shaking a bucket to fundraise for a charity? Helping to build a house abroad? Befriending an older person? Volunteering is all these things but also many, many more. Put simply, volunteering is about giving your time to benefit someone else.

If you’re unsure of what you would like to do after school or what you will study in college, volunteering can be a great way of trying out potential job interests. Of course, it’s also a great way of sharing your skills with others - why not volunteer your social media skills to help an up and coming organisation? Play music for older people at a local convalescent home? Organise a fashion show with a local charity shop? Or perhaps there is a cause that’s close to your heart – whether you’re a wildlife aficionado, a music lover or you’re passionate about helping those less fortunate than yourself, anyone can volunteer and there are countless ways in which to do so. You can decide what you’d like to do and whom you would like to help. There is a powerful sense of fulfilment that comes from volunteering. Once you try it, you’ll never want to stop!

In a survey we carried out with volunteers aged 1618, one in four volunteers found that they developed new personal skills and improved their communication skills through volunteering. 50% said that volunteering improved their CV and employment prospects and over 38% felt a personal sense of fulfilment after volunteering. A survey that LinkedIn carried out with hiring managers showed that 40% considered volunteering experience of equal value to paid work experience.

There are currently over 177,000 senior cycle secondary students in Ireland. If every student was to volunteer just one hour per week, imagine how much could be achieved? No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. To see how you could start volunteering this summer and to read some inspiring stories of how others have made a difference, visit www.volunteer.ie Nina Arwitz is CEO of Volunteer Ireland, the national volunteer development agency, which promotes and supports volunteering in Ireland.

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Zipit Forest Adventures Zipit Forest Adventures opened its forest doors in 2011 at the spectacular Lough Key Forest Park, Co.Roscommon with over 1.5 kilometres of activities, including 850 metres of ziplines. Lough Key Forest Park is one of the highest rated parks in Ireland with an indoor activity centre, lakeside cafĂŠ, boat, bike and Segway hire guaranteeing an exciting full dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activity. In 2013 Zipit brought their Aerial Trail course to Tibradden Woods, Dublin 16. Nestled in the Dublin Mountains in a Scots pine wood Zipit Tibradden is only 15 minutes from Dundrum town centre. Built on a sloping site, the course contains our highest vantage points at 20 metres above ground providing panoramic views of Dublin Bay as you move from tree to tree. In 2015 we ventured south and opened our third course at Farran Forest Park, Co. Cork. The course stretches over 1.2 kilometres with our longest zipline measuring 150 metres and clearing 10 metres from the ground. This wonderful forest park is located on the southern shore of Inniscarra lake and holds sweeping views of the lake and surrounding countryside. It is approximately 20 minutes from Cork city, just off the N22 road to Macroom. This park also offers walking trails with a childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playground, deer enclosure and duck pond. Zipit Forest Adventures offers students an exhilarating and challenging outdoor activity in a natural setting, building confidence, teamwork and self-esteem. The students experience a great sense of achievement as they master each activity, pushing their comfort zones in a completely safe environment but with the perception of risk. On arrival, students are introduced to their instructor, fitted with a safety harness and undertake a safety initiation before venturing into the treetops. Many different activities offering escalating levels of challenges such as rope bridges, ziplines, climbing walls and cargo nets await, all suspended between platforms. There are 4 individual circuits accessible for secondary school students, depending on their height and ability, ensuring their entertainment for 3 to 4 hours. Instructors are positioned around the course, trained to reassure and motivate students to complete the activities, increasing their confidence and encouraging them on to the next challenge. The lowest circuit is the Green, with platforms approximately 1-2 metres in height. This is intended for students looking to gain confidence and become accustomed to the equipment before venturing on to higher circuits. The Orange and White circuits are up to 10 metres in height and present more difficult and challenging activities. Students have the option of continuing on to the Blue Circuit, which is higher again (up to 15 metres) and more physically challenging. For older students the Red Circuit (up to 20 metres) is an option and this requires upper body strength and determination to complete all activities but expect to feel a great sense of achievement on completion. For those who decide not to attempt the higher circuits the earlier circuits can be repeated, with students gaining confidence as they grow more accustomed to the challenges. Zipit operates to the highest safety standards and our course is approved by the French company Vertic Alps which is one of the leading inspection company in Europe. Additionally, all of our instructors hold the European Rope Course Association (ERCA) Instructor qualification and have undertaken First Aid training.

For further information on organising a school tour at Zipit phone 051 858008 or email info@zipit.ie. Follows us on Facebook www.facebook.com/zipitfa or Twitter @ZipitFA

SAT NAV N 53° 45′ 50″ W 06° 28′ 11″

Opened in County Meath on the 6th of June 2014, the Irish Military War Museum offers a fascinating insight into Irish participants’ involvement in both World War One and World War Two, as well as other military conflicts in world history. The Irish Military War Museum, covering 5,000 square feet of floor space, will represent a distinctly non-political but ‘must see’ educational and historical resource for people of all ages and from right across the island of Ireland and beyond. Tank driving lessons also available at the museum!

Did you know that one in four of Irish people will experience a mental health problem this year? And that 75 per cent of mental health difficulties emerge before the age of 25? Talking about mental health as a young adult can be difficult, but it's an issue that is crying out for our attention. We at Headstrong need your help to answer that call. Headstrong, is a non-profit organisation supporting young people’s mental health in Ireland. We have Jigsaw projects that offer free, brief and youth-friendly mental health support to young people aged 12-25 and unite communities to listen to and support young people around Ireland. We need you and your school to become a Headstrong Hero and help us with our mission in changing how Ireland thinks about youth mental health. Get involved by organising a fundraising or awareness event, here’s some inspiration to get you started! Hold a superhero themed sports day, a non-uniform day, student V’s teacher event or complete a mental health themed project as part of your Transition Year YSI project. To find out more about how you can become a Headstrong Hero please visit www.headstrong.ie Together we can make a difference

BellTIME BellTime Magazine would like to send their warmest congratulations to Donal McFadden form Colaiste Pobail in Achill who won the BellTime Magazine "Film Critic" competition. Donal has won tickets for 30 of his classmates to see a film in the Irish Film Institute with his winning film review “Shaun of the Dead”.

N O I T I T E P M O C WINNER

Are you a teacher? Do you like to use film in your teaching? If you are interested in receiving the IFI’s film education programme or new e-zine, please email schools@irishfilm.ie with your name, school, subject, email address and phone number.

IFI Education, as part of the Irish Film Institute in Temple Bar, Dublin, runs a bi-annual programme for schools with a whole range of film and events to support teachers and students in their subjects, and in film for TY and at Junior Cert. The IFI has the national remit for film education in Ireland, and engages with over 15,000 children and young people around the country throughout the school year. For more information, see www.ifi.ie/learn

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General Education Websites In Ireland

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Department of Education & Skills The website of the Department of Education and Skills contains a great deal of information about the Irish education system.

GiftedKids.ie This is an Irish website for parents and teachers of pupils with exceptional ability. It has a section for teachers which contains some resources and links.

NCCA: National Council for Curriculum & Assessment The Guidelines for Teachers of Students with General Learning Disabilities are available in pdf format on the NCCA Website. Also this site has the full 1999 Primary School Curriculum available.

NCTE: National Centre for Technology in Education NCTE have a very comprehensive Special Needs & ICT section, and advice sheets for a range of disabilities. Also NCTE have 5 different SEN-related ICT courses, covering Learning Support, Mild GLD, Moderate, Severe & Profound GLD, Hard of Hearing and a Basics course.

NEPS: National Educational Psychological Service The NEPS page on the DES website contains useful information on the service, including relevant forms and guidelines relating to the scheme for commissioning private individual psychological assessments, and a panel of psychologists.

NEWB: National Education Welfare Board The FAQs on the details of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 are a good summary of the Actâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main points. Also contains information on the role of the NEWB and its 73 EWOs (Education Welfare Officers).

NPC: National Parents Council (Post- Primary) Basic information on the NPC Post-Primary.

NPC: National Parents Council (Primary) NPC have a Special Education Group with information and contact details available here. It also has a number of useful links on its Home Page.

BellTIME Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST)

The PPDS, LDS, SLSS and a number of other primary and post-primary support services have now merged, to provide a cross-sectoral support service for schools and teachers, entitled the Professional Development Service for Teachers.

Scoilnet

Science.ie Science.ie is a resource for people of all ages who are interested in science. It brings together information on many areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Ireland for students, parents and teachers amongst others.

Scoilnet is the official education portal of the DES. It has an extremely comprehensive Special Needs section for teachers

SEC: State Examinations Commission This new website gives information on all aspects of the Irish State Examination system - incorporating Junior Certificate, Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied and Leaving Certificate Vocational. It lists the exam timetables also in advance. Some links to other websites that may be useful: www.aware.ie www.belongto.org www.childline.ie www.chooselife.net www.connectcounselling.ie www.console.ie www.cso.ie www.drugs.ie www.drugsandalcohol.ie www.dohc.ie www.glen.ie www.grow.ie www.headsup.ie www.helplink.ie www.ias.ie www.iasp1960.org www.irishadvocacynetwork.com www.livingworks.net www.mentalhealthireland.ie www.mymind.org www.nimh.nih.gov www.nsrf.ie www.pieta.ie www.reachout.com www.samaritans.org www.seechange.ie www.shineonline.ie www.sosadireland.ie www.spunout.ie www.teenline.ie www.travellersuicide.ie www.turn2me.ie www.3Ts.ie

Aware, Helping to Defeat Depression BeLong To Youth Project Childline Online Support Scottish suicide prevention strategy Connect Counselling Console, the Bereaved by Suicide Foundation Central Statistics Office, Ireland Crosscare Drug & Alcohol Programme National Documentation Centre on Drug Use Department of Health Gay and Lesbian Equality Network Grow, Mental Health Movement in Ireland HeadsUp - Mental Health Promotion Project Helplink Support Services Irish Association of Suicidology International Association for Suicide Prevention Irish Advocacy Network Information on ASIST training (suicide intervention) and other programmes Mental Health Ireland My Mind online mental health support National Institute for Mental Health in England National Suicide Research Foundation Pieta House - Centre for the Prevention of Self-Harm or Suicide Initiative of Inspire Ireland Foundation to support young people Samaritans, UK and Ireland See Change is Ireland's new national partnership to reduce stigma and challenge discrimination associated with mental health problems. Shine - Supporting People Affected by Mental Ill Health Sosad: Save our Sons and Daughters Youth website by Community Creations Teen-line Ireland National Traveller Suicide Awareness Project Turn2Me online mental health support Turning the Tide of Suicide

mpetition to give away n with USIT have a fabulous co atio oci ass in ine gaz Ma me llTi Be for several lucky winners. are us on Facebook All you have to do is Like and Sh sletter gazin.ie and sign up to our new Visit our website www.belltimema dia BellTime Magazine on Social Me ut abo s end Fri r you All l Tel d An You could be the Lucky Winner of COUNTRIES AROUND EUROPE > An INTERRAIL PASS FOR 32 S > ONE OF 50 STUDENT CARD > AND A TABLET w.belltimemagazine.ie Today! Hurry up and enter by visiting ww ! GOOD LUCK TO ALL WHO APPLY ior, Primary, Further

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