The meeting was chaired by Dermot Stanley. Ivana sent her apologies.Minutes and updates as follows….
Transformation update: As you know, Educate Together has selected our group to be a pilot for the transformation process (ie work with a Catholic school to achieve transformation and jointly become an Educate Together school). ET has now written to 10 patrons who between them cover the D6, 6W and 8 areas (we were advised by the Dept of Education and the Tanaiste to concentrate on these areas for now). To date, two schools have come back to us and we are following-up with those two schools. Educate Together will update us as to the remaining eight patrons soon, and we will circulate any relevant information.
Unfortunately, ET has advised us that there is no chance that a transformation project can happen in time for those children due to start school in 2011. This is very disappointing for parents with children due to start Junior Infants this year. We had 53 children pre-enrolled to start this year and will be in touch separately with those parents to see if they want to move their child to the 2012 list. We need to keep up the pace, particularly when there is a new government in power, to push for both political and church support for a transformation project. We have to do everything we can to have it underway for the children due to start in Sept 2012.
Update on numbers: Pre-enrolled numbers were given as follows: 2012 57; 2013 67; 2014 54; 2015 21. There are now 340 adults are signed up to the mailing list.
Update on the committee: the committee for this year is being put together. There are a few empty seats still, so if anyone is interested in lending a hand, please email portobellomds@gmail.com in the coming week!
Going public Thanks to Jessica, who is already doing a feature for Educate Together and the ICCL; and to Jane Hackett and Miriam Hooper who offered to participate in an Educate Together press feature. Their details have been forwarded to John Holohan (ET Head of Communications). Please contact john.holohan@educatetogether.ie if you are also interested in taking part.
Want to share your experience? Fiona Connelly is writing a Masters thesis provisionally entitled Non-Catholic Families Experiences in Catholic Schools and is looking for families to interview. All interviews will be confidential. If you would like to take part, please contact her atfionaconnelly26@gmail.com or 087 9042266.
Update on events/activities:
Arts & Crafts Workshop for Children: Jessica Hamilton is organizing this event, which will take place on Sunday April 17th from 11am-3pm in the Donore Community Centre, D8. We can accommodate 45-50 children in total, in two age categories; 3-5 year olds and 6-8 year olds. Children should bring a packed lunch. Volunteers to run arts & crafts activities; to help out generally; and to donate materials are all required. To book a place, or to help out, please email jessie.hamilton@gmail.com We are hoping to run this event free of charge, so please help us do that by coming along to .
Pub Quiz Fundraiser: This will take place on Friday March 4th at 9pm in the upstairs room of the Headline Bar (on the corner of Clanbrassil Street and the SCR). It is being organised by Dermot Stanley and Niamh Shine. It will cost 10 euro per head, and four people are needed for each team. If you dont have a ready-made team, cone along anyway as teams can be put together on the night. Please come along, support the school, meet some new people and enjoy yourself. If youre feeling competitive, there will even be a few questions from the primary curriculum, so get swotting! There will be a raffle and spot prizes we need donations for these now, so to donate, please email dermstan@gmail.com or nmshine@hotmail.com
Canvas Card: Three questions were emailed around last week, please email them to your (current!) political representatives and use them when prospective candidates call to the door.
Human Rights Submission: Thanks to Damien Peelo and Ivana for drafting this submission on behalf of the group.
AOB: Griffith Barracks MDS has a campaign running for a new school building. Flyers and cards supporting the campaign were circulated.
Next meeting date: TBC, probably in March/early April.
