Introducing Your Second Level School

Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) and National Parents Council Post Primary (NPCpp), financial sponsorship by the Department of Education and Science.

Contact ASTI or NPCpp to obtain a copy.

ASTI: Tel: 01 6040160 Web: www.asti.ie

NPC (Post Primary): Tel: 01 8302740. Website: www.npcpp.ie

CAREER CHOICE

Incorporating the University & College Journal, 2004-2005. E12.95 ISBN 0-9545747-1-0

Every 3rd level CAO College Course Reviewed

Your essential guide to planning your future

1. Skills & Aptitudes
2. What the Job Involves
3. Qualifications & training
4. Getting the Job
5. Advancement Possibilities
6. Industry Climate

Resource List 2007 - 2008

Resource List 2007
.
1. Anti Bullying Day (Prof. Mona O’Moore ) T.C.D. Dept. of Education
2. Parenting and Anti – bullying (in the Cork area) Gerry Lynch and David Coleman.
3. Discovering the gift in your child & yourself and balancing the wheel of life, Positive Thinking etc – Declan Coyle.
4. D.A.I. (Dyslexia Association of Ireland) Mary Ball.
5. Lucena Association – Family Counselling.
6. Drugs Day – A&E, Drugs Squad, Ambulance Service, Local Gardai, Rutledge Centre.
7. Partnership in schools – Sean McCann (Education Consultant Marino Institute of Education).
8. Steer Clear (Driving) Brian Murphy.
9. Prevention of suicide in young people – Eleanor Petrie
10. Texting as communication in schools – clickshare
11. Social Networking & Bebo – Kyle Petrie
12. Counselling – Vincent Maloney – Jacinta Kitt.
13. Eating disorders, Bodywhys
14. School Board of Management Training - COMPASS

NB
Fees and travel expenses may be charged by organisations and speakers.

2010 AGM President's Address

President’s Address Compass A.G.M. 2010

Welcome to COMPASS A.G.M., Co-operation of Minority Religion & Protestant Parents Association.

Welcome to all parent representatives of Compass Schools.

Welcome to Barney Callaghan, CEO of Gaisce, Presidents award

Welcome to Jim Moore,jk Chairman NPCPpp. and PP of NPAVSCC National Parents Association for Vocational Schools and Community Colleges

And to Tommy Walsh and Connie Carolan from PACCS, Parents Assoc of Community and Comprehensive schools.

We also invited the Most Rev. John Neill, Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough; he sent his apologies, he is understandably a very busy man.
He did however let it slip after one of our Interactive Meetings that he didn’t know much about COMPASS, more our fault than his.
This past year must surely have increased the public awareness of our organisation, both in and outside the halls of power.

This time last year I spoke to you about the effects that the governments cuts would have on our schools, were we to be unable to reverse the decision made by the Minister for education Batt O’Keeffee, on increasing the pupil teacher ratio in our schools.

This effort has been the main preoccupation of this committee during the past 12 months. Eleanor Petrie and Pat O’Malley have been heavily involved with the Committee on Management for Protestant Secondary Schools.
This group has on it representation from our Schools, the Church, the School boards and parents associations and the Secondary Education Committee. They have been responsible for the considerable media coverage and Dail debate of the issues leading up to and stimulated by a Conference held last October in Tallaght.
There is no doubt in my mind that the Minister for Ed. and Science is well aware of the situation but so far has chosen to hide behind the Attorney General’s interpretation of our Constitution.
I will leave it to Eleanor to give you a synopsis of the current state of play of the negotiations with the Department of Education.

Despite these heroic efforts, spearheaded by Eleanor, the cuts to the pupil teacher ratio remain in place, setting a precedent discriminating our schools against the schools in the “free education sector”.
We are now “Fee paying schools” similar to Catholic fee paying schools, irrespective of the fact that many of our parents cannot afford the fees. We are continuing our fight with the Dept of Ed and Science and will not rest until the status quo is restored.
During the year your committee here on COMPASS also set up two Interactive meetings, these will be outlined by Pat in her report.
Suffice to say that both were highly successful for those who attended. The discussion following Tony Bates full house talk on “support and care for our young people” which highlighted the requirement for goal setting, involvement, responsibility, communication and stimulating self awareness, self belief and self confidence, led us to enquire how best to achieve them.
Our Guest speaker today is in charge of the very organisation that can deliver on all of the above. We have the tools in our society, its just a matter of motivation.
Motivation by government (we could be waiting) but much more importantly motivation by ourselves, our schools and our communities.
I am very much looking forward to Barney’s presentation and hope he can further stimulate us to encourage more participation in an award scheme that offers solutions to many of the problems our young people face today.
Another of the assets that we use for a selected number of our students is the trip to Glencree during transition year. I have only ever heard the highest of praise for this stimulating weekend which focuses on people skills. Be it conflict resolution in Northern Ireland or Palestine, the acceptance of good and not so good people at school or in the community, dealing with awkward situations or fostering new friends. The lessons learnt are huge and are forever useful to all the participants, just what transition year is for. To facilitate a wider spreading of the Glencree experience we are hoping to facilitate the co-ordinators of our schools to participate in a similar programme so they can run something like it in their own schools. Given the cutbacks, in school courses are less costly and could reach a wider audience. It all boils down to money!!!
This brings me nicely to my next introduction of Jim Moore, here from our representative body the NPCpp. The role of parents as co educators of our youth is increasingly being recognised now at school level and the various parents associations need a more professional approach to dealing with the many demands that are placed upon us. I shall leave Jim to outline our, that is NPCpp’s, proposal to make this more a reality. With the best will in the world, there is only so much that can be achieved with voluntary help on a long term basis.
I would like to thank the Committee for all their hard work and voluntary dedication to COMPASS supporting the aims and aspirations of our parents. Thanks especially to those who travel long distances, here I must mention the contingent from Villiers. Richard did mention that to be on time for a 10 o’c meeting up here, he sometimes has to get up at 4o’c in the morning. Now that’s dedication, or is it madness??? Alan Mulligan as Treasurer and co NPCpp rep, Pat as Secretary, you are so conscientious. Thanks for your patience with me and the courteous prodding that I need to help you make things happen. Eleanor, well what can I say? You are our spokes person, media front line PR, facilitator, organiser, chief government negotiator, tea lady and bottle washer. Thank you so much for all you (and your family) have done especially this past year. We owe you one, 2?
Finally I wish the incoming committee every success in its deliberations and ongoing feuds.


 
Up coming diary entries:
2010-10-05- Glencree Transition Year Trip
Glencree Transition Year Trip 2010
Tues Oct.5th- Thurs. Oct. 7th

Details to follow