Bell Time Magazine Autumn/Winter 2015 by BelltimeMagazine

Autumn/Winter 2015 Bi-Annual Free School Magazine to every secondary school in Ireland The One Stop Shop For All Your School News!

Bell Media Ltd - National Finalist in Bank of Ireland Start Up Awards

BellTIME COMPETITION VOTE for your SCHOOL www.belltimemagazine.ie WIN a FREE Laptop & Computer

Rise to the Gaisce challenge and make this year one to remember

1st Prize 2015 Rachel and Shannon Competition ter Pos per Hoo John

tition Compe start ts a head n e d tu s g Givin ture s of the fu for the job

Make-A-Wish Foundation

Contribute

Closing date for registrations: 23rd November

Brand Ambassador Programme

Final Call to Young Irish Coders One week left to register! The deadline for entries to the Google ‘Call to Code’ online coding competition for post-primary students is fast approaching. This is the second year of the competition designed by Google Ireland to find the coders and computer scientists of tomorrow. 2,500 students took part in the inaugural competition and it is hoped that even more will take part this year. “Google Ireland created this competition to gain a better understanding of the knowledge of and interest in coding among students,” explained Claire Conneely, Computer Science Education Manager, Google Ireland. “Coding is for everyone, male and female, and successful coding is about logic, creativity and problem-solving: if you have those skills, you can code.” She added, “Call to Code is open to all post-primary school students, even those who are completely new to coding. We created this competition to gain a better understanding of the knowledge of and the interest in coding at post-primary level in Ireland. Last year we had 422 teachers from 268 schools register their students to take part in the 2014 Call to Code competition, which was fantastic. This year, we want as many students as possible to take part and try out coding and perhaps they will find that they have a hidden talent.”

Acknowledging the vital role teachers play in inspiring their students, Google has provided a range of resources on the contest website, from complete beginner to advanced level, to support teachers to introduce their students to computer science and to encourage them to learn to code. Weekly practice challenges also help students to develop their coding skills and confidence ahead of the qualifying round of the competition which will take place online on Wednesday 25th of November. Post-primary school teachers have until midday Monday 23rd of November to register their students to take part in the competition. Registered students will then be invited to take part in the first round of the competition on Wednesday 25th of November, where they will be set challenges and coding puzzles designed by Google engineers. From this qualification round, 40 finalists will be selected to come to Google’s EMEA Headquarters in Dublin on the 9th of December to take part in the competition final. Students will be in with a chance to win some great prizes for themselves and there is also a prize for teachers with the largest number of students entered into the competition.

Have you got a story to tell? Do you want to be heard? We are looking for regular contributors to Bell Time Magazine. Here's your chance to become published.

Want to gain invaluable experience working in a publishing company?

GET IN TOUCH! We are looking for Brand Ambassadors to help promote Bell Time Magazine.

Submit your: > short stories, > opinion pieces, > funny articles, > quizzes, > school news > artworks to help us expand Bell Time Magazine's online community. Visit

Visit belltimemagazine.ie/brand-ambassadors

for more details.

belltimemagazine.ie/contribute for more details.

For more, go to www.calltocode.ie

Bell Media Ltd - National Finalist in Bank of Ireland Start Up Awards

FOREWORD Dear Colleagues, Welcome back to the new academic year 201516. I have the honour of continuing to serve as President of the IGC for the coming year, at this critical juncture for guidance counselling in Ireland. I am delighted to be offered this opportunity to write the foreward of Bell Magazine a now wellknown and invaluable publication for us all involved in Education. As I promised in my election manifesto last year, I will continue to work tirelessly to develop the Institute, and a model of guidance counselling, befitting the demands of the future. In the introduction to Bell magazine, which is of great help to all staff and parents who are supporting young people and not so young to make sense of who they are and what they want to do in their lives, I am outlining how I intend to continue, with the support of our vice president Mai Kearns, officers and members of the national executive, branch officers throughout the country, and our staff in Herbert Street, to fulfil this mandate over the coming academic year. As guidance counsellors, we work with individuals of all ages, in multiple settings, meeting the personal, educational and vocational needs of our clients. The energy, depth and breadth of vision, skills, training and care that our members bring to guidance counselling in Ireland, and most especially to the clients in our care, is critical to keeping our profession alive and vibrant. While the majority of us still serve the needs of young people in educational institutions, we are rapidly expanding our services to the wider adult population. The life-long nature of our work and the associated challenges for clients can only strengthen the case for appropriate guidance in each sector – second level schools, colleges of further education, adult/university and private. We will continue to work with all sectors and to further develop the Institute to be inclusive of and supportive to all guidance counsellors. It is only when access to appropriate guidance is established as a basic human right that our clients can fulfil their personal, educational and vocational potential. I believe that it is the role of government to support all children to achieve their potential, through providing a universal entitlement to guidance counselling support. The removal of the dedicated guidance counselling service in 2012 has entrenched the privilege of those who are already privileged, and undermines the prospects of those from less advantaged backgrounds in achieving their potential. Guidance counselling is an entitlement to all, and not a luxury for only those who can afford it. Within our schools and colleges, Section 9C of the 1998 Education Act explicitly

acknowledges this entitlement. The Department of Education and Skills document “Guidelines for Second-Level Schools on the Implications of Section 9(c) of the Education Act 1998, relating to Students' Access to Appropriate Guidance” (DES, 2005), requires that a guidance programme be part of a school plan and identifies the central role of the guidance counsellor, as well as the important contribution of different members of staff, to the delivery of a whole school guidance plan. The removal of the ex-quota allocation of guidance hours in second level schools and colleges of further education in 2012 has challenged all of us in education to look at new ways to implement our obligations under this Act. I am committed to working, on your behalf, to reverse the cut to guidance counselling provision enabling you, the guidance counsellor, the trained professional to deliver a quality service to the students you serve. The IGC, NCGE, ESRI, OECD,TUI and ASTI, all conducted research on the provision of guidance counselling in second level schools and colleges of further education following the removal of the exquota guidance allocation. All bodies found that there had been a substantial loss of service across all schools. The IGC survey (2014) found a 2425% reduction in overall guidance provision, a 59% reduction in 1:1 counselling for students, and that 20% of guidance counsellors were now working as full time subject teachers. This severe reduction in the resources available to those of us who work in schools and colleges of further education is also reflected in the resources allocated to guidance counsellors working in the adult education guidance services (AEGI), and to those members working with unemployed clients in the new Intro offices within the Department of Social Protection (DSP). We will commission evidence based research to build on our findings to date to strengthen our negotiating position. I and the National Executive will continue to work with all the stakeholders to increase awareness of the critical work we do and the damaging effects of the cuts to guidance counselling provision. The ‘Vision Document’ outlines the current and serious challenges facing the Institute and, as mentioned last year, is seeking legal recognition for our profession to safeguard the title ‘Guidance Counsellor’. We are working to ensure the highest standards of training, of professionalism and adherence to our code of ethics. During our 2014 Presidential campaign, Mai and I had the privilege to meet with many Guidance Counsellors from branches throughout the country. We continued to visit branches throughout the year and had the

Editor Note opportunity to listen to their opinions and concerns, and hear their hopes for the future of guidance counselling; and were heartened to see so many familiar faces, as well as so many new faces, at our recent National Conference in Waterford. On these occasions, we were impressed and humbled by both their professionalism and their commitment to their work and to students. The IGC conference was a positive and worthwhile experience for all, and it helped to equip and sustain members for the many challenges that lie ahead for Guidance Counsellors. As promised last year, over the term of my presidency, I will continue to endeavour at every opportunity to communicate to the public, and to those among us who influence allocation of resources in our society, how vitally important it is that every citizen of our country has ongoing access to appropriate guidance to assist them in progressing their career journey throughout their lives. Next year’s Annual Conference will be taking place from the 26th-28th February, 2016, at the wonderful University of Limerick campus over the entire week-end. Our colleagues in UL, who will be acting as host, have pledged to do all they can to make this a spectacular event for the Institute, building on our success in 2015. So, please save the dates in your diaries. Finally, may I remind you that the most important resource we have as colleagues and partners in Education is each other. We need to be mindful of the importance of self-care, particularly in these challenging and stressful times. The IGC website, www.igc.ie, is an additional resource available to all members. As I stated in my manifesto last year, no President can deliver on the goals of the IGC alone, and I am proud to say that we have woven together a national team of dynamic colleagues, who work tirelessly to support our members you in their role, and improve lines of communication to all members so that we are informed of your concerns. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the publishers of Bell Magazine who are delivering copies of this fine publication to all Guidance Counsellors and to all school nationwide. I welcome your comments and suggestions on the future of guidance counselling. Working together, we can achieve, succeed and support each other. Ní neart go cur le chéile.

Welcome to the Winter Edition of BellTime Magazine. We have lots of interesting features in this issue and encourage you to promote our website - www.belltimemagazine.ie to all colleagues, students and parents. On the website they can access an abundance of programmes, resources and competitions available in the world of education & read our online digital editions free of charge. Our new app "BellTime" is also available on the AppleStore and Playstore and our Ibook is out now too! We are encouraging all teachers and students to get involved with our print and digital channels and have some fantastic opportunities for teachers and students to participate directly with us through our “write for us” section and suggestions box. We want to hear your feedback and to get you and your school involved with the many opportunities BellTime Magazine will be offering to all those involved in education. Not to mention our competitions - You have the opportunity to win a top of the range computer for your school and a laptop for yourself simply by liking and sharing on Facebook and entering the competition on www.belltimemagazine.ie - Vote for Your School. 2016 promises to be an eventful year in Ireland with the Centenary Celebrations, Engineers Week, Shakespeare for schools and much much more. Also, many thanks to Betty McLaughlin, President of the IGC for introducing the Winter issue of BellTime Magazine. Here at BellTime Magazine we have a lot of exciting new ventures and opportunities for schools so be sure to visit www.belltimemagazine.ie and our social media channels to keep up to date! Enjoy the holidays, Rachel Hanna - Editor

CONTENTS

Google - Call to Code - Coding Competition BellTime Brand Ambassador & Contribute to BellTime Magazine Education The Lir Academy - Want to work in the Theatre, Tv or Film Industry? Mary Immaculate College - Become a Second Level Teacher with Mary Immaculate College! Sallynoggin College - Fashion your Future Apple Education & Compu b - Coláiste Lósaef reimagines education with iPad St. Patrick’s College Maynooth - Open Days for your Diary! The Fulbright Commission - Born to study in the USA! St. Angela’s College, Sligo - The perfect place to start your career in food or Fashion! FIT - The New IT Apprenticeship style pathway to a career Europass - The European Skills Passport Careers Portal Science Foundation Ireland - STEM Teagasc - Start your career in Horticulture! Institute of Chartered Surveyors - Consider a career in Surveying! The Irish Tax Institute - Fancy a career in Tax? Technology Silicon Armada - Call Silicon Armada today to help with The Hour of Code 2015 The Hour of Code - The largest Learning event in history Fyffes supporting Unicef Lanuages Teanga - A picture and voiced based language learning tool Environment EPA - Ireland’s Environment Health Actualise.ie - Neurofeedback Training Irish Wheelchair Association - Support the Angel Campaign Walk in my Shoes - Sign your School up today! Transition Year Pals Programme - Positive Assertive Life Skills Make a Wish Foundation - Its all about the kids! BellTime Magazine is published by SciFest - National Science Fairs Programme for schools Enginneers Week - Start Panning for Engineers Week in February Bell Media Ltd., Unit 4, Regional Development Youth Groups Centre, DKIT, Dundalk, Co. Louth. Irish Second Level - Students’ Union - Have your Say T: 042 9370452 / 042 9323776 Expand your horizons M: 083 4451900 Cork City Gaol E: info@bellmedia.ie / rochelle@bellmedia.ie Foroige - Youth Entrepreneurship Programme Web: www.belltimemagazine.ie / Gaisce - The President’s Award www.bellmedia.ie Student Awards & Competitions The Health & Safety Authority - National Farm Safety Multimedia Competition Managing Director & Publisher: Rachel Hanna Digital Marketing & Content Mgr: Rochelle Lazaro Youth Connect - Win a Trip to New York Business Development Executive: Conall McCann Student Enterprise Awards - Enterprising Classrooms Social Media Executive: Martyna Maselsky John Hooper Medal for Statistics 2016 Poster Competition Student Placement: Maria Marselina The Arts Graphics: Vision Design 1916 Centenary Celebrations - How is your school taking part? Printing: W&G Baird Music Generation - Making Music Education happen Distribution: Fastway Verdant Productions - Shakespeare for young audiences ISSN: 2009 - 7867 Sallynoggin College - Fashion your Future Contents c Bell MediaTM Fíbín - Sárscoil Fíbín BellTime Magazine is published by Bell Media and distributed to Sport 732 secondary schools in Ireland, all northern Irish secondary The Federation of Irish Sport - Get Active schools and asssociated youth organisations and educational institutions. Articles published in BellTime are also available on our School Tours website www.belltimemagazine.com and on our app, ibook & digital GroupVite - why schools are moving to online payment systems channels. The views expressed in this magazine are those of the individual Follow the Camino - Thinking of a School Pilgrimage? authors and are not necessarily endorsed by Bell Media. While every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained The Military War Museum - Anything but a Normal Museum! in this publication is up to date and correct, no responsibility will be No. 29 Georgian Museum - Travel back in Time at No. 29! taken by Bell Media for any error which might occur. While every Spirituality & Faith effort is made to ensure the reliability of advertisers, Bell Media cannot accept liability for the quality of goods and services offered. Christian Brothers Fmm Sisters Music & Film Competitions to mark the launch of BellTime Magazine’ new App & ibook! Become a published Film Critic - Win a Free Class Screening for 30 Students in the IFI Latest Album Releases - chance to win iTunes vouchers and new albums featured in this issue BELLTIME APP AVAILABLE NOW!

President IGC.

BellTIME

Many thanks to all our supporters, advertisers and contributors

2 3 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 33 34 35 36 38 40 41 42 44 46 47 48 49 49 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 69 70 72 74 76 78 80 80 81

The Lir Academy

The Lir Academy at Trinity College Dublin

The Lir National Academy of Dramatic Art at Trinity College Dublin first opened its doors in 2011 as a result of a genuine need for actors, directors, playwrights, theatre technicians, stage managers and designers to be trained to international standards. Offering three undergraduate courses, three postgraduate courses and over twenty short courses, The Lir is delivering admirably on its ambitious objectives and is already having a very positive effect on the national and international theatre, TV and film industries. It is situated on Pearse Street at Grand Canal Quay in Dublin, less than a 15 minute walk from the main Trinity College Dublin campus. The Lir Academy is part of Trinity College and has RADA, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, as its international advisors.

Applying to The Lir The application process for the undergraduate courses has now opened and will close on 1st February 2016. Everyone who applies for the Acting degree or the Foundation Diploma in Acting and Theatre will automatically get an audition. Everyone who applies for the Professional Diploma in Stage Management and Technical Theatre will automatically get an interview. Application forms for all undergraduate courses can be downloaded from The Lir’s website. You cannot apply for an undergraduate course at The Lir Academy via CAO or UCCA. Entry is not based on the points system, it is based on talent and experience. The Lir does, however, adhere to the matriculation set out by Trinity College Dublin. For the first time, The Lir will be holding auditions and interviews in both Belfast and London for entry onto 2016 courses. The auditions in Belfast will be held at The Lyric Theatre on 1st February 2016. Applying for the Acting Degree or the Foundation Diploma in Acting and Theatre at The Lir Students need to register online, choose their audition date, download the application form and return it completed to the administrator at The Lir. Once this has been done confirmation will be sent regarding the date, time and location of the audition. In order to prepare for the audition, students are asked to prepare three monologues. Two monologues (a classical and a contemporary monologue) will be delivered on the day of the audition and the third monologue will act as a reserve in case the panel ask for an alternative. If the student is successful, he/she will progress to the second round audition which will

Postgraduate and short courses at The Lir The Lir currently offers three postgraduate courses, Playwriting, Stage Design and Theatre Directing. Applications for these courses are via Trinity College Dublin and students must have a degree and experience to be accepted onto these courses. The short courses at The Lir include a one day audition preparation workshop and four day audition masterclass for anyone applying to study acting at The Lir or similar drama school. During the summer months a range of one week, two week and four week courses are offered including, I A Clown, the Young Actor’s Programme, Musical Theatre Intensive and

BellTIME consist of a half day workshop culminating in the delivery of the original monologues to a panel. The successful students will then progress to the final round of auditions consisting of a full day of training, similar to a day’s training for full time students at The Lir. This session will include voice, movement, scene study and monologues. Sixteen students will be chosen to progress onto the undergraduate courses from this group of candidates. Applying for the Professional Diploma in Stage Management and Technical Theatre The application process for the Professional Diploma in Stage Management and Technical Theatre has now opened. This course is ideal for students who have experience in working back stage on school or community productions. Students who complete this course can have careers in stage management, sound, lighting, construction for theatre, stage electrics, scenic art, prop making, and costume. Students need to register online, download the application form and send the completed form into the administrator at The Lir. Everyone who applies for this course will be called for an interview where they will be asked to present a portfolio of relevant materials relating to previous experience in stage management or some aspect of technical theatre. The portfolio might consist of promotional materials or photographs from various theatre productions/ concerts/ events. Acting and Irish Theatre. Anyone aged 16 and upwards can apply for a place on these courses. All of the courses at The Lir Academy are taught by professionals who also work in the theatre, TV and film industries. These tutors remain connected within the various genres, something that has proved extremely beneficial to graduates of The Lir. Information on all courses at The Lir can be found at www.thelir.ie or by emailing info@thelir.ie

Participants on the two week Musical Theatre intensive course at The Lir. Image by Keith Dixon

BellTIME

Mary Immaculate College expands its geographical footprint following the incorporation of St. Patrick’s College, Thurles Mary Immaculate College is delighted to announce the incorporation of St. Patrick’s College, Thurles, which currently offers the following four degree programmes that prepare students to become second-level teachers: • BA in Education, Business Studies and Accounting (MI009) • BA in Education, Business Studies and Religious Studies (MI010) • BA in Education, Irish and Religious Studies (MI011) • BA in Education, Irish and Business Studies (MI012)

Minister for Education & Skills, Minister Jan O’Sullivan T.D. announced the incorporation by Mary Immaculate College (MIC) of St. Patrick’s College, stating, “This is a very significant development that will be of great benefit to the students, staff and broader stakeholders of Mary Immaculate College and St. Patrick’s College. I want to commend the management and staff of both institutions on the professional manner in which they have brought about this incorporation ably assisted by the Higher Education Authority.” She went on to say “Today’s announcement underlines Mary Immaculate College’s pre-eminent role in the provision of initial teacher education in Ireland. The quality and dedication of teaching staff in the Irish education system is recognised internationally as one of our great strengths. MIC has contributed hugely to this positive aspect of education in Ireland and this new development will ensure that the College continues to go from strength to strength.”

The announcement was also welcomed by the Chief

Executive of the Higher Executive Authority (HEA), Mr. Tom Boland, whose officials were closely involved in negotiations with MIC and St. Patrick’s College.

to the education sector as a whole and to the economy offering very favourable employment prospects to graduates.

“Clearly,” according to MIC President Professor Michael A Hayes, “MIC is held in the highest regard by the Minister and the Department of Education & Skills and is seen strategically as the ideal vehicle for the continuation of the important subject areas taught at St. Patrick’s College, including Irish, Religion, Business Studies and Accounting, all of which are in high demand by secondary schools searching for the most highly qualified graduates. There is also an obvious complementarity in both campuses’ cultures, where the student is placed at the centre of both institutions’ missions and a campus environment conducive to a warm and friendly community ambience is at the centre of all its activities.”

MIC Limerick will continue to offer two four-year B.Ed. programmes, for those wishing to become a primary teacher (with the option of having a specialisation in Educational Psychology), a programme for those who wish to work in the area of professional childhood care and education, a Liberal Arts programme offering a wide array of subjects such subjects as Media & Communication Studies, Psychology, English; and an exciting new BA in Contemporary and Applied Theatre Studies. MIC will continue to offer a host of postgraduate programmes to doctoral level in Education and in the Liberal Arts, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses, and numerous access and inclusion pathways.

Following the incorporation MIC will now offer a choice of nine undergraduate honours degree programmes, for intake in September 2016. MIC, St Patrick’s Campus, Thurles will offer four undergraduate programmes to those interested in becoming a second-level teacher in the shape of concurrent degree programmes leading to sought-after specialisations in subject areas that include Irish, Religion, Accountancy and Business Studies. These programmes are specifically geared towards initial teacher education for the second-level school sector in Ireland. The programmes, which are accredited by the University of Limerick and the Teaching Council, have been comprehensively redesigned to meet the requisite standards of these bodies and the needs of graduates entering the teaching profession. The programmes offer unique content and subject combinations that are valuable

Mary Immaculate College is also committed to improving access to higher education for adults and we welcome applications to all our undergraduate programmes from mature applicants. If you are at least 23 years old on the 1st January of the year of entry to College, you are considered as a mature student. Here at MIC we happen to think that there are a number of reasons as to why mature students should consider MIC as their

College of Choice. These include: • Designated Centre of Excellence in Teacher Education • MIC’s commitment to Lifelong Learning • Alternative pathways in gaining access to third level education • Tailored support systems available to mature students • State-of-the-art city centre campus • Highly sought-after programmes • Friendly and relaxed atmosphere • Small class size • Top class sports facilities • Active and engaging Students’ Union • World class arts programme at the Lime Tree Theatre

For further information visit www.mic.ul.ie

Fashioning your Future

BellTIME

With an impressive range of courses in fashion, Sallynoggin College of Further Education is the perfect place to develop the creative and practical skills needed in the industry. Choose between Fashion Design courses, which specialise in design and making, or Fashion Industry Practice courses which specialise in buying, visual merchandising, styling and journalism. The Fashion Design Courses at QQI Levels 5 and 6 provide the opportunity to design and produce collections while also developing a portfolio suitable for application to a broad range of third level colleges. Subjects range from pattern drafting and garment construction to drawing and fashion illustration. An impressive number of graduates each year achieve their first choice college places on degree programmes in NCAD, DIT, IADT, Griffith College and UK colleges such as the London College of Fashion. Those with strong portfolios from the Level 6 course have the opportunity to progress to the second year of degree programmes. The Fashion Industry Practice Courses at QQI Levels 5 & 6 offer a unique choice, in that they bring together many practical and creative aspects of the industry. With a mix of Visiting Lecturers, Photo-shoots, Field Trips to exhibitions or trade shows, and in second year, putting on a professional Fashion Event, one thing is certain, that no week is ever the same! No matter which path you take, this course will effectively equip students with an ability to work 10

within a broad range of areas and to appreciate how all areas of the fashion industry interact. Each year Fashion Industry Practice students also achieve places in thirdlevel colleges throughout the UK and Ireland by applying through UCAS and CAO. They successfully apply and commence courses such as; Fashion Buying, Fashion Marketing, Fashion Management, Fashion History, Visual Merchandising, Event Management and Business & Entrepreneurship.

Fashion Events Working on photo-shoots and Events during the year, our students get a real working knowledge of event management. Our next fashion event is being planned for April 2016, so keep an eye on our website; www.scfe.ie and our Facebook page; SCFE – Sallynoggin College, for updates. During the year, second year students on both courses can attend a Trade Show in Paris to see ﬁrst-hand how the industry works. The Fashion Industry Practice students can attend the Ready-to-wear, Who’s Next trade show. The Fashion Design students visit the international Premier Vision Fabric fair spotting fabrics a year before the collections hit the shops!

An International Career Graduates of Fashion Design and Fashion Industry Practice are achieving many successes in their chosen careers each year. These courses play a pivotal role in guiding students towards diverse careers,

through progressing to both thirdlevel colleges and into direct employment. What’s not to like about having so many options ahead of you? Designers, Pattern Drafters, Tailors, Stylists, Buyers, Visual Merchandisers, Designers, Journalists, Social Media & Digital Marketers, Entrepreneurs, Personal Shoppers, Costume Stylists, Retailers, Event Producers.

An alternative to Leaving Certiﬁcate Many of our graduates use their QQI results as an alternative to the Leaving Certiﬁcate in order to gain access to third level study options with on degree programmes in Ireland and in numerous colleges in the UK. Check out individual colleges for their requirements.

Both in Ireland and the UK, our students are working in a career they love. They are ﬁnding their feet and taking on both the High Street and working with internationally renowned designers. Many have also set up their own successful enterprises in design and styling. Our roll call of graduates include: • Stylist Courtney Smith from TV3’s Xposé • Stylist Grace Moore, who worked on the 2013 American Vogue shoot in Co. Kerry • Visual Merchandisers with Zara, COS, Forever 21, Topshop, New Look and H&M. • Stylists with River Island, Topshop, The Gloss, Tatler and The Irish Times, The Independent • Retail Managers with H&M & Debenhams. • E-Commerce, Social Media & Digital Marketers with A|Wear, Brown Thomas, Redress, Stella McCartney and Michael Kors. • Studio Assistants with Lennon Courtney and House of Holland, Roland Mouret, Gareth Pugh and Alexander McQueen • Entrepreneur Bebhinn Flood from Design House • Personal Shopper with H&M

Making the Right Choice Our students are making conﬁdent decisions about their “Fashion careers, based on Industry Practice at their Sallynoggin College was capabilities, a great launching pad for my BA degree. The skills we acquired through producing the event proved to be a great asset for me in university” Niamh Crawford

BellTIME

interests and experiences whilst studying Fashion at Sallynoggin College. They are making informed choices and are able to stick with their goals. They are making the right choice. With advice and support on career choices, an exciting range of subjects, no tuition fees, free parking, a friendly environment, excellent library facilities, and timetables which can often work alongside part-time jobs, what better way to kick-start your career in the Fashion Industry? You can visit us at our OPEN DAY on Thursday 21st January 2016….…We look forward to seeing you there!

Sallynoggin College welcomes applications from all, regardless of their previous “Thanks educational to the Fashion experience. Design course at Sallynoggin College, I was able to fit in straight away on my internship. I was easily able to complete all tasks they gave me. The staff told me that I had For further been really well educated!” information Alaine Burns or to make an application, see www.scfe.ie or call 01 2852997. “I am getting on great in Northumbria “I University, and definitely am so proud of benefited from doing the what I have achieved Fashion Industry Practice this year and I feel the course for the last two event has really made years!! me a more capable and Jade Scanlon confident person” Lorna Sammon

“I think the Fashion Industry Practice course was invaluable. It deﬁnitely stands out on a CV, and is a great talking point at interviews” Danielle Fitzgerald

BellTIME

Pontifical University St Patrick’s College, Maynooth

St Patrick’s College Maynooth combines best of both worlds St Patrick’s College Maynooth is a Pontifical University, having been established by a Pontifical Charter in 1896. “The Pontifical University has Open Days throughout the year in conjunction with Maynooth University. “The two universities share the same campus and cooperate in a number of important academic programmes,” says Ruth Daly, schools’ liaison officer at the university.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMMES

“If you take arts subjects with Maynooth University and theology at the Pontiﬁcal University, you really have the best of both worlds. Given the small numbers of students in the theology classes, the learning experience is very personalised.”

Baccalaureate in Theology & Arts (BATh) CAO code MU001

Baccalaureate in Theology (BTh) CAO code MU002

Ruth visits schools to talk about the programmes oﬀered by St Patrick’s College as well as alternative routes into college.

The BA in Theology & Arts is a three-year, level 8, honours degree programme comprising of Theology and Arts subjects. The Theology modules are taught in the Faculty of Theology in the Pontifical University, while the Arts subjects are taught in Maynooth University. Both universities share the same campus and facilities

The BA in Theology is a three-year, level 8, honours degree programme aimed at students who wish to study Theology in depth. Students study First Arts Philosophy as part of this degree.

“It’s very important that students make an informed decision while they’re ﬁlling out their CAO. I advise students to go to as many open days

{

}

These programmes qualify under the Free Fees initiative and the Higher Education Grants Scheme Applications from mature students welcomed The Pontifical University also oﬀers a number of Postgraduate Degree programmes in Theology

AUTUMN OPEN DAYS FRIDAY 27TH & SATURDAY 28th NOVEMBER (Same dates and venue as Maynooth University)

Spring & Summer Open Days: Saturday, 23rd April 2016, Saturday, 25th June 2016

Jayne Neeson, Armagh, BTh 2014 “There are many reasons to study Theology at St Patrick’s College. Personally, my top reason would be the small community and campus. Travelling for university and leaving home for the ﬁrst time can be a daunting experience. However, my fears were soon swept away. The lecturers and students of Theology were like a family to me. Studying Theology shapes your way of thinking, you learn a wide set of skills that are adaptable to life.”

as possible, because they may come across a course that they’ve never heard of, but that’s right for them,” she said. As a mature student, Ruth decided to attend college in order to help her understand the complexities of her second child’s rare genetic condition called DiGeorge syndrome. She completed a certiﬁcate in psychology by attending an outreach programme delivered by Maynooth University at a local school.

The open days run from 9am till 4pm on Friday 27 November and Saturday 28 November, with theology talks taking place on both days. There will be free regional commuter buses running to the university on the Saturday. Other Open Days for 2016 are on Saturday 23 April and Saturday 25 June.

“I loved it, and the lecturer encouraged me to consider returning to college as a mature student. She recommended I attend the Return to Learning course at Maynooth, which teaches you academic writing and a range of skills required to participate in third-level learning.”

To arrange a talk from Ruth or one of the Student Ambassadors at your school, or to order a prospectus, email admissions@spcm.ie

Ruth went on to study theology at the Pontiﬁcal University and history and classics with Maynooth University. Being able to attend evening lectures in history allowed her to juggle student and family routine.

Shauna Fitzpatrick, Clondalkin, BATh 2015 “Theology is an academic subject like any other, but what makes it diﬀerent is that you develop a set of values and principles for life. It allows you to explore the diﬀerences between faiths and to understand the world in a broader context. Having completed my degree, I am absolutely sure that I chose the right course for me, not just because of the subjects but because of the Maynooth experience.”

Admissions Oﬃce, St. Patrick’s College, Pontifical University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare Tel: +353 1 708 4772 14

Email: admissions@spcm.ie

www.maynoothcollege.ie

Ruth refers to the Pontiﬁcal University as one of the best colleges in Ireland from the point of view of both Leaving Cert and mature students, as it oﬀered a wide range of student supports.

Meet Our Student Ambassadors

For more information, visit maynoothcollege.ie/pontiﬁcaluniversity

Megan Byrne, Kildare, BATh 2015 “Theology opens doors and is a spring-board to excelling in a wide range of careers, including teaching at both primary and secondary level or to pursue an interest in chaplaincy and pastoral care. Graduates have also gone on to work in other diverse areas, such as business, journalism and social work. I can say that studying Theology has made me grow more as a person than any other subject. It has changed my outlook on everyday topics and it has given me the platform to use my knowledge to better myself academically and personally. I am now doing a MTH in Theology to further my learning and am hoping to go further into the ﬁeld. “ 15

BellTIME

Fulbright Awards - Support to Study, Research or Teach in the USA

EducationUSA Advice on Studying in the USA The USA can offer a wealth of educational opportunities for Irish and International students. With thousands of 3rd level institutions to choose from and no official ranking system for US colleges and universities, the best option for each student will depend on what course and college meets their individual requirements—academic, financial, and personal. EducationUSA provides students with information on how to apply to and attend U.S. colleges and universities. This service can help applicants through the selection and application processes, and offers information on admission exams and funding. Based in the Fulbright Commission offices in Dublin, an EducationUSA Advisor is available to answer general queries from students, teachers and guidance counsellors by phone or email. Students who are considering study in the USA are advised to start their research at least 12 to 18 months prior to the academic year in which they hope to attend begin their course. You can visit www.fulbright.ie for basic information on how to begin this process and then contact an EducationUSA Advisor at educationusa@fulbright.ie for further information. In April each year, EducationUSA holds an Information Seminar in Dublin. The date for the 2016 Seminar will be posted on the Fulbright website and social media channels in early spring. Teachers and Careers Advisors are welcome to invite an EducationUSA Advisor to visit their school and present on opportunities to study in the USA. Contact educationusa@fulbright.ie for further information.

Key Events: Spring 2016: EducationUSA Seminar, IBAT Dublin Autumn 2016: Higher Options, RDS Dublin “An emphasis on leadership, broader global knowledge and passion for success are the hallmarks of U.S. universities.” - Sonya Hakobyan (International Student EducationUSA)

pedagogical transformation through musician-teacher partnerships in schools, “Fulbright Scholarships offer a means of international partnership to exchange ideas, promote mutual understanding and gain rich insights into each partner country’s social, cultural, economic and political landscapes. My Fulbright experience will not only feed into research projects but also directly influence and inform my teaching, course design, course coordination, professional development courses and community projects. Not bad for a year’s work.” Fulbright

Each year, the Fulbright Commission in Ireland provides amazing opportunities for Irish or E.U. citizens to study, research and teach in the U.S. The Fulbright Program is active in 155 countries, its worldwide purpose is to increase mutual respect and understanding between the people of the United States and people of other nations through educational and cultural exchange.

“We must try to expand the boundaries of human wisdom, empathy and perception, and there is no way of doing that except through education.” Senator J. William

The Fulbright Irish Awards are open to postgraduate students, scholars and professionals in all disciplines and include a monetary grant, visa administration, accident and emergency insurance, and a range of cultural and professional programming. The Award period in the U.S. can range from 3 weeks to 12 months depending on the Award type. Annual applications are welcome in all disciplines including Science, Technology, Law, Business, Arts, Humanities and Irish Language. This year, 31 Irish and E.U. citizens were awarded grants to go to the USA through the Fulbright Commission in Ireland. Awardees include 9 Foreign Language Teaching Assistants (FLTAs) who are currently teaching the Irish Language to Americans across 8 institutions in the USA. Successful FLTA applicants range from graduate students, to school teachers, 3rd level tutors and other professionals.

Further information on the Fulbright Awards is available at www.fulbright.ie or contact awards@fulbright.ie with any queries.

Key Events: 6th February 2016: TEDxFulbrightDublin at Smock Alley Theatre April 2016: Fulbright Roadshow to 3rd level institutions 31st August 2016: 2017-2018 Fulbright Irish Award Application period opens

Síne Nic an Ailí was a Fulbright FLTA to the University of Montana in 2014-2015, “Fulbright offered me the chance to experience life both as an educator and as a cultural ambassador of Ireland abroad, living and breathing the culture of the United States.” Ailbhe Kenny was a Fulbright Scholar to New York University and Columbia University in 2014-2015. She investigated the potential for

Fulbright Awardees Kevin Leahy and Gillian Murphy with Minister for Diaspora Affairs Jimmy Deenihan TD, Professor John Hegarty, and US Ambassador to Ireland Kevin O’Malley

BellTIME

For students with a strong interest in food and food product development, nutrition and health and for those who are interested in developing a diverse range of entrepreneurial skills and business acumen the Bachelor of Applied Science in Food and Business Management is an ideal programme of study. Recent attention to consumer rights, product liability, food standards and an increasing public concern in regard to health and nutrition have resulted in demand for graduates who are competent in the areas of Food Studies, Food Science and Technology, Food Safety, Food Quality, Business & Management, Food Production Methods and Nutrition. The B.Appl.Sc in Food & Business Management is designed to fulﬁll this need by providing industry

with multi-skilled graduates who can assist companies in competing successfully in an increasingly competitive and global market. The B.Appl.Sc is a 4 year, level 8, degree programme which combines food and culinary skills, food technology, food product development and science with business management and marketing whilst incorporating a 20 week placement in third-year to apply skills to the workplace. The programme includes: • Food & Culinary Skills • Nutrition, Diet & Health • Food Technology • Food Product Development • Business Management • Marketing • A 20 week Student Placement.

Applicants for the programme are required to have a Leaving Certiﬁcate (or an approved equivalent) with at least two Grade C3s at Higher Level and four Grade D3s at Ordinary or Higher Level. There are also opportunities available to students via non-standard entry progression routes including mature entry and Access. Graduates of the B.Appl.Sc in Food and Business Management at St. Angela’s College will have attained the knowledge, skills and competencies that will enable them to obtain employment in a variety of food and associated industries. Graduates will be equipped with the technical knowledge and skills required to work in a diverse range of careers such as: Food Production, New Product Development, Quality Control, Marketing/ Sales, Supervision & Management, Consultancy & Research. The degree course also aﬀords the opportunity to pursue further studies at Postgraduate, Masters and Ph.D levels.

The Bachelor of Arts in Textiles, Fashion and Design with Business Management

in St. Angela’s College is an innovative 3 year, Level 8 degree. The programme is aimed at school leavers and mature students who have a strong interest in textiles, fashion and design and wish to study the artistic, theoretical and technical aspects of textiles and fashion design in a stimulating environment while also developing business management skills and knowledge. The course is designed with optional pathways in fashion design or textiles in all years. This is the third year the BA in Textiles, Fashion and Design with Business

(www.rebeccamarsdendesigns.com) and Anna Vahey (www.anafaye.com) both lecture on the programme. Current students on this programme are already notching up success in design! Emma Curtis, a year 2 student was one of 12 students from colleges all over Ireland whose design featured recently in the prestigious Dublin Fashion Week ‘Young designer of the Year’ competition. The competition ﬁnal – a fashion show on College Green, Dublin, was compered by Sonya Reynolds and Brendan Courtney on the 9th of September in front of an invited

Student experience - Eimear Connolly (Bachelor of Applied Science, Food & Business Management 2014) I completed my work placement with Walshe’s Sunshine Juice, a Juice and Fruit Salad company based in County Carlow. During this placement, I was heavily involved in new product development while also gaining insight into production, quality control, marketing and key-account management. During my ﬁrst few months, I undertook market research in the area of Fruit Salads. From this I developed a large range of Fruit Salads that I believed would appeal to the market. I presented this range of products to the Management Team in Sunshine Juice and from this a new range of Fruit Salads were short-listed. I was heavily involved with bringing these products to market through sourcing, packaging, labelling and sales pitches to retailers. I launched Walshe’s Range of Fresh Fruit Salads at an Easter Food Fair in a west of Ireland supermarket. This was a very memorable experience for me, gaining positive feedback from customers. The icing on the cake for me was when one of the newly developed Fruit Salads was nominated for a Blàs na hEireann award. I represented Sunshine Juice at

the Awards Ceremony in Dingle where Walshe’s Raspberry Citrus Fruit Salad won a Bronze Award for Taste and also won the over-all prize for Innovation in Food Packaging. Over-all my work experience was a very enjoyable and interesting experience. I gained a lot conﬁdence and I am positive I have chosen the right career path. Sunshine Juice were a fantastic company to work for as the management team gave me the freedom to work on various project’s using my own initiative.

The Irish food and beverage processing industry continues to provide excellent opportunities for employment as one of the major exporting sectors. Approximately 150, 000 people are employed collectively in the Irish food industry with an annual output of over €24 billion (Ref: Food Harvest 2020). Graduates in the areas of Food Science are currently highly sought after.

For further programme details see www.stangelas.nuigalway.ie or contact Programme Co-ordinators Mr Ronan Mc Art – rmcart@stangelas.nuigalway.ie / Ms Roisin Lydon – rlydon@stangelas.nuigalway.ie

Management programme has been offered in St Angela’s College. Although there are other fashion or textile design focused courses in Ireland, this is the first programme where students can study fashion, textiles and design along with much needed business management for this competitive industry. The course in St. Angela’s is dynamic and unique in the fact that it offers all of these aspects. The significant expertise of lecturers who have extensive experience in the fashion industry also contributes to the distinctiveness of this programme. Sligo based designers Rebecca Marsden

audience of key fashion inﬂuencers including press, fashion buyers and established designers. Emma’s featured design was a coat/cape (one of the 3 designs which formed her mini degree collection). “So far I’ve had great success with my second year mini degree collection through media and various competitions. My dream is to have my own fashion label and see my pieces on runways all over the world. The college in general is a lovely place to be with its beautiful views which is full of inspiration” Emma Curtis, Year 2 BA Textiles, Fashion and Design with Business Management student.

BellTIME Students on the programme are encouraged to take a placement with a fashion/textiles designer or company in July and August between year’s 2 and 3 and this is supported by opportunities for Erasmus funded placements. On successful completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Textiles, Fashion and Design with Business Management graduates will have the skills, knowledge and competences the industry requires for careers as fashion and textile designers and as buyers, stylists, forecasters, production management, pattern and garment technicians, costume designers, celebrity, TV and movie style consultants, or to set up businesses as designer makers, crafts people and textile artists. The degree course also aﬀords graduates the opportunity to pursue further studies at Postgraduate, Masters and PhD levels.

This course is a restricted entry programme and therefore applications must be made by February 1st 2016 through the CAO and a portfolio must be submitted for assessment on the 15th of April 2016. The Portfolio should show a range of the applicant’s skills and knowledge in a variety of presented projects, a visual representation of interests, explorations and ﬁnal pieces and should include images

of fashion or craft project work. The Bachelor of Arts in Textiles, Fashion and Design with Business Management is on the CAO form (CAO Code: AS053 (Level 8)) for entry in September 2016. FETAC and HND qualiﬁcations will also be considered for entry with no restriction on the number of places for these applicants. There are also opportunities available to students via nonstandard entry progression routes including Access, HEAR and DARE. See www.stangelas.nuigalway.ie for further programme information and portfolio guidelines or contact Ursula O’Shea programme co-ordinator at uoshea@stangelas.nuigalway.ie 071 9135659.

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 22

BellTIME

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

BellTIME

Giving students a head start for the jobs of the future A survey carried out by Science Foundation Ireland last year found that 62% of third-level students cited ‘fitting in’ as being the biggest factor influencing how they chose their course of study. With ‘fitting in’ rated as more important than course requirements (28%) or career prospects (56%), it follows that students with negative perceptions about science or people working in an area like engineering (such as it being too geeky, too difficult or only about working in a lab) they are unlikely to see themselves ‘fitting in’ and likely to discount such pathways. Given the ever growing need for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) graduates in Ireland, where well paid, dynamic and fulfilling roles are available to students of different capabilities, it is vital that we inform students about STEM careers and challenge negative stereotypes. This is particularly important in encouraging young females, where engagement with female role models can greatly increase their participation.

The website www.SmartFutures.ie provides students with real-life examples of STEM careers in Ireland, video interviews and career profiles and gives students access to role models through its volunteer programme. Secondary school teachers, TY coordinators or guidance counsellors can register their school for free career talks at any time over the school year. With over 700 volunteers with all kinds of STEM-related backgrounds, from pharmaceuticals to food science, energy to software engineering, students can learn firsthand about what a career in STEM is really all about, discover what sectors are thriving and have their stereotypes challenged. This can be a huge help to students getting ready to make CAO choices. Over 50 partners including SAP, IBM, Abbott Ireland and Teagasc are providing volunteers for school visits, and the programme has engaged with over 75,000 secondary school students to-date.

What can I do? Making a difference Smart Futures was set up as a collaborative programme between government, industry and education to address this issue. It is managed by Science Foundation Ireland in partnership with Engineers Ireland and other bodies. 24

While schools can access free career talks, parents can also help. Students can be encouraged to get involved in STEM-related activities such as Coder Dojo or Mathletes and attend events and festivals like Science Week, Engineers Week etc. for some interactive fun. Check out www.Smartfutures.ie for more information. 25

BellTIME

Teagasc Horticultural Colleges National Botanic Gardens, Dublin 9 and Kildalton College, Piltown, Kilkenny

HORTICULTURE WOULD YOU LIKE A CAREER WORKING IN: • • • • •

•

• •

PARKS GARDENING LARGE GARDEN ESTATES INTERIOR PLANTSCAPE GROUNDS MAINTENANCE BOTANIC GARDENS

• • • •

GARDEN CENTRES HORTICULTURAL THERAPY GREENKEEPING LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HORTICULTURE: QQI LEVEL 7 (Application to CAO - course code WD097) QQI CERTIFICATES IN HORTICULTURE LEVEL 5 and 6 PART TIME COMPONENT AWARDS AT LEVEL 5 AND 6

Applications and information for these courses available from the Teagasc College Office 01 8040201 and website www.teagasc/botanicgardens.ie

Groups welcome. T: 01 8040201 for group bookings. Mature students welcome

Teagasc offers Horticulture courses at both the College of Amenity Horticulture, National Botanic Gardens Dublin and Kildalton College, Piltown, Kilkenny. We teach fulltime courses in Horticulture at Level 5 (Certificate, 1year), Level 6 (Advanced Certificate, 1 year) and Level 7 (Ordinary Degree, 3 years). In the College of Amenity Horticulture we have approximately 200 students from all over the Dublin, the greater Leinster area and beyond. Students who enter the courses here, have the ability to learn in the fantastic outdoor classroom which is the plant collection of the National Botanic Gardens complimented by the brand new state of the art college teaching facilities which were completed in 2014.

then students can further study areas like Landscaping, Sportsturf, Nursery stock and Food Crop production. These subjects give people the foundation to build a strong career in the horticultural sector. Students can enter first year either by applying directly to the college for the Certificate course or through the CAO for the level 7 degree course (WD097). We have a partnership with Waterford Institute of Technology for the delivery of the degree course in the Botanic Gardens.

We have the added benefit of students being taught by top class Teagasc and OPW staff of the Gardens who take students on practical work experience during their studies in the college.

This year students can also study part time modules in Horticulture at level 5 and level 6. This will enable people who are working to drop in to partake in modules that are awarded as components of the major award at level 5 and level 6. This year we are offering Level 5 modules in Plant Identification and Plant Propagation and level 6 modules in Sports turf, Nursery stock production and Landscaping to Level 6 students.

Our qualifications are fully accredited and suit people who wish to follow the area of Horticulture as a fulltime career path. The basic science of horticulture is covered in all courses , soils , plant science and plant identification and

Our next careers afternoon is Thursday 10th March 2016 in classroom 3 at 2 pm in the New College building at the National Botanic Gardens Glasnevin and on Friday 4th March 2016 at 10am in Kildalton College, Kilkenny.

--- www.teagasc.ie/training ---

Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 01 8040201 or 01 8040202 Email :botanic.college@teagasc.ie Kildalton College Piltown, Kilkenny 051 644400 Email: reception@kildaltoncollege.ie

COLLEGE OF AMENITY HORTICULTURE, NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS, GLASNEVIN, DUBLIN 9 26

--- www.teagasc.ie/botanicgardens ---

BellTIME

Now is the time to consider a career in Surveying!

Surveying is not a single career, but a collective name for a group of careers within property, construction and land. Surveying careers are surprisingly varied and include: - quantity surveying - estate agency - valuation and investment - project management - property and facilities management - planning and development - land surveying and mapping - building surveying There is a significant increase in the availability of job opportunities for graduate surveyors in areas such as sustainable development, banking, valuation and estate agency.

There is also an increased demand for asset management and facilities management professionals

from financial institutions and large multinationals such as Google, Facebook, BSkyB, Paddy Power and PayPal. According to a recent report by the SCSI, due to the contraction in the property and construction sector in recent years, there is a growing shortage of suitably qualified surveying graduates.

Second level students entering third-level property, construction and land courses now are ideally placed to enter a profession during a period of recovery and expansion with bright job prospects expected in the coming years.

In addition, having been trained in a variety of technical and transferable skills, including economics, business, real estate, sustainability and construction studies, graduate surveyors will be well-positioned to bring their skills to work at the heart of a changing market, both at home and abroad.

BellTIME

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

BellTIME

Silicon Armada wants to help your school with The Hour of Code 2015 Silicon Armada is a search engine for tech jobs. It's our mission to connect the tech community with tech employers around the world and we want to offer our expertise to secondary schools in Ireland during the Hour of Code 2015. Computers are everywhere, but fewer schools teach computer science than 10 years ago. Good news is, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on our way to change this. If you've heard about the Hour of Code before, you might know it made history. More than 100 million students have tried an Hour of Code. With the Hour of Code, computer science has been on homepages of Google, MSN, Yahoo! and Disney. Over 100 partners joined together to support this movement. Last year, every Apple Store in the world hosted an Hour of Code and even President Obama wrote his first line of code as part of the campaign. This year, let's make it even bigger. Silicon Armada is asking your school to join in for the Hour of Code 2015. Please get involved with an Hour of Code event during Computer Science Education Week, December 7-13. Get the word out. Host an event. Try the Hour of Code yourself or Contact Silicon Armada to book an Hour of Code in your school - everyone can benefit from learning the basics. Get started at http://hourofcode.com/ie Places are subject to availability and early booking is advised! lorraine@siliconarmada.com Phone number: 0429370460

BellTIME

Teanga:

FYFFES TO SUPPORT UNICEF’S POLIO VACCINATION PROGRAMME IN SOUTH SUDAN Following the success of the polio vaccination project in Nigeria last year (as well as earlier malaria prevention work in Mozambique) Fyffes will once again support Unicef to assist in eradicating polio in sub-Saharan Africa. This year, the polio vaccination programme takes place in South Sudan, with the goal to immunise as many young children as possible against the deadly virus. According to Peter Power, Executive Director, UNICEF Ireland, “Every year, about 29,000 children under the age of five die every day mostly from preventable causes. With Fyffes’ support an estimated 250,000 children in South Sudan alone will be immunised against polio. UNICEF is delighted to partner once more with Fyffes, as well as Fyffes’ customers, to protect the most vulnerable children from this deadly disease. By investing in children’s futures, we empower them to build a better future

for themselves, their families, their communities and our world.” This year’s campaign is once again spearheaded by Irish Rugby Player and Unicef Ambassador, Donncha O’Callaghan. Special Freddy Fyffes packs of bananas will be in store across Ireland from October to December - and for every bag bought, Fyffes will donate one life-saving vaccine. Speaking during a recent field trip South Sudan, Gerry Cunningham, MD of Fyffes Ireland said “Our hope is that this latest project in South Sudan will mirror the outstanding success we had last year in halting the spread of polio in Nigeria, as well as malaria prevention in Mozambique. It is estimated that Fyffes support has helped save the lives of over 1 million children through vaccinations and prevented more than 200,000 cases of malaria”

A picture and voiced based language learning tool Teanga: Language Lego!

Teanga is a picture and voiced based language learning tool. Students place pictures into "grammar space" to create phrases that can be voiced, recorded and compared with a teacher’s voice. All major grammar patterns are covered. The student learns to speak more confidently as she learns the patterns and vocabulary by osmosis. All languages and dialects can be learned and spoken using a common set of images, shapes and symbols. This self-directed learning is text free and so lends itself best to those who are text averse (dyslexics) and those learning a language with an alien script (Chinese/Arabic). Teanga is launching an English language version in October and Gaeilge in November. We anticipate having a portfolio of a thousand languages and dialects within a few years. Teanga is based on a global set of pictures (words), shapes (parts of speech), colours (word gender) and symbols (grammar markers). By placing these elements together (mashing) the user creates a unique phrase with a unique audio output. This is then recorded within the browser and compared with that of a native speaker. The user can then re-record her voice to conform with the

pattern established within the lessons. Pronunciation, intonation, vocabulary and grammar are the skills honed. Students naturally learn those elements which are common to all languages. Currently the software is at beta stage on a browser but the ultimate design direction will allow us to easily migrate to a mobile platform. Many of the existing solutions are often text-intense and focus on providing a full language offering to users; Teanga focuses solely on the spoken word aims to support and accelerate pre-intermediate students (A1-B2). We believe that the spoken word is the key to gaining confidence in a new language. Eventually we will create audio phrase books, games and a communication tool. By adapting the interface we can also reach younger students and even senior citizens who wish to revise languages learned in their youth. Due to the unique output of every "mash" Teanga is ideally placed as a testing engine for the spoken word To get involved in this exciting project please contact Shane Walsh at info@teanga.me.

www.teanga.me

BellTIME

EPA Ireland’s Environment Web Resource: The gateway to everything you want to know about Ireland’s Environment

Are you looking for innovative ways to introduce your students to key information, facts and statistics about local environmental issues? Check out Ireland’s Environment, the new web resource from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Using non-scientific language, Ireland’s Environment provides easy access to environmental data that has been gathered by the EPA and external bodies. This onestop-shop presents up-to-date environmental information in a highly visual format under eight environmental themes: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Air Climate Water Waste Nature Land & soil Environment & wellbeing and Sustainable economy.

Under each theme information is provided on current trends, causes, what’s being done, what the outlook is and links to relevant reports. Ireland’s Environment provides access to information at a range of levels: ➢ Straightforward descriptions of the condition of Ireland’s environment, the threats it faces, what’s being done and the future outlook under the eight themes. ➢ The My Local Environment mapping tool – this gives the user the ability to check out information about the environment close to where you live, work or play and frame the information in a local setting, such as your local air and water quality. 36

➢ The Get Informed section gives the user the opportunity to get informed about the state of Ireland’s environment and the data that underpin that assessment. From here the user can: o access detailed information on the key environmental indicators for Ireland. The data is available in interactive chart format and can also be downloaded in a variety of formats o check out EPA Infographics with lots of interesting facts and figures on air, water, waste, health and lots more o read about EPA funded research and how this research is increasing our understanding of environmental challenges and o find out about the EPA’s education resources for primary and secondary school students. ➢ The new Get Involved section provides users with information on ways they can become involved in protecting the Irish environment. From here the user can: o check out the EPA's See-it Say-it App for i-Phone or Android phones o learn more about EPA licensing and enforcement and o check out the EPA citizen science page for more ways to 'Get Involved'. This is an ideal resource for teachers and students alike, ensuring environmental information is readily available, in easily accessible formats.

BellTIME

So what is the science?

NFT is based on two scientific principles. Firstly, brain function is measured using a device called an Electroencephalogram (EEG). It listens in to the electrical activation of your brain, much like an ECG does for your heart. From this electrical activation, the efficiency of brain function can be measured. This technique is widely used in hospitals, clinics and universities worldwide.

Neurofeedback Training – A new science-based approach to treating ADHD and related disorders Scientific and public interest in Neurofeedback Training (NFT) has grown exponentially over the last decade. NFT is a neuroscience-based method of changing the way the brain works, with the ultimate goal of changing behaviour. In particular, NFT is becoming an increasingly popular intervention for children and adolescents with attentional problems (e.g. ADHD/ADD), behavioural problems (e.g. ODD) and related issues. The magnitude of effects resulting from NFT was summarised by Frank Duffy, a Professor and Paediatric Neurologist at Harvard Medical School in the US, who wrote of NFT: “In my opinion, if any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy it would be universally accepted and widely used.”

Dean is 13 years old. He received a diagnosis of ADHD four years ago, and has long since struggled in school and at home. His mum describes their home life: “We always knew there was something a little different about Dean. Getting him out to school was always trouble. We’d send him upstairs to put on his shoes, and ten minutes later he would have one sock on and be playing with lego. It always ended up with a shouting match every morning, and it really affected me, him and the rest of the family. Homework time was a disaster, a constant source of stress”. His teacher describes Dean in school: “Dean had difficulty in paying attention in class – you could see his mind wandering. When he could focus, he could never wait his turn, he would always blurt out an answer without being While relatively new to Ireland, NFT has been used in the asked. He became very difficult to manage, and was US and in Europe since the 1960s to treat a variety of isolated from his peers. He couldn’t wait his turn with his psychological and medical disorders. Actualise Clinical, mates, he was very impulsive with a short fuse, and often based in Dublin City University, are the first group to found himself in trouble”. bring this revolutionary science to Ireland. The Clinic is under the direction of Dr. Michael Keane, a With the diagnosis of ADHD came a prescription for Neuroscientist, former Lecturer in Psychology at DCU, medication, but Dean’s parents were reluctant. NFT was and Ireland’s only certified NFT provider. He has studied mentioned to them by their Psychologist, and they looked brain function for over 15 years, particularly linking brain into it as a way to help Dean. “Initially we were sceptical” function to behaviour. explained his Mum. “We had never heard of it, and were worried about someone messing with Dean’s brain!” They made an appointment with Actualise at DCU, and went for an assessment. “The staff were very friendly and professional, and you could see that they had plenty of experience in working with kids like Dean. The whole process was explained to us and him very well.”

What kind of cases do Actualise work with? NFT works with ADHD and related disorders, as well as with anxiety, panic disorder and depression. More cases at the Actualise Clinic, however, are children and adolescents with ADHD and related disorders, and anxiety. A typical case is Dean, who came to the clinic in 2015.

Image 1 - Áine Maher from Actualise measuring brain function at the clinic using an EEG cap. Measuring EEG is entirely painless and non-invasive – it is the passive measurement of the brain’s electrical function.

Image 2 - Brain function before NFT. Note the red spots on the left of each panel – this signifies too much slow wave activity in frontal brain areas, those areas which control executive functions like impulsivity and paying attention.

At the consultation, Dean’s brain function was measured (image 1) so that Dr. Keane could see where his brain function might be changed in order to help with his symptoms. Dr Keane explains: “When we look at Dean’s brain function, we can see that the parts of the brain responsible for executive functions – paying attention, controlling impulsivity – were not working as well as they might. They show too much slow wave activity, the red activity you see here (image 2). The aim of NFT is reduce this activation so that these areas can work more efficiently and help Dean.” Following on from the consultation, the family arrived for their first session and had all the results explained to them. Dean started his first session, where brain function is changed by rewarding those small moments of more efficient activity. Dean’s brain is rewarded for randomly producing ‘desirable’ activity and this activity, over time, gradually increases and comes under Dean’s control. With this change in brain function comes significant changes in behaviour. “We went for two sessions per week, and we didn’t see anything major for about 6 or 7 sessions. Then we began to see small changes. He was getting out the door easier in the morning, and there were fewer notes home from school. From then on, behaviour began to improve and improve. He has been able to hang on to friends at school, homework is not such an issue, and he even got pupil of the week a few weeks ago! The smile is back on his face again!” Dean’s brain activity changes are measured meticulously by the Actualise staff, and these changes mirror behavioural changes. After 20 sessions, Dean’s brain is now functioning much more efficiently and this has lead to a significant change in behaviour. Dr. Keane shows us the before and after maps and explains: “Before NFT, we can see the issues with Dean’s brain – two much slow wave activity in frontal areas. We have reduced that, and now his brain can use that area to help him with executive functions – planning, reducing impulsivity, paying attention etc, all making his life easier.” (image 3)

www.actualise.ie

Following this measurement, brain function is compared to a healthy normative database to assess areas of ‘deviance’ or areas which are working inefficiently. If deviances are seen in areas which are related to a problem behaviour (e.g. too much slow wave activity in the frontal cortex could be linked to Dean’s problems with attention and behaviour), then this becomes a target area for NFT. Once an individualised NFT protocol has been designed, then training can take place. Areas of deviance are targeted and EEG is measured on a millisecond by millisecond basis. The client is connected to the EEG amplifier, and they sit in front of a screen. Their job is to make the game/movie on the screen play. When brain function randomly gets more efficient, the client is delivered a reward – the game/movie plays. Over time, the brain learns to create more and more of this reward, thereby reducing deviance and improving brain function. Through this process, called operant conditioning, one’s brain can be trained to work in a more efficient way. Once the brain works better, behaviour improves. NFT is growing and growing in popularity. Scientific studies show it is as effective as medication in treating the symptoms of attentional and behavioural disorders in children and adolescents, without any side-effects. The American Academy of Paediatrics list it as ‘Level 1 – Best Evidence’ in their list of Psychosocial Interventions for Attention and Hyperactivity Behaviours in Children and Adolescents. As well as that, peak performance groups like AC Milan, Chelsea FC, the American Olympic Committee and Connacht Rugby (who have worked with Actualise) are all using NFT to improve brain function of their players.

Image 3 - Brain function at the end of NFT. Note the disappearance of the red spots showing a ‘normalisation’ of brain function. With this normalisation of brain function comes a significant improvement in behaviour.

T: +353 (0)1 700 7907 facebook.com/actualiseireland

@actualiseIrl 39

Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) was founded in 1960 by a small group of wheelchair users committed to improving the lives of people with physical disabilities in Ireland. Today, the Association is one of Ireland’s leading social enterprises and representative organisations providing services and support to over 20,000 members nationwide. On an annual basis the Association provides over 2 million hours of service to people with disabilities in their homes and communities throughout Ireland. IWA relies heavily on local volunteers to support the range of services, activities and initiatives delivered on a weekly basis. With a presence in every county, IWA operates from a network of 57 local centres and three holiday centres. These centres support people with disabilities and others with reduced mobility in their day-to-day lives by delivering locallybased recreational, educational and social programmes designed to facilitate personal development and interaction with the local community. A key contributor to the success of the centres is the creation of links and partnerships with other local community groups, sports organisations, businesses and schools. We are delighted to work alongside Transition Year students and teachers to facilitate work experience opportunities and initiatives. If you are interested in volunteering with IWA and would like to support people with disabilities living in your community please visit www.iwa.ie or email volunteering@iwa.ie To support our range of services, IWA organises many fundraising events during the year. Angels is IWA’s largest fundraising campaign and this year the national collection days will take place on Thursday 5th and Friday 6th November. IWA is currently seeking volunteer support for the Angels Campaign 2015, and are appealing to schools, colleges and businesses to assist the local IWA Centre in their area. Hundreds of volunteers are required throughout Ireland to sell Angel pins, children’s fun packs, and other Angel products for just €2 each during the national collection days. IWA are conscious that many of our supporters are not available to volunteer during the national collection days due to other commitments and instead ask them to organise a fundraising event in their school during the month of November such as; a no uniform day, raffle or bake sale which the rest of the school can take part in. The Fundraising Department would be delighted to support with any Angels event by supplying an AngelsFundraising Pack which includes information, balloons and a selection of Angel products to sell at the event. For further information about Irish Wheelchair Association and the Angels Campaign please visit www.iwa.ie or visit us at our Angels Stand at the TY EXPO in Kilkenny.

W: www.iwa.ie E: angels@iwa.ie T: 01 818 6400 Follow IWA Angels on Facebook 40

One Small Step…. A Huge Difference

Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA)

Help raise awareness for mental health and stamp out the stigma

Sign your school up today! Host a 'funky shoe' day and help us to raise funds to provide mental health support, information and services for your community

To sign up or find out more go to www.walkinmyshoes.ie

@walkinmyshoes.ie

Share our free downloadable packs for teens and teachers

Are you a teacher, guidance counsellor or Principal? You can make a real difference. Sign your school up to take part in ‘Walk in My Shoes’ today and help us highlight the importance of mental health to young people. 1 in 4 people in Ireland are expected to experience a mental health difficulty with 75% of mental health difficulties beginning before the age of 24. Education and early intervention is the key to helping our young people and now is the time to take action. Schools and students throughout Ireland will be hosting ‘Funky Shoe’ days where students and teachers will step out of their comfort zone by wearing shoes they normally wouldn’t to school. We ask that everyone who takes part donates just €2 each. By taking one small step, you could make a huge difference.

Students and teachers together will learn that recognising the warning signs and seeking help early is crucial. Free mental health information packs are available on www.walkinmyshoes.ie Schools have organised sponsored walks in their community to further raise awareness, a supermarket bucket collection (we of course will provide the buckets), teachers have taken part in high heel races/wellington races…anything goes! We’re all about promoting mental health positively. It’s easy to get involved! Just email info@walkinmyshoes.ie or call 01 249 3632 Funds raised will be allocated to continue to promote mental health in communities throughout Ireland. And the best news is; funds raised in your community will stay in your community.

Welcome to PALS Programme Positive Assertive Life Skills

BellTIME

Bee Flanagan is a Life and Business Coach, Youth Coach and qualified trainer. Bee established her coaching business in 2010, working with clients on a one to one basis and also in groups delivering workshops and seminars in several areas of personal development and positivity. While doing this work Bee saw a niche in the area of positive personal development and life skills for teenagers and young adults. This resulted in the development of the PALS Programme.

Bee has almost 25 years experience in management: leading, motivating and encouraging individuals, teams and groups. Recently appointed as the Educational Champion for Mindset and Attitude with the IIC&M ( International Institute of Coaching and Mentoring) Bee also held the role of Deputy Head of Ireland with the IIC&M.

PALS Programme Our Mission Statement is

“To deliver our PALS Programme in a positive, fun and assertive environment. Our aim is to encourage our students through positive and assertive life skills to help them to achieve their greatest potential in all areas of their lives whether school, work or at home. It is not what happens that matters but how we react to what happens which brings about the result”

The original concept behind the PALS Programme was to deliver a short term life skills programme to Transition Year Students in areas of personal development, self-belief and empowerment. However two years on and PALS has expanded into several areas including one off workshops for First Year Students, Exam Year Students and Workshops supporting Mentors and Leaders, within all levels of educational establishments including primary, secondary and third level education. We now deliver PALS to both students and teachers in some schools.

PALS One to One Coaching

We are delighted with the expansion of the PALS Programme into the One to One coaching area with teenagers and young adults, which also includes Career coaching.

We are so happy to see the awareness and understanding of our PALS One to One programme growing with parents and guardians. HQ is receiving several calls a week from parents enquiring about how PALS may help their teenagers or young adults.PALS Programme has been designed to focus on many areas where challenges are faced. The programme is adaptable to individuals and groups and will focus on bringing about positive changes in many areas. Sometimes a challenge which seems small and insignificant to an adult can actually be very overwhelming to a 14 or 15 year teenager. Often the process of taking time out to look at positive experiences, strengths and attributes, can often help a teenager focus on all their good skills and in doing so they feel confident to grow and progress in other areas which they find more challenging.

Often the very act of taking time out to review our progress and development can be just the very activity which is needed to bring about positive changes in our lives. This one small change can have a very positive knock on effect and bring about big changes in several areas including school, social skills and general mental health and well being. We have seen huge positive results almost immediately with our one to one clients. The sessions are tailored to the client and therefore can focus on the core areas of concern.

BellTIME

Many students feel such a positive impact on their day to day lives that they want to continue maintaining this well into the future.

Sessions are delivered over 3, 6 or 9 sessions depending on the needs of the teenager or young adult. The process of the weekly or fortnightly sessions allows time for the student to introduce new habits and complete the weekly action plan. All in all the overall result is very very positive! Big congrats to all our one to one clients who have embraced the PALS Programme both positively and proactively.

PALS for preteens, teens and young adults

The aim of this programme is to introduce young people to a more assertive and positive way of managing day to day challenges faced by them in the world we live today. This programme opens them up to a new way of thinking, giving them insight into the life skills required to cope with personal challenges both in school and at home. We feel mental health and well-being is an essential part of their education.

Mentors Workshop

> Positive Mindset – The PALS Pyramid > Gratitude Journal > Positive Communication – Be A Positive Mentor/Leader > Team Building Exercises > Goal Setting > Personal Mission Statement

PALS Programme for TY Students – 4 week programme to commence in September This programme is delivered during two class periods once a week for 4 weeks. Areas covered include: Week One –

PALS Pyramid, Goal Setting, Attitude of Gratitude Week Two – Personal Values, Responsibility and Motiviation Week Three – Lifting Unlimited Beliefs, Work Experience Preparation Week Four – Going Forward, Maintaining A Positive Mindset and Mentoring

PALS Programme for LCA 5th and 6th Year Students – 4 week programme to commence Sept/Oct

This programme is the same as the TY programme and fits in very well with the LCA curriculum over the 4 week programme.

PALS Programme For First Years – A Positve Transition From Primary School To Secondary School

This programme is an introduction to the PALS Programme for First Years and is delivered over a two hour (3 class periods) workshop to each class. The PALS Programme is best delivered in September or early October as it helps with the personal adjustment that First Year students experience in those first vital weeks of secondary school. Areas covered include: > Positive Mindset PALS Pyramid > Locker Management > Time Management / Multiple teachers and subjects > Team Building > Attitude of Gratitude

All students who attend the PALS Programme will receive a Gratitude Journal at the beginning and can use this to record gratitude, notes from class and also weekly action plans where relevant. On completion of all programmes the students are issued with a certificate of attendance and this can become part of their yearend achievements. At the end of each programme students are asked to complete feedback evaluation forms and these are vital to the continued development of PALS. All information is strictly confidential and a summary report is available for the school on request. The main focus of the PALS Programme is to increase positivity in the day to day life of our young people helping to grow and build a culture of positivity and kindness in all aspects of life. Motivating Teenagers with PALS Programme > PMA – Positive Mental Attitude > Self - confidence and Self - Belief > Changing Limited Thoughts into Unlimited Thoughts > The PALS Pyramid– Thoughts / Feelings / Actions > Personal Values > Assertive and Effective Behaviours > Gratitude and Kindness > Team Building > Coping Strategies – Communication Skills > Goal Setting and Time Management

www.palsprogramme.ie

086 8094924

BellTIME

IT’S ALL ABOUT

THE KIDS Make-A-Wish ® Ireland is encouraging Transition Year students to get involved with their ‘Kids for Wish Kids’ Schools Entrepreneurship Awards 2015/2016. Now in its second year, the awards programme was created to help translate the ingenuity, energy and business acumen of young people into magical wishes for brave children who are battling life threating medical conditions. Open to all secondary schools across the country, the competition will run until Monday 15th December, and will be judged by a well-known judging panel of experts; Entrepreneur, Broadcaster and Publisher Norah Casey; Director of Marketing at Peter Mark, Jenny McDermott; Head of Enterprise Development at Bank of Ireland, Gerry Prizeman; and PRO at National Parents Council Post Primary Lynda O’Shea. Last year saw awards given to schools around Ireland for their skills in ‘Creativity and Entrepreneurship’; ‘Marketing and Communications’; ‘Commerciality’; and ‘funds raised’. Students also received a professional reference for their CV from the prestigious judging panel.

Susan O’Dwyer, Chief Executive of Make-A-Wish said, “Schools play a very important part in helping us grant wishes. Children who are living with a life-threatening medical condition spend most of their time in hospitals undergoing painful treatments instead of attending school, having fun with their family and friends, or doing their favorite activities. Young people really identify with what it must be like for another kid to be sick and restricted in what they can do.” Susan went on to say “We wanted to use these awards to acknowledge young people’s amazing fundraising eﬀorts on our behalf and, hopefully open up new opportunities for more young people to help us grant more magical wishes.” For students wishing to take part in this year’s event, they can carry out their project from now until December 14th 2015. Check out www.makeawish.ie for further details or email Make-A-Wish Schools Fundraising Oﬃcer at mary@makeawish.ie

Make-A-Wish Foundation Make-A-Wish® in Ireland has one simple aim - to grant the wishes of children aged between 3 and 17 years who are battling life threatening medical conditions such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy and many others. A wish granted is true magic for the child providing respite from their normal routines of hospitals, doctors and treatment. Since its inception in 1992, Make-A-Wish® in Ireland has granted wishes for over 1,700 children and realised their greatest wish and experienced the hope, strength and joy each wish provides. In all possible cases Make-A-Wish grants the child's first wish ensuring that all immediate family members participate. In doing so it provides long-lasting and happy memories for those relatives, whatever the future may hold.

Wishes are limited only by the child's imagination. As an increasingly well respected and popular children's charity, Make-A-Wish is fully committed to providing the maximum level of care and enjoyment for children and their families. This is achieved through a combination of professionalism, attention to detail and sensitivity; nothing is too much trouble for these children. To continue with its work and succeed in its aims, Make-A-Wish rely overwhelmingly on the kindness of the general public as they receive no government funding. Make-A-Wish confirms that their organisation complies with the Governance Code for the Community, Voluntary and Charitable Sector in Ireland. Charity Registration Number: CHY15267

Inspiring Excellence in STEM Education The SciFest science fairs programme is a national initiative set up to encourage a love of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) through active, collaborative, inquiry-based learning. The programme was launched nationwide in 2008 and participation has increased at an average annual rate in excess of 20% year-on-year. The phenomenal growth in the popularity of SciFest reflects the fact that it is inclusive, accessible and free to enter, recognising diversity and the uniqueness of the individual. SciFest offers an innovative way to expose second-level students to, and enhance their understanding of, STEM subjects. SciFest is characterised by own choice of topic, collaboration, hands-on activities, presentation skills, an emphasis on real-world problems and recognition of work done, making participation attractive to a wide range of students. They grow in confidence, develop their critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills and become aware of the variety of exciting careers associated with a STEM qualification. SciFest science fairs take place locally in schools (SciFest@School), regionally in third-level colleges (SciFest@College) and nationally (SciFest@SFI Discover). Winners from SciFest@SFI Discover compete at an international level in Intel ISEF in America and INESPO in the Netherlands.

Engineers Week is a chance for second-level students and their teachers to be inspired by engineering, find out more about careers in this exciting area, and win prizes. Hundreds of events and activities will take place across the country from 28th February to 5th March 2016, in companies, schools, museums and libraries. Or why not run your own event in the classroom? > > > Check out www.engineersweek.ie for inspiration for your own event or classroom activity, and to keep up to date with event listings over the coming months.

Engineers Week 2016:

Save the

DATE!

Hosted by colleges around the country, the Engineering Your Future programme gives Transition Year students a meaningful, practical insight into engineering at third level and as a career. Attending students gain a week of exposure to the various engineering disciplines â&#x20AC;&#x201C; by taking part in Past students at Engineering Your hands-on workshops, labs and demos; interacting with Future said: lecturers and graduates; and meeting engineers during "The most rewarding aspect was that finally I had a clear industry visits. understanding of engineering. I had all my questions The programme opens for applications each January, and answered." runs in April or May. "Loved every minute of the week. The practical > > > Check steps.ie in January for details of challenges provided me with a fun and unique learning participating colleges and application criteria. experience that I wouldn't have had in school." "A wonderful opportunity to learn about technology, medicine, design and other aspects of engineering. And you get to make new friends and met interesting people."

Find out more about SciFest at www.scifest.ie

BellTIME

The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union Greetings from ISSU – the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union. We are gearing up for a very busy few months here in the student union, most notably with our Regional Councils taking place in mid November across the country. All this sounds well and good you may say, but what exactly is the Irish SecondLevel Students’ Union, and what do we do?

or you would like to get involved, we have a lot of opportunities coming up this year. Our four Regional Councils covering Dublin, Leinster, Munster and Connaught & Ulster will be taking place in mid-November in Dublin, Cork and Sligo. These full day events will include presentations and workshops on youth empowerment, effective and democratic student councils and will end with elections onto our panels. If you are passionate about Welfare & Equality or just Education in general, Well, we are the national we have a panel for both of these representative body for student councils in Ireland and therefore, for all topics. Elections to the National students in the Irish education system. Council of Schools will also take place We work closely with the Department on these days, which will involve working for the next year in ISSU. of Education and other stakeholders and our core objective is to promote student voice and students’ rights in We will also soon be launching our second-level education. campaign to combat the use of homophobic and transphobic All of us working in ISSU are students language in schools. With the passing of the Marriage Equality referendum who are passionate about having a Ireland has turned a new leaf and set a say in school and education matters fantastic example of tolerance and which affect us. Why should we not acceptance on the global stage. We have a say in matters which directly are aiming to build on this and make affect our daily lives? Why should our the students of Ireland more aware of opinions not be taken into account? what they are saying and who it may There are over 300,000 second-level affect. students in Ireland, a majority of whom cannot vote, and we aim to represent these people on an official, Daily ISSU work includes attending structured level. meetings with stakeholders, conferences and representing If any of this sounds interesting to you student voice in the media. We are active members of OBESSU, the representative body for second-level students at European level, and contribute often to their work. We also offer school visits and student council training and we aim to be as non48

www.issu.ie

formal as possible, meaning no boring presentations as you fall asleep in the back row of the classroom! We offer all these services for FREE, so feel free to contact us or tell your student council about what we can offer. ISSU Membership is also FREE and open to all democratically-elected student councils. With ISSU membership, student councils are entitled to attend our events, vote in our elections and get the benefit of networking with other students and sharing ideas about what a student council can really do and achieve. For any individuals interested in running for a position in the organisation, I cannot describe how much satisfaction and experience you get from working in a movement like this. ISSU is for every type of student, as we represent every student. We want to help you and share our resources in whatever way we can. There is so much going on in Irish education at the moment, and NOW is the time to be heard and have our say. Collectively, we can do exactly this, and implement change that will really matter. Rob O’Donnell ISSU President

eir Regional ISSU will hold th llowing dates; Councils on the fo Wednesday 11th Dublin – November ber Friday 13th Novem Leinster – nesday 18th Munster – Wed November 20th November Connaught – Friday & Ulster for more details Check out issu.ie

Cork City Gaol ‘Cork is a city with a very rich historical and archaeological heritage much of it still in evidence today. Part of this heritage , Cork City Gaol is located 2km n/w from Patrick’s Street and while the magnificent castle like building is now a major and unique visitor attraction, this Gaol once housed 19th century prisoners. Visitors get a fascinating insight into day to day prison life at a time when the high walls ensured no escape and denied law abiding citizens the opportunity to see one of the finest examples of Ireland’s architectural heritage.’ Contact Information. Website : www.corkcitygaol.com Email : info@corkcitygaol.com Telephone: 021-4305022

BellTIME

Foróige’s Youth Entrepreneurship Programme Foroige is Ireland’s leading youth organisation and is working with schools more than ever, offering an array of programmes relating to anything from healthy minds and relationships to leadership. One of Foróige’s most popular programmes for schools is the Youth Entrepreneurship programme, NFTE, with over 1,200 participants setting up over 600 business nationwide! Participants learn every aspect of starting a business from product development to sales and marketing. Last year participants collectively made a turnover of €250,000! Teachers attend ‘NFTE University’, which equips them with the necessary skills and resources to successfully deliver the programme directly to young people aged 12-18. Research collated by Harvard University from 2001 - 2003 which co-ordinated research on the impact the NFTE programme has had on participants, concluded that:

1. Career aspirations increased 44% 2. Interest in attending college increased 32% 3. Students’ business knowledge increased by 20 times vs. control group 4. Leadership behaviour increased 13.2% 5. Belief that attaining one’s goals is within one’s control significantly increased

If you are interested in running a NFTE Course or any of the other Foróige programmes, have a look at Foróige’s village below. To find out more please email info@foroige.ie or phone 01 630 1560.

Donegal who won the Carrick Comprehensive, Co. Transition Year students from nd in Europe this year. award and will represent Irela

2015 NFTE

BellTIME

Rise to the Gaisce challenge and make this year one to remember Why should I do Gaisce? Gaisce is a great way of making new friends, growing your conﬁdence and developing new skills and hobbies. Gaisce can also help when it comes to looking for a job – it is nationally and internationally recognised as a sign of motivation and hard work. Gaisce shows employers and others that you have the ability to set your own goals and can work consistently to achieve those aims. Above all else, Gaisce is fun! We think if you give it a try, you won’t regret it. Check out what some of our Gaisce Awardees had to say about their experience:

“I gained so much more from it than I put in, and would recommend the award to anyone” –Tommy Monahan, 2015 Awardee Interested in trying something new? Something rewarding? Something that challenges you and takes you out of your comfort zone? Maybe even an experience that you will remember for a lifetime?

“The trip taught me to be more open and it reminded me that time is an important resource that everyone may share with others if they wish” – Julie Patterson, 2015 Awardee

If you ﬁnd yourself saying ‘yes!’ to any of these questions, then why not dream big and take part in Gaisce - The President’s Award?

What is Gaisce - The President’s Award?

“Gaisce has been crucial in pushing me towards the areas that I plan on focusing my career in the future” – Avril Buttle, 2015 Awardee

Gaisce is a direct challenge from the President of Ireland to young people aged 15-25 to dream big and realise their potential. By taking part in Gaisce, you will take on exciting personal, physical and community challenges and develop new skills and new friendships. Last year alone more than 20,000 people accepted President Higgins’ challenge to take part in Gaisce and realise their potential.

What next? Take the ﬁrst step on your Gaisce journey, visit www.gaisce.ie to ﬁnd out more about the Award, check out inspiring examples of activities and challenges that may interest you and see how you can get involved. Connect with us and share your Gaisce experience! f: facebook.com/GaisceAward t: @GaisceAward e: mail@gaisce.ie instagram: @GaisceAward

What is involved? There are three levels of Gaisce – Bronze, Silver and Gold. The more time and energy you give, the greater the reward! You can rise to the Gaisce challenge by taking part in our challenge areas: > Community Involvement - volunteer to help out a charity or community group. > Personal Skill - develop a skill you have or try something new! > Physical Recreation - become more active with a sport or exercise. > Adventure Journey - discover the great outdoors on a team outdoor journey. At Gold Level there is an additional challenge – a ﬁve night residential project to broaden your horizons and challenge your outlook. You choose the activities for each challenge area and you set your own goals, with support from your President’s Award Leader (PAL). It’s not a competition, just an opportunity to push yourself to achieve your goals. 52

BellTIME

Health and Safety Authority launches national farm safety multimedia competition for post-primary students Deaths on farms continue to dominate workplace fatality figures year on year, with an average of one third of all fatalities due to accidents on the farm. Awareness-raising and changing behaviour amongst those currently farming, as well as the next generation of farmers is essential, according to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). To this end, the HSA has launched a farm safety multimedia competition, aimed at post-primary students, that encourages young people to get involved in the on-going campaign to communicate the farm safety message to their families, and wider community. Post primary students (teams or individuals) are invited to design a multimedia entry, such as: a video, app., social media campaign, website, animation, video or interactive game on farm safety and submit it for judging via the Authority’s competition website www.choosefarmsafety.ie. The HSA wrote to all schools inviting their participation.

Entry forms and full details can be downloaded from www.choosefarmsafety.ie and the deadline for entries is 11th December. Short-listed entrants will be invited to participate in a Youth Task Force event on farm safety, which will inform the Authority’s on-going national farm safety campaign. Short-listed entrants will also exhibit their entries at a national competition showcase and awards ceremony in Dublin Castle on 27th April 2016. Prizes include professional Go-Pro camera for the winners and other multi-media devices for finalists as well as trophies for winners in each category. Martin O’Halloran, Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Authority, said:

“The aim of this project is to raise awareness among post-primary students of farm safety and to give them a voice in providing solutions to effect change in safety behaviour among farming families and the wider farming community. We are strongly encouraging schools to get behind this competition.” 54

Prizes of professional

Go-Pro cameras for the winners Joanne Harmon, Education Manager with the HSA said:

“Young people have a role to play in raising their own and others’ awareness around farm safety and many use multimedia in their daily lives, whether it’s gaming, social media or app’s on mobile devices. This is an opportunity to use their knowledge and skills to become part of the national campaign to change safety behaviour on farms.” Paul Fields, Director of Kilkenny Education Centre said: “We are delighted to promote a competition in schools like this which recognises the civic role and influence young people have in safe-guarding themselves, their families and in many cases, their future. Schools can run this competition with students across a number of curriculum areas such as SPHE, Design and Communications, CSPE and IT.” This project is supported by the network of full-time Education Centres and Kids Own Publishing Partnership.

For further information and entry forms, check out

www.choosefarmsafety.ie or email info@choosefarmsafety.ie

Aaron Hefferenan Awards Host

Youth for Decent Work Film Competition 2016 Youth Connect, now in its fifth year, educates school leavers about the issues they will have to deal with in their working lives, no matter what career they choose. It explores topics such as employment rights, trade unionism, corporate social responsibility and globalisation. The workshops are facilitated by 'regional championsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; who are all teachers. Lessons typically last 80 minutes, and are designed for students in Transition Year and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, as both require students to complete a work experience placement. YouthConnect workshops touch on some of the areas covered in Junior Cert Civic, Social and Political Education (CSPE), such as rights and responsibilities, law and democracy. The globalisation module promotes the engagement of students in solidarity actions such as the Clean Clothes Campaign, the Fair Trade movement, eradication of child labour and more ethical trading, particularly in the production of clothes and technology. Youth Connect also customises its material to provide workshops for fifth and sixth year classes and Leaving Cert Applied students, as well as post-Leaving Cert courses. In 2014-15, YouthConnect delivered workshops to 24,374 students across 325 schools - almost half of all second-level schools, making it one of Ireland's largest school outreach programmes. YouthConnect is run by the Irish Congress of Trades 56

Youth for Decent Work' film competition 2016 Now in its third year, the Youth Connect video competition gives a team of students the chance to win a fantastic 5-day trip New York. The theme for this year's contest is 'safe and healthy workplaces'. To enter, students can get together in groups of two to four and create a three-minute video about the topic of health and safety in the context of decent work. The deadline for online registration for the competition is November 19th 2015. All video entries must be submitted by January 28th 2016. http://www.youth-connect.ie/ Last year's winning entry was screened in an OscarStyle Ceremony in the Savoy Cinema, Dublin to an audience of almost 700 people.

Unions and the content was developed in close collaboration with the three teaching unions (ASTI, TUI and INTO) and the Irish Second-level Students' Union. "We started the programme because we felt that young people don't really have a clue about work and what they do when they go into the workplace," says programme manager Fiona Dunne. "The idea was to get them work-ready in a gentle way by talking to them about the world of work, their rights, some of the issues that might come up and how to deal with them." The South West Region Champion, Mr Lynch was previously a business and accounting teacher, and he visits schools in Limerick, Cork, Kerry, Waterford and Tipperary. His lessons combine an introduction to workers' rights with group exercises focused on workplace situations. He says: "It's about teaching students how to protect themselves with the knowledge we give them in the classroom. "We're making them aware of what they should be doing, when they should be taking breaks, how much they should be getting paid, and how many hours they should be working." To find out more information or to book a lesson at your school please visit the Youth Connect website (www.youth-connect.ie) or contact us by email info@youth-connect.ie. You can also keep up to date with us on Facebook and Twitter https://www.facebook.com/youthconnectire https://twitter.com/YouthConnectIre

BellTIME

Helping Teachers Create an Enterprising Classroom

BellTIME Pádraig Mc Manus, Coláiste Éanna, Dublin

Student Enterprise Awards Programme – FREE resources for Secondary Schools in Ireland

The Student Enterprise Awards (SEAs) is the biggest enterprise programme in the country, involving 17,000 secondary school students from 370 schools every year. The programme is open to students from 1st year right up to 6th year across junior, intermediate and senior categories. All 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) co-ordinate the programme locally, which runs throughout the academic year. By taking part in the Student Enterprise Awards, secondary school students get the opportunity and the supports to research, set-up and run their own businesses. All the resources and materials are provided, free of charge, by the Local Enterprise Offices to hundreds of teachers nationwide.

“The Student Enterprise Awards programme has been running at our school for many years and is an integral part of our Transition Year business programme. Most of our students who get involved are TYs but we also have some junior cycle business students who choose to enter the competition in their own time. We have seen huge benefits for the school, the teachers and the students.

“For the teachers, it really is an ideal programme to undertake with your Transition Years as it meets most of the objectives of the TY programme and gives students real life business experience that can never be learnt from a textbook.”

There’s also a competition element involved in the programme, through regional and national finals, with a big prize-fund on offer to winning schools and students. As the new academic year gets under way and the 2015/16 Student Enterprise Awards launch, we hear from three teachers from different parts of the country on their experience of taking part in the Programme.

“I am currently teaching in Colaiste Iascaigh in County Sligo. I have been teaching mini-company in the school for the past six years.

“I have been running the Student Enterprise Awards (SEAs) programme with Transition Year students at my school - Bishopstown Community School in Cork City - for the past five years.

“I would strongly encourage other teachers to get involved in the programme. It is something that all incoming TY students at our school look forward to being a part of.”

The school has also benefitted from the media coverage of our student projects which the local LEO has organised and this has really helped raise the profile of the school in our community. As a teacher I have learned a lot myself from taking part in the SEAs and it has really allowed me to develop an innovative enterprise module at my school. Pupils benefit greatly from the programme also. They get the opportunity to develop an idea into a tangible business and learn about everything that is involved in this process. The programme brings the curriculum alive for the students and shows them that they really can create their own successful business.

One of the major ways I see the SEAs programme benefitting our students is that it challenges them very differently than how they are challenged in junior cert. TY students coming from an environment where the emphasis was on exam question preparation are offered the opportunity to be more creative through the SEAs programme – to come up with their own creative ideas, work as part of a team, make a profit and learn about how to interact with customers”.

Dana Byrne, Coláiste Iascaigh, County Sligo

Alan Whyte, Bishopstown Community School, Cork City

The programme provides great practical support for teachers, in particular, the expert guidance from the Local Co-ordinator during the year and the extra activities they provide such as organising speakers and mentors to come to our school to work with the students to motivate them and help them develop their projects.

I can also see that the programme offered by the SEAs will form part of new junior certificate syllabus going forward.

“You will be surprised by some of your students; you may find that the students who do well are not the students you would have picked at the start or the ones who are always academically at the top of the class.”

I find that by taking part in the SEAs I get a better insight into my students’ ability and the way they think and see things. As a teacher it gives me a chance to build a relationship with my students and they really see this as a fun task. At Coláiste Iascaigh, we have reaped many benefits over the past six years from taking part in the SEAs programme. As teachers, we really find that it raises our students’ awareness about business and enterprise and instils in them a real confidence that they really can be entrepreneurs! It helps them put some of the theory that they learn in Junior Cert and Leaving Cert business into practice in real life situations so they can see their knowledge implemented in the real world.

I have also seen my students’ confidence rise as a direct result of taking part in the SEAs as they get great experience in public speaking, making decisions and dealing with customers. I would encourage any teacher to take part in the SEAs, and not just business teachers either. It is a great learning experience to see young minds come up with innovative ideas and how they turn them into businesses. For more information see www.studententerprise.ie The new Student Enterprise Awards Programme for 2015/2016 is now getting underway with free video resources and school materials available through www.studententerprise.ie. Teachers are being encouraged to contact their Local Enterprise Offices, to register for the 2015/2016 programme, through www.localenterprise.ie

Why a poster? Taking part in this poster competition encourages students to: John Hooper Medal for Statistics • work as a team 2016 Poster Competition • investigate real questions using data http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/newse • use their calculation and graphical skills vents/documents/JHooperflyer2016.pdf • interpret statistical results • develop skills in written communication interpretation and communication of statistics or statistical information.

The Central Statistics Office collects, analyses and publishes official statistics for Ireland. It produces statistics on the economic and social conditions in the state. Its main role is to provide statistics for the Government to help it to make informed policy decisions for the benefit of citizens. The CSO is also responsible for making sure that official statistics produced by other bodies such as government departments and the central bank meet the national and international standards applied to official statistics. The CSO has a responsibility to publicise and promote the use of official statistics. All releases are published to www.cso.ie at 11.00am as well as being tweeted from @csoireland which has almost 12,000 followers. As part of its role in promoting awareness and use of official statistics, the CSO is partners in a number of activities and initiatives for students such as Census at School, the John Hooper poster competition and APPS4Gaps which is an app developing and building competition. We also use Events like World Statistics Day which this year is on the 20th of October are also used to promote official statistics and their broader use. The winners of the 2015 John Hooper senior competition recently won an international prize with their entry. At the 60th International Statistics Institute World Statistics Congress 2015, Rachael Ni Dhonnachadha and Shannon Ni Dhonnachadha two Irish maths students were judged the

Rachel and Shannon 1st Prize 2015

National competition Registration by teacher by January 29th, 2016 to johnhooper2016@cso.ie. Posters to be submitted by 12 noon 18th March, 2016 to johnhooper2016@cso.ie. Posters will be judged by the national organising committee. The winning national posters will be announced on 6th May 2016. Winners (1st place) of the national competition will be awarded the CSO John Hooper medal for statistical analysis. In addition the following prize money will be awarded: • 1st Place - €1,600 (of which €1,000 is awarded to the school and €600 is awarded to the student team) • 2nd Place - €1,000 (of which €650 is awarded to the school and €350 is awarded to the student team) • 3rd Place - €600 (of which €400 is awarded to the school and €200 is awarded to the student team) best in the world in a poster competition run by the International Association of Statistical Education (IASE) in collaboration with the International Statistical Literacy Project (ISLP). The poster competition attracted over 8,145 entries from across six continents, with strong competition coming from countries including Japan, Russia, Korea, Mexico, Australia, Kenya, India, many other EU member states and South Africa. Rachael Ni Dhonnachadha and Shannon Ni Dhonnachadha, from St. Vincent’s Secondary School, Dundalk, were placed first in the world, in the senior category, with their poster “Road to Rio - Protecting Our Olympic Boxing Future”. The junior John Hooper competition winners, Aoife Conroy, Jessica Barbulescu and Lauren Murphy, from Loreto Secondary School in Balbriggan did Ireland proud coming third place in the world, in the junior category, of the same competition, with their poster “The effects of meditation and positivity training on school community members”

Details of the competitions and intitatives are below. Participation in the John Hooper and Apps4gaps can count towards the ‘personal skill’ challenge area of Gaisce – providing that the participant meets the minimum time requirements for their Award level. http://gaisce.ie/personal-skill/

CensusAtSchool Project The Royal Statistical Society Centre for Statistical Education (RSSCSE) started the CensusAtSchool project in 2000 in conjunction with the National Statistics Office in the UK. The project, originally a one-off, was linked to the UK population census of 2001. It has now developed into a dynamic, ongoing and exciting initiative running in a number of countries. It aims to: • Involve students in collecting data about themselves and improve understanding of a data gathering process, its purpose and benefits to society; • Foster a positive attitude to statistics through using real data that is of interest to students; • Enhance the process of statistical enquiry across the curriculum; • Encourage effective Information and Communication Technology (ICT) teaching and learning, including the use of the Internet; • Provide access to large and meaningful data sets; • Make comparisons between the student responses in different countries. Since 2000 several other countries have embraced the project with necessary adjustments to reflect local culture and traditions. These countries include; Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada and now, in 2009, Ireland. The worldwide database, which contains well over a million responses, can be sampled over the Internet for use in creating teaching and learning materials. It enables teachers and pupils across the world to enhance their data handling skills leading to improved statistical literacy and

Apps4Gaps is an international competition aimed at encouraging young people to provide concepts and create applications using freely available Open Data. Here are some suggestions for open data sources: National Open Data Portal http://data.gov.ie/ Central Statistics Office’s Application Programming Interface (API): http://www.cso.ie/webserviceclient/ These apps can benefit society in areas such as transport, housing, planning, education, communications and health. The competition process will encourage participants to: • work as a team • learn or increase their skills in computer science • utilise the opportunities presented by Open Data • be challenged in creating technologies such as mobile apps Definition of an App An app is defined as any piece of software that can be run on a mobile device (mobile app), within a social platform (social app) or in a web browser (web app). Entry categories This international competition is open to teams of two or three participants. Teachers/lecturers must register student teams otherwise the assigned team leader registers the team. There are two types of entries. Teams may enter either a working app or a concept entry: The results of last year’s competition can be viewed here: www.cso.ie/en/newsandevents/apps4gaps2015co mpetitionresults/ Datasets Entrants must use at least one of the required Open Datasets from http://data.gov.ie/ thinking. The involvement of different countries vastly increases the potential for exchange of information between school-aged children and is a unique way to assess global, social and other changes. It has the added bonus of providing ICT opportunities, and is motivational for both teachers and children alike. The website at www.censusatschool.com provides access to all resources and each country’s own CensusAtSchool website. Do take a look and get involved. The project is totally free to all Irish Schools and offers a unique and different experience for your pupils. Ireland became involved in CensusAtSchool in 2009 when the NCCA, the CSO and the NCTE collaborated to set-up the Irish website, www.censusatschool.ie. 61

BellTIME

BellTIME Students from Ballybay Community School with artwork done for the launch of Irish Independent supplement series.

2016

Artwork done by students from Ballbay Community School for launch of Irish independent supplement series.

is a very important year in Irish history and plans are well underway to mark this significant moment through a year-long initiative called the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. Ireland 2016 is a once in a lifetime opportunity to remember the events of 1916, to reflect on our achievements over the last 100 years and to reimagine Ireland for future generations. The programme, which is divided into seven programme strands, involves a diverse range of historical, cultural and artistic activities designed to facilitate commemoration, celebration and discussion. Children and young people are at the heart of Ireland 2016 and the Department of Education and Skills has developed a fantastic programme of participation-led activities and projects to engage students and teachers, across all aspects of the curriculum, in 2015/2016. Whether your passion is History, Irish, Art or English, or you are working with this year’s Transition Year students, there is a wealth of resource material,

James Hughes from Ballybay Community School playing at the launch of the Irish Independent supplement series.

lesson plans and class ideas in the Ireland 2016 Youth and Imagination strand. Whether it’s inspiring your students to create a brilliant art piece, or challenging them to write their own ‘Proclamation for a New Generation’, or helping them to discover their family’s hidden histories, there is something for every interest in this specially curated education programme. The events of 1916 were a seminal moment in Ireland’s history. The annual all-island schools’ history competition has a special focus on these events for the centenary year. Local education centres will also run a range of history competitions for all ages, full details available at www.ateci.ie or at your local centre. The Department of Education and Skills in partnership with the Royal Irish Academy has developed a special

series of post-primary history lesson plans focusing on a selection of special 1916 objects from the ‘Ireland in 100 objects’ series. These will be available at http://www.100objects.ie/portfolioitems/post-primary-lesson-plans. Ireland 2016 is encouraging everyone to become a detective for a year and trace their family’s history in 1916! Help your students to discover the secret stories of their family, their community or their local area and embark upon a trail of discovery using the resources of our national cultural institutions. The Military Archives has come together with NUI Maynooth to develop a major Transition Year Unit and resource for schools, based on primary source material held in the Military Archives and in the Letters of 1916 project. Check out http://dh.tcd.ie/letters1916 and http://www.militaryarchives.ie. As part of the 1916 ancestry project the National Archives has developed a special resource to show teachers and students how to engage in ancestral research. This will be hosted on www.Irishgenealogy.ie and will go live

1916

Artwork done by students from Ballbay Community School for launch of Irish independent supplement series.

later this year. Schools are invited to upload the results of their 1916 ancestry project on www.scoilnet.ie/duchas. At 4 minutes past noon on Easter Monday, April 24th 1916, P.H. Pearse read the Proclamation of the Republic outside the GPO on Dublin’s Sackville Street, now O’Connell Street. The Proclamation remains an important and influential manifesto for a new republic and every school is invited to write a new Proclamation, of up to 600 words, which reflects the values, ideals and hopes of the Generation of 2016. A template will be available to download from www.scoilnet.ie/proclamationtemplate. Share your Proclamation for a New Generation with a global audience by recording a video of your class or school proclamation and showcase it on the dedicated Ireland 2016 You Tube channel. Tuesday 15th March 2016. Save the Date! This is designated Proclamation Day and it is the moment when every school in the country is invited to share the results of its Proclamation for a New Generation and to showcase its creative work, in this unique national celebration.

But Ireland 2016 is not just a history project. It is jam packed with opportunities for teachers and students to showcase creativity and ideas through the arts, using poetry, visual arts, theatre or film. The Ireland 2016 song competition is a partnership between the Department of Education and Skills and the National Concert Hall. Students are invited to write a song celebrating the modern, multi-cultural Ireland of 2016. Full details will be available at the National Concert hall website www.nch.ie/online/education. The Department, Department of Education Northern Ireland, the National Gallery of Ireland and the Education Centre Network are running an all-island schools art competition, ‘Imagining the Ireland of 2116’. Full details will be available via the education centre network, www.ateci.ie and on Scoilnet shortly. The Libraries and PostPrimary Schools 1916 Poetry Competition invites postprimary students to submit a poem on the wide-ranging topic ‘Your Ireland’, full details available at Minister Heather Humphries with Minister Jan O Sullivan with students from CBS Westland Row at launch of Ireland 2016 Education Programme.

www.librariesireland.ie/services-toschools from January 2016. The ‘Poetry Aloud’ all-island poetry speaking competition for post-primary schools organised jointly by the National Library of Ireland and Poetry Ireland will encourage poems on 1916 themes. Further information from www.nli.ie/en/udlist/programme-andevents-education-post-primary. The Ireland 2016 film award is a partnership between the Department and Dún Laoghaire IADT. It will invite primary schools to submit a short film based on any aspect of 1916. Full details will be on www.fisfilmproject.ie. A range of courses and workshops for teachers on 1916 are available through the education centre network at www.ateci.ie. Some of these began in summer 2015 and will continue through 2016. Full details of all of the initiatives above, and more that are likely to come on stream, will be found on www.scoilnet.ie/ireland2016. More events, projects and resources which are relevant to schools will be available at www.ireland.ie.

BellTIME

GOOD NEWS for aspiring young musicians across the country! Music Generation is Ireland’s National Music Education Programme, helping children and young people access high quality music tuition in their local area. Since it was founded in 2010, the programme has achieved unprecedented growth, extraordinary achievement, rapid expansion and phenomenal success. Music Generation has reached over 26,000 children and young people in 12 areas of the country (Carlow, Clare, Cork City, Laois, Louth, Limerick City, Mayo, Sligo, South Dublin, Offaly/Westmeath and Wicklow), in addition to creating some 330 employment opportunities, mainly for musicians to deliver tuition. Further good news for the programme was announced earlier this autumn, when one of the world’s biggest rock bands, U2, gifted €2m to Music Generation, which will be raised from their iNNOCENCE & eXPERIENCE Irish concerts taking place in November this year. This donation will allow Music Generation to develop and extend its work into new areas of the country and reach thousands more young musicians. Welcoming the announcement, Rosaleen Molloy, National Director of Music Generation said, “Music Generation would not exist without U2’s vision. It was the band’s very own personal experience of music education as children and teenagers that has driven their commitment to kick-start this ground breaking project.”

“We are extremely grateful to the band for their continued support of children and young people’s access to music education in Ireland and we welcome this announcement with enthusiasm and excitement. Music Generation is immensely proud to be associated with U2’s iNNOCENCE & eXPERIENCE concerts. U2’s ongoing generosity and support will ensure a brighter musical future for many more of Ireland’s children and young people along with continuing to create employment opportunities for musicians.” “The impact of the original €7m philanthropic donation from U2 and The Ireland Funds has been extraordinary. Every day, the lives of thousands of children and young people are being transformed through access to a variety of music tuition opportunities – everything from songwriting initiatives to brass bands, orchestras, choirs, rock groups, rap projects, grupaí cheoil and composers clubs. The original donation has seed-funded development and generated ongoing sustained 50/50 investment from the Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships”, continued Rosaleen. “U2’s ultimate vision for music education in Ireland is for universal access for every child and young person across the whole country. Music Generation shares in this vision and we look forward to the prospect of the programme expanding from 2016, with thanks to U2’s continued support for music education in Ireland.” “The reason why Music Generation has been such a success story is because of the partnership base that underpins how we work”, said Rosaleen. “U2, The Ireland Funds, with the support of Bank of America, Music Network, the Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships, together with the Arts Council, are our key partners. Without their input and support Music Generation would not have been possible.”

Music Generation: making music education happen Since 2010, Music Generation’s achievements have been exceptional. Key accomplishments include: > Establishment of the programme in 12 areas of the country, 18 months ahead of schedule > Access and participation now reaching some 26,000 children and young people annually who would otherwise not have had the choice of access or the chance to participate > Creation of over 330 employment opportunities (300 musicians; 30 management and administration roles) > Delivery of 80 different programmes in over 360 tuition centres > Accessible tuition offered in over 50 different types of instruments across all genres of music > Establishment of 12 Instrument Banks, 5 Music Libraries, 5 Recording Studios including 1 mobile recording studio and pop up performance Music Bus > Mounting of over 100 public performances annually attended by 30,000 audience members > Producing 10 national seminars and presenting at 4 national and 4 international conferences > Delivery of over 150 professional development courses for musicians > Initiation of Young Ambassadors Performance Programme featuring 200 musicians performing at 25 national and international events > Working with over 55 local and national partners from the education, arts, community, voluntary, public, private and philanthropic sectors > 20 new commissions by professional musicians and composers for pieces specially written for children and young people > Securing of ongoing annual sustainable partnership funding from Government (€2.5m) and local Music Education Partnerships (€2.2m) estimated at €4.7m annually from 2016 onwards > Investment of €450,000 from the Arts Council for a new partnership programme, 2013 – 2015 > Initiation of a National Research Partnership with St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra to inform and influence future national policy > Initiation of International Partnerships including collaboration with the Sage Gateshead UK, CME Institute USA, the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus Europe, Nimbus School of Recording & Media, Vancouver > Awarding of Link Provider Status to Music Generation by DIT Conservatory of Music to deliver University accredited professional development training in music education for professional musicians

Music Generation is Ireland’s National Music Education Programme which transforms the lives of children and young people through access to high quality subsidised performance music education. Established in 2010 by Music Network, Music Generation was made possible by a €7m philanthropic donation - €5m from U2 and €2m from The Ireland Funds - the largest ever philanthropic donation to music education in Ireland in the history of the State. The philanthropic donation was gifted to progress the implementation of Music Network’s Feasibility Study for a National System of Local Music Education Services. Annually the programme now reaches some 26,000 children and young people in 12 areas of the country (Carlow, Clare, Cork City, Laois, Louth, Limerick City, Mayo, Offaly/Westmeath, Sligo, South Dublin and Wicklow), creating over 330 employment opportunities, mainly for musicians. Music Generation works closely with Government through the Department of Education and Skills (DES) and Local Music Education Partnerships (MEPs) in each of the 12 areas. The original €7m donation has seed-funded development in each of these areas. From 2016 these programmes will continue to be sustained through ongoing 50/50 funding from the DES and MEPs, ensuring a long term and lasting outcome from U2 and The Ireland Funds’ philanthropic giving. The €2m donation from U2’s iNNOCENCE & eXPERIENCE concerts will enable expansion of the programme to more areas of the country. Music Generation believes in every child and young person’s musical potential and their innate artistry, that it is every child and young person’s right to have the choice of access and the chance to participate as a musical citizen and that music doesn’t just change lives, it transforms lives. Music Generation focuses on performance music education – that is vocal and instrumental tuition, encompassing all music genres and all types of instruments and vocal styles, delivered by skilled professional musicians interacting in an inspirational way with children and young people. Visit www.musicgeneration.ie for further information

Christopher Saul as King Lear & Philip Judge as Gloucester in King Lear presented by Second Age Theatre Company Photo Tom Lawlor October 2015

www.verdant.ie

Background: Second Age Theatre Company was established in 1989 by Alan Stanford, Ronan Smith, Brian O'Donoghue and Martin Drury as a response to the demand from Second Level schools for a dedicated production company to present curriculum based texts, especially those of Shakespeare. It was felt by the company founders that something more permanent was required that offered a more complete package to the students. Thereafter Second Age presented regular productions of the major texts for study and in a time frame suited to the study programme of the schools. Second Age

focused on producing Shakespeare and contemporary Irish classics for young audiences with particular emphasis on the plays being studied by Second Level Leaving Certificate students. Between 1989 and 2013 well over half a million second level students gained their first experience of serious professional theatre and of Shakespeare at a Second Age production. In addition, the company built a considerable following among theatre audiences for its productions and was a regular feature of the Irish theatre circuit.

The Cast of King Lear presented by Second Age Theatre Company at The Helix October 2015. Photo by Tom Lawlor

BellTIME Donal Shiels and Verdant Productions Donal Shiels has worked in the arts and entertainment industry in Ireland and abroad for more than twenty years as a producer and promoter of theatre, opera, music and dance. In 2011 Donal founded Verdant Productions which has most recently produced Handel’s Agrippina for Irish Youth Opera along with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and Northern Ireland Opera which took the award for Best Production at the Tiger Fringe Festival 2015 in September Donal also recently produced The Field and Moll by JB Keane, Borstal Boy by Brendan Behan ( The Gaiety Theatre), the world premiere of The Unlucky Cabin Boy by Mike Finn (Lime Tree Theatre Limerick), The Night Joe Dolan’s Car Broke Down by Padraic McIntyre ( Olympia Theatre), the world premiere of Anglo The Musical by Paul Howard (Bord Gáis Energy Theatre), Alone It Stands (Irish & UK tour), Guerilla Days in Ireland by Neil Pearson (Olympia Theatre), Rebecca Storm Live (Bord Gáis Energy Theatre), Dreamland by Jim Nolan (Garter Lane, Waterford and Irish tour), My Brilliant Divorce by Geraldine Aron (Irish Tour), 47 Roses and Break A Leg by Peter Sheridan and David McSavage Live ( Olympia Theatre). Previously Donal managed the China / Ireland Cultural Exchange on behalf of the Department of Arts, Sport & Tourism. This was the largest ever cultural exchange between Ireland and any other country and included all art forms. Donal also spent five years as Chief Executive of St Patrick’s Festival, introducing a range of new arts and cultural events during that period. Since 2013 Second Age has been dormant until the reins were taken up this year by Donal Shiels and his company, Verdant Productions. The first Second Age production in two years kicked off when King Lear opened at The Helix on October 6th and played to packed houses of Leaving Certificate students from all over the country. The response has been amazing from pupils and teachers alike. This impressive production featured Royal Shakespeare Company actor Christopher Saul in the title role, ably supported by a terrific Irish cast of both newcomers to Second Age and seasoned veterans. Some of the actors returning to Second Age include Irish Times Theatre Award winner for Best Supporting Actor

(Sive at The Abbey) Simon O’Gorman, who appeared in many Second Age productions including playing the title role in Macbeth, Enda Kilroy, Susannah de Wrixon and Jennifer O’Dea. Second Age was also delighted to welcome for their debuts with the company, Elliot Moriarty, Alan Mahon and Liam Heslin along with Sarah Morris who gave audiences not just one great performance but two as she portrayed Lear’s favoured daughter Cordelia as well as appearing as The Fool. Philip Judge, Colm O’Brien, Brendan Hickey and Damien Devaney completed the cast and they along with a very talented design team and a hardworking backstage crew made King Lear and Second Age’s return to The Helix a great experience for all. The feedback from teachers in particular was so positive with inquires coming already about prospective productions. Already Second Age is looking to the future and we are delighted to announce that Hamlet will be presented at The Helix, running from 3-12 February 2016 at The Helix DCU, Glasnevin.

Paul Meade - Director We are delighted that the director of King Lear, Paul Meade, will direct Hamlet next year. Paul is a very successful director with Gúna Nua Theatre. Having directed the award winning Little Gem by Elaine Murphy & the World premiere of the musical The Unlucky Cabin Boy by Mike Finn. Verdant Productions is delighted to be resuming the established relationship between Second Age and secondary schools nationwide and continuing it’s belief in providing theatre productions of the highest quality for schools that aim to engage, educate and entertain.

Liam Heslin as Edmond & Alan Mahon as Edgar in King Lear by William Shakespeare presented by Second Age Theatre Company at The Helix 67 October 2015. Photo by Tom Lawlor

Sárscoil Fíbín is an intensive 2 week drama course for teenagers with a keen interest in acting and drama. The uniqueness of this course is that its run through Irish and all the mentors have extensive experience in drama and TV. The first of these courses were run in July 2011 and has been running continuously since. Sárscoil Fíbín runs for 2 weeks at the end of June/start of July every year and candidates aged between 15 17 years old are chosen by an audition process. The course is open to schools within the Gaeltacht and outside but the only requirement for students is a reasonable level of Irish. This projectly is kindly supported by Foras na Gaeilge and An Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta & Gaeltachta!

Is dianchúrsa aisteoireachta coicíse é Sárscoil Fíbín do dhaoine óga. Cuireadh tús leis an Sárscoil i mí Iúil 2011 agus d’éirigh linn é a chur ar bun gach bliain ó shin i leith. Reáchtáiltear Sárscoil Fíbín gach samhradh ar feadh coicíse i dtreo dheireadh mhí Meithimh/tús mhí Iúil le rannpháirtithe idir 15-17 bliain d'aois a roghnaítear trí phróiseas éisteachtaí. Tá an cúrsa oscailte do scoileanna sa Ghaeltacht agus lasmuigh de, ach amháin go gcaithfidh leibhéal réasúnta Gaeilge a bheith ag na rannpháirtithe. Faigheann an cúrsa tacaíocht ó Fhoras na Gaeilge agus An Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta & Gaeltachta!

Sárscoil Fíbín for Transition Year students is a pilot scheme where we are looking for 10 schools from across the country to participate on this 2-3 day drama/acting/communication skills residential course in Connemara. Students will have the opportunity to work together as a team through Irish to develop their acting/drama and scriptwriting skills.

Scéim píolótach é Sárscoil Fíbín don Idirbhliain a bhfuil muid sa tóir ar 10 scoil mórthimpeall na tíre chun tabhairt faoi. Is cúrsa cónaítheach 2-3 lá i nGaeltacht Chonamara é a thugann deis iontach do scoláirí Idirbhliana obair mar chuid d’fhoireann trí mheán na Gaeilge chun scileanna teilifíse/drámaíochta agus scríbhneoireacht scripte a fhoghlaim.

BellTIME

Federation

of Irish

Sport Sport is hugely important to Irish people whether it be supporting our local GAA club in the county championship, roaring on our national soccer, cricket or rugby teams, or admiring the global feats of our boxers or golfers on the world stage. When it comes to sport we are passionate and invariably we have ‘punched above our weight.’ The sheer scale and variety of sports has spawned a huge industry and many of the National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Sports Partnerships require a cohesive voice when advocating on their behalf with government agencies. To that end, the Federation of Irish Sport (the “Federation”) was established in 2002 by the National Governing Bodies of Sport (“NGBs”). The Federation provides an articulate and professional “voice for Irish Sport” and is a “go to” organisation for a host of sporting bodies seeking authoritative advice or advocacy.

To get a flavour of the importance of sport in the lives of Irish people consider some of the following • • • • • • •

We have 2.5 million participants in sport made up of 1.7 million adults & 800,000 children 16 & under 70 plus different National Sports Organisations/Governing Bodies (“NGBs”) and 30 Local Sports Partnerships Sport is the largest single source of volunteering in Ireland with over 500,000 people volunteering in sport each week 38% of Irish adults are members of a sports club 70% of sports participants say meeting people is a reason for playing Physical inactivity is responsible for 6% of deaths globally €1.6 billion is the estimated cost of physical inactivity in Ireland.

Sport does not just bring enjoyment and personal health benefits but it has huge material and economic benefits for the country. • Sport is regarded as one of the fastest growing niches of the $4.5 trillion global tourism industry • Golf brought in 163,000 visitors to Ireland in 2012 generating an income of €202 million • A single golf tourist is worth €1,200 • Government gets a return of €149 for every €100 invested in sport • Sport sector supports 40,000 jobs • Sport contributes 1.4% of GDP • Sport generates €2.4 billion of household spending. Sport is wonderful not just for the joy it brings to the participant or spectator but it produces a host of other communal and economic benefits that enrich the fabric of our society, locally, nationally, and globally.

To learn more go to Federation of Irish Sport at 70

http://www.irishsport.ie/

BellTIME

WHY ARE SCHOOLS MOVING TO Organising school activities can be a nightmare, especially with all the administrative work involved: keeping track of who is coming along and who has paid, not to mention storing large amounts of money in your desk.

the best option and 56 percent of all parents would make online payments if that was a possibility.

The main reason schools collect payments are > School Trips > School Concerts > Fundraising > School books Most payments are in cash, even though both parents and teachers do not consider this a very secure method.

Of all schools, 80 percent felt cash payments are unsafe. In the report one principle said that “the stress of being responsible for cash and ensuring that it does not go missing and is properly accounted for” is greater than the stress of preparing the curriculum. Another difficulty is the administrative work, which is a heavy burden on the staff, with some schools having to take on extra help during August and September.

According to a report by the Department of Education and Skills,, cash payment is the most popular way in which parents pay schools. Three out of five parents with children in secondary school use cash as their primary payment method. In primary school context, this amounts to four out of five parents. After cash, cheques are the most used payment method. It is interesting to note that cheques are gone from 2016.

“80 percent felt cash payments are unsafe”

“administrative work, which is a heavy burden on the staff”

Various online platforms can provide both schools and parents with an easier and more reliable way of paying for school trips. The challenge is to find an online system that is flexible and allows teachers to record cash payments and online payments on the same system. One such platform is “cheques are gone from 2016” GroupVite, a website that provides a URL link to a payments page that can However, both parents and schools be shared with parents by text, email would prefer a different method. Only 13 percent of schools considered cash or on the schools website.

ONLINE PAYMENT SYSTEMS?

This Irish start-up takes the strain out of organising trips and events, by offering a range of handy services.

Firstly, GroupVite makes administrative work much easier. It will keep track of who is coming, who paid and how much you have collected so far. If someone does pays in cash, it can be recorded on the same system as the online payments. Secondly, GroupVite uses Stripe as its payment service provider, which lodges payments into the Schools

bank account once a week. Stripe was founded by the Collison brothers from Limerick and is recognised globally as the premier payments service provider. This online payment system removes the risk of storing cash in the school. Thirdly, GroupVite makes it easier for parents to pay for activities. Money sent in with students can get lost. The GroupVite is sent to the parents

directly, all the parents have to do is click and pay. GroupVite solves some of the issues surrounding the current method of paying for school trips and gives you space to focus on what is really important: the activity itself. For more information about GroupVite check out

www.groupvite.io

BellTIME

BellTIME Walking the Camino de Santiago or Way of St James is a unique experience and a must see. The pilgrimage route stretches from Saint Jean Pied de Port in France to the UNESCO heritage city of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. This is where the tomb of St James is located in the Santiago Cathedral. We arrange school trips for ages 15 and up where we will put together an itinerary which goes from town to town until your arrival in Santiago.

TY Camino Travel Report

So what is it all about? While the religious origins of this ancient pilgrimage are obvious, we have to take a step back from it to truly appreciate the values of it. You will walk between 20km and 27km every day which can take between 4 ½ and 7 hours to complete a day’s walk. On top of this you will need to add in breaks, breakfast, lunch and dinners and the odd game of football for those who aren’t done after a good day of walking. Your time spent in the hostels will create a sense of camaraderie amongst your students as they demonstrate their self control with the daily tasks required for a successful day such as making the beds, tidying before leaving in the morning, arriving at the meeting points on time or even just packing and unpacking their bags each day. The Camino navigates through lovely Spanish countryside with numerous signs showing you the way as well as regular opportunities to break for food and refreshments. Walking is the perfect opportunity to clear your head as well as being able to have longer in depth conversations with your friends which you may not have had the time to do back home. You will also meet other pilgrims from all walks of life and see how so many different cultures can be united in one unique journey. I am not sure if the best part is the hiking shoes or hat contest or how much Nutella you can eat in a day or whether you will be brave enough to try the Galician pulpo (octopus) or Pimientos de Padrón (peppers) but one thing is for sure is that you will return home with a great feeling of achievement and a better understanding of your life and that of others around. All of this, rain or shine makes the journey worth every step.

For more information on our Educamino tours please contact our Dublin based Follow The Camino experts at info@followthecamino.com or call 01 6872144.

BellTIME

“Please do not touch” is a fairly normal phrase you might hear in any Normal museum. But the Irish Military War Museum in Collon Co.Meath is Anything but a NORMAL museum. It is not uncommon on arrival to be handed a real (de-commissioned) rifle, pistol or grenade. A full hands on experience is what the IMWM focus on, and is the only one of it’s kind in Europe. Covering 5,000 square feet of floor space, it represents 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. Focusing mostly on world wars one and two and now with the New 1916 section in place, you are treated to a truly “Hands On” experience. 76

Irish Military War Museum “Have fun learning and learn by having fun” is the Museum motto coined by curator and director William Sullivan. Collecting from the age of eight William has gathered a breath taking display of military artefacts and weaponry from the smallest medal to large artillery pieces, and even working tanks that can be taken for a spin. Also getting a chance to visit our replica WW1 trench and watch a blank-firing weapons display with period weapon is a real eye opener to the way of life for the front line solder in the trenches.

A 4,000 square foot assault course style play ground is on site for both little and not so little “grown up” kids to enjoy overlooked by a very large picnic area (under cover). There many vehicles and displays to be explored and with friendly, knowledgeable staff always on hand to answer questions you can’t help but have fun learning. For any information on school packages or bookings please call 041 9819501, E-mail william@imwm.ie or visit us on the web at www.imwm.ie 77

BellTIME

JOURNEY BACK IN TIME AT NUMBER TWENTY NINE Discover what life was like beyond the elegant doors of Georgian Dublin Get ready to be transported back to Georgian Dublin with a visit to Number Twenty Nine, Dublin’s Georgian House Museum. Magnificently restored by ESB in partnership with the National Museum of Ireland, Number Twenty Nine is the jewel in the crown of Georgian Dublin. Enjoy the history of this elegant house, a perfect time capsule of Dublin home life from 17901820. Discover two worlds under one roof and experience what life was like for the fortunate who lived in the city’s elegant townhouses and the less fortunate who worked in them.

Life beneath the stairs Venture into the basement where the servants toiled and get a taste of the hustle and bustle of life below the stairs. Retrace the steps of the scullery maid who laboured long and hard for up to 16 hours daily and was paid a penny a day for her eﬀorts. Listen out for the bells used by the Lady of the House to summon the servants upstairs.

Dining with the Georgians Step into a diﬀerent world as you move upstairs and enter the decorative surrounds of the Dining Room which is elaborately set for dessert - the high point of any Georgian dinner party.

18th Century Entertaining In the elegant Drawing Rooms on the first floor, the scene is set for fashionable visitors to take tea and play card games. The perfect entertaining space, these rooms are lavishly decorated in a most inviting manner. Soak up the opulent atmosphere created by the original plasterwork, marble fireplaces, sparkling chandeliers and the impressive collection of paintings on display.

Time to rest

Childhood in Georgian Dublin Tucked away in the attic, the children’s quarters reveal what life was like for children growing up in middleclass families. Fascinating teaching aids and toys oﬀer a glimpse into how children were raised and educated within the home. Take a peek into the dollhouses, furnished with unique miniature antiques - a must see for all visitors to Number Twenty Nine. Additional educational resources include: - Introductory film - Interactive Kiosks - Informative storyboards throughout the exhibition - Knowledgeable guides who bring the story of the house to life - Educational worksheets

Visitor Information Number Twenty Nine is open from mid -February to midDecember (Closed Good Friday). Visitors can enjoy the exhibition on a self-guided basis, however there are also two daily guided tours provided. The first tour is at 11am and reserved for groups. Groups wishing to avail of this tour must book in advance, by email (numbertwentynine@esb.ie). The second tour is at 3pm daily. This is a public tour and is oﬀered on a first come basis, thus cannot be pre-booked. Number Twenty Nine hosts a range of fun family events throughout the year including workshops, talks and open days. One of the highlights in our calendar of events this year was the Electric Ireland Spark Your Imagination Science workshops which were run in conjunction with the Laya City Spectacular Festival in Merrion Square. We also enjoy some festive fun at Christmas when Santa makes his annual visit. Please check our website for more details on upcoming events.

Despite the busy social life that most wealthy families enjoyed, rest and relaxation were an important part of daily life. The Master Bedroom on the third floor boasts an impressive fourposter bed and an eighteenth century exercise machine. Discover how leisurely mornings were spent by the Lady of the House in her private Boudoir, an elegant, light and feminine space - the height of fashion and taste.

BellTIME

FRANCISCAN MISSIONARIES OF MARY We are women; religious sisters, committed to living a Gospel way of life, in a strong global network of shared vision, shared resources and shared leadership; women who have experienced a call to follow Christ in the path traced out by our foundress Helen de Chappotin, and Francis of Assisi who inspired her vision. For further details please contact: London: - Sr. Helen, 36-38 Gwendolen Avenue, Putney, London, SW15 6EJ Dublin: - Sr. Mary, 4 Muckross Drive, Perrystown, Dublin 12. Email: fmmimesvoc@yahoo.co.uk Phone: 0044 74 7038 6805 Websites: www.fmmii.org www.fmm.org www.fmmvocations.org

Choose which film you want to watch and WIN 30 FREE student places at a screening of the film in the IFI Education Spring Summer 2016 programme!

HEREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO:

BellTime Magazine in association with The Irish Film Institute want you to choose what film you want your class to see as part of the IFI Education Spring/Summer 2016 Programme at the IFI! Name the film you want the IFI to screen and tell us why you think your chosen film should be part of the IFIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Education 2016 School's programme, and in no more than 250 words submit your copy to info@bellmedia.ie before December 31st 2015. The winning entry will be published in the next edition of BellTime which will be issued in schools nationwide in Spring 2016.

> Brainstorm films with your class that you think should be shown > Consider: o Age classification, o Subject links o Have many people seen it already? o Why see it again? o What can it add to students film education? Then, as a class, vote on the preferred title and submit your entry!

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

Vote for your School You could WIN a top of the range computer for your school & a

laptop for yourself!

All you have to do is Like and Share us on Facebook Hurry up and Vote for YOUR School Today! GOOD LUCK TO ALL . . . .Teachers . . Students . . .Parents!! BellTime Magazine in association with Music Generation are giving away two pairs of tickets to January concert series with Irish master musician Liam O’Maonlaí. The concerts are being of organised by Music Network who will provide the tickets for any the concert locations. visit our website www.belltimemagazine.ie

To celebrate the launch of our new App and iBook, BellTime Magazine in association with Un iversal Music are giving away FR EE Cds. Don’t forget to visit www.bellt imemagazine.ie. Make sure to Like & Share us on Facebook for many more give aways!!!

Bell Media/ BellTime Magazine Unit 4, RDC, DkIT, Dundalk, Co. Louth

M: 083 4451900 www.bellmedia.ie

info@bellmedia.ie www.belltimemagazine.ie

Don’t forget to check out our online digital edition of BellTime Magazine on www.belltimemagazine.ie. The BellTime App is available now to download free of charge on Apple Store & Play Store. Checkout our fabulous new ibook available now!

BELLTIME APP AVAILABLE NOW!

Are you the Most Popular School in Ireland How to be in with a chance of winning A top of the range computer for your school & a laptop for yourself!

? Win

Like & Share us on Facebook Visit www.belltimemagazine.ie and Vote for your school Hurry up! It Could be You !!! Open to all Teachers, Students & Parents. The winning School will be featured in the Spring Edition of BellTime Magazine. Competition link: http://belltimemagazine.ie/vote-for-your-school/

BELLTIME APP AVAILABLE NOW!

Bell Media Ltd - National Finalist in Bank of Ireland Start Up Awards