Clontubrid school is small but big in ideas

By:

Aisling Hurley

Pictures:

Pat Moore

Date:

Saturday, February 27, 2010

A KILKENNY school is leading the way when it comes to preparing its students for life in the 21st century by educating them for jobs that do not yet exist!

Scoil Naomh Fiachra in Freshford has a reputation for being one of the most innovative schools in the country. Now the national school has been chosen as one of 30 schools worldwide to take part in a groundbreaking Microsofts Pathfinder Programme.

Tommy Maher, Principal of Scoil Naomh Fiachra, Clontubrid shares a joke with Kevin Marshall, Head of Education Microsoft Ireland

As part of the programme the school will be encouraged to rethink all aspects of school life, from the structure of the day and the use of technology in the curriculum to ensuring that teachers have the space and time to bring innovative practices to the classroom.

Speaking at an information event for parents, Headmaster Mr Thomas Maher explained that their aim was to create a school where children were prepared for living and learning in the 21st century. “The Pathfinder Programme is giving us the expertise and advice to achieve it,” he said.

Deirdre Butler, a senior lecturer in Digital Learning at St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, said that the programme was a wonderful opportunity for the children. “You are a small rural school but small is powerful because you have a unified community. A small school can achieve a lot more than a big school,” she said.

She explained that education needed to keep pace with a changing world. “The world is like a small global village now. Teaching the three 'Rs' is not enough anymore. Children are way more savvy these days. We need to prepare children for work that we can't even think about now.”

She explained that children could google anything they wanted to know but needed to learn how to filter the information and use it in the right way. “Your children are privileged that they have access to all of this as well as creative and forward thinking teachers.”

Cathal O'Connell, a teacher at the Holy Spirit Boys School in Ballymun, Dublin and Project Co-Ordinator of Empowering Minds praised the great atmosphere and willingness to learn he experienced at the school.

“What I have learned at this school has enriched the lives of other schools around the country.”

Speaking to the parents he said: “You can be a force of change in your children's lives if you just grasp the opportunities that come your way.”

Sharon Tallis, Clontubrid, Maria Delaney, Lisdowney and Karena Blanchfield, Skinstown

Dr Kevin Marshall, Academic Programme Manager at Microsoft Ireland said that the Pathfinder Programme would help to equip children with lifelong skills. He said that when he interviewed someone for a job he did not care if they got an 'A' in honours maths. He said that employers were more concerned with a person's ability to work in a team and to solve problems.

Dualta Moore, Managing Director of SAMI (Software Asset Management Ireland) demonstrated a virtual learning package that will be launched in the school in the coming weeks. Scoil Naomh Fiachra is the first national school in the country to get the software.

“It was developed as a way to get teachers, parents, and students working together in an online environment,” he explained.

The system allows students log into the system in school or at home. They can create surveys, blogs, wikkis, projects and do their homework while being in a controlled and secure environment. Parents can use the site to check school announcemnets or to see whether their children are marked present or absent on any given day. The school can also use the site for administration purposes.