Athy College teaching leads the field

Yet again, Athy Community College is at the cutting edge of exciting innovations in education. Trinity graduate, Natalie O’Neill, a teacher at the College has been invited to speak before world renowned educational thinkers in Toronto later this month. A teacher of science and biology for the past 10 years, Natalie will attend The Quest for Increased Student Achievement from November 19^th to 21^st at the invitation of the York District School Board. Natalie along with fellow teacher Karen McLaughlin from St. Brigid’s in Callan, will be showcasing an innovative project which both have been working on in their schools in conjunction with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. Co-incidentally, Karen is a past pupil of Athy Community College, and a graduate of NUIMaynooth.

With the help of her students , Natalie has been working on integrating the key skills of information processing; critical and creative thinking; communicating; working with others and being personally effective into the teaching and learning in her classroom. Natalie will be part of a team travelling from Ireland including Anne Looney, CEO of the NCCA who is a keynote speaker, Majella Dempsey, Key Skills Project leader and Karen McLaughlin. Natalie and Karen will tell their stories of developing key skills in the Irish classroom. Students have not been forgotten! Their views on the project have already been captured on an exciting DVD to show to the 1000 delegates expected to attend the conference.

The NCCA key skills project has been running in 9 schools across Ireland with 30 teachers involved. The project is looking at how key skills can be developed in different subject areas and to date all schools have reported that students are more engaged in the learning process as a result of participating in the project. One of the aims of the project is to help senior cycle students become effective learners in a world where the important skill is not how to memorise, but how to analyse and find the essentials in vast amounts of information coming at them at breakneck speed. The Canadians first came across the project when Anne Looney of NCCA spoke about it in Toronto last year. They were so impressed they wanted to learn more, and invited and paid for the teachers to tell their story. Principal Richard Daly, who was at the forefront of developing the Leaving Cert Applied Programme when it was initiated, said that he was delighted that the innovative work being developed in Athy Community College was getting global attention! He noted the honour that both Natalie, a ground-breaking and gifted teacher, and Karen, a past-pupil, are bringing not only to the school but to their country.

Natalie and a teaching teaching colleague, Deirdre Murphy have also been working with the NCCA in further innovative curriculum development at Leaving Certificate level. The Flexible Learning Programme which they will help to develop and pilot will look at expanding the width and depth of the traditional Leaving Certificate nationally.

Graduation Night

Excitement was tangible in the Clanard Court Hotel on Thur night as graduands for the FETAC awards were presented with their certificates. Over 112 certificates were presented to students who had completed FETAC courses in French, Computers, Art, Computerised accounts, Communications, and many more. Among the guests and presenters were Cllr Senan Griffin, Mayor of Kildare, Cathaoirleach of Athy Town Council, Minister Sean Power, Noel Dalton, Education Officer of Kildare VEC, Cllr Mark Dalton, chairperson of the Board of Management, Martin Quilty, FETAC, Paul Cunningham, President Athy chamber of Commerce.

Athy Community College is the main provider in the county of HSE/SkillVEC training to health Board employees and many administrative staff of St Vincent’s Hospital were among the well wishers to the host of recipients of their awards.

A posthumous award was presented by Cllr Mark Dalton to Joan Hartnett Howe and was accepted by her daughter Sinead. Dr Sunderland, Deputy Principal, spoke of how Joan’s work and her life had been so full of exuberance and joy.

Excitement was heightened when, in his address Principal Richard Daly announced that a letter of intention had been received by Kildare VEC for the construction of the new college. Construction of the college is expected to commence in two to three weeks and the 25 acre campus will offer so many possibilities in primary, secondary and further education.

Cllr Lawler spoke of how a small school established in the late 30’s was now at the cutting edge of education provision within the town and offered the full support of the Town Council in expedition the project

Drive For Life

The Drive for Life course delivered to fifth year students at the college proved to be a great success. With dramatic footage of the real dangers on our roads and a very useful course of driving information the students found the course of very real benefit. Preparation for the written section of the driving test was included in the session.

Oireachtas Live

Athy Community College hosted an Oireachtas Information Session on Fri 16th. The Education officer from the Cean Comhairle’s office took a group of over forty of the college’s students through a question and answer session, inviting them to explore the relevance of politics and how it should respond to young people.

Students were joined in the later session by le local deputies : Min Seán Power, Dep Jack Wall and Dep Seán Ó Fearghail who also answered questions from the students.

Athy College is Great Sport

The annual Sports Day concentrates on getting everybody involved with the widest possible range of activities. The emphasis is on fun and when the sun shines the fun is even greater. From meggars to volleyball to soccer to egg and spoon the students of Athy College showed how to combine fun and exercise . This is the last chance for some time out before end of term and state exams and congratulations to all who participated and to the teachers who organised it.

Graduation Night

Thursday 24th was an emotional and significant date in the lives of the sixth year students as they celebrated their graduation with an ecumenical prayer service in the school. Fr Joe McDonald and Rev Cliff Jeffers were the celebrants with a host of Leaving Certificate students who made the night meaningful with readings, song and significant words. Annually this night attracts a capacity attendance as students, teachers and parents celebrate a last get together before the serious work of examinations begins.

Wider Options Art Exhibition

The annual Wider Options Art Exhibition attracted a capacity crowd on Friday 18th with, if possible, and even more talented display of paintings than previous. The exhibition was formally opened by Bríd Brophy, newly elected Chairperson of th Athy Arts Sub- Committee and she is no stranger to the event.
A most enjoyable night to share conversation and hospitality. Annually this exhibition is notable on the social calendar and goes from strength to strength.