This week in DDLETB and across all the Education and Training Boards of Ireland, we are standing up for the rights of individuals & tackling bullying and promoting our ETHOS and core values: Excellence in Education, Care, Equality, Community and Respect.
So it seems particularly appropriate to remember Vicky Phelan, a woman who was clearly infused with each of these values.
It is rare that a single person has such an impact on the public in the way that Vicky Phelan had. Her determination to confront wrongdoing and her strength to not back down in the face of her own illness and difficult circumstances have inspired so many of us in Ireland.
She gave a voice to women who were suffering in silence. Through her tireless efforts, she has improved the safety and protection of women’s healthcare now and for future generations. She was not afraid to speak truth to a powerful medical establishment. She exposed a scandal in Irish healthcare and made it better for everyone.
In the words of our President, Michael D. Higgins :
“All of us who had the privilege of meeting Vicky will have been struck by the powerful inner strength and dignity with which she not only faced her own illness, but with the sense of commitment to the public good and the rights of others with which she campaigned.
“Vicky, in all of this, made an enormous contribution to Irish society. Thanks to her tireless efforts, despite the terrible personal toll she herself had to carry, so many women’s lives have been protected, and will be protected in the future.”
Our sincere condolences to Vicky’s family, friends and all the people who loved her.
This school term DDLETB took the opportunity to explore what the value of care looks like. It has provided a great opportunity to highlight and celebrate the incredibly high level of care
provided to all members of the DDL community.
The Mentimeter word cloud captures the response of several DDL networks that were asked to identify what care looked like in their context.
This school term saw the first DDLETB ETHOS Lead Network take place. Thank you to the 28 teachers who have taken on this role.
Below we have two fantastic examples of how our students are approaching the idea of care in schools.
CARE IN GRIFFEEN CC
TY students in Griffeen CC along with their teachers have been very busy ensuring they raise awareness about the ETB Ethos.
Jim the Care bear has been spotted everywhere and has even been on a few TY trips.
Ethos Jim The Care Bear Badge
THE VALUE OF CARE
‘SHOUT OUT’ POSTCARDS AT COLLINSTOWN PARK COMMUNITY COLLEGE ACTIVITY:
‘Positive postcard’ will be sent home or given to students who deserve a ‘shout out’ for good work, behavior or both.
WHEN:
Tutors will send postcards during the time they are sending monthly attendance and punctuality letters.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:
Students put forward for a ‘shout out’ are not necessarily candidates for Student of the Month. They could be individuals that are working hard, have displayed good citizenship or have
improved over a period. In many ways, this should be used to recognize those students that are doing their best but might not necessarily get top student honours.
Ethos In DDLETB Shout Out Project Postcard
Qualities of a ‘Shout Out’ candidate
Hard-working
Completes homework
Good citizenship
Helpful and kind
Good attendance and punctuality
Responds well to correction
PROCEDURE:
Year Heads will send an email to staff members teaching their particular year group and ask if there are any students over the past month that deserve a ‘shout out’ for good work, behavior,
citizenship etc.
Teachers will email back to the Year Head names of any appropriate students Year Heads will compile a list of suggested students by tutor class Year Heads will share the names with
the tutors. Tutors will send /give out postcards during the next occasion punctuality letters are disseminated.
https://www.ddletb.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Ethos-In-DDLETB-Shout-Out-Project.jpg757958Jennifer Farleyhttps://www.ddletb.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/logo-1-1.pngJennifer Farley2022-11-15 12:07:422022-12-19 08:22:27ETHOS - THE VALUE OF CARE IN OUR SCHOOLS
The DDLETB Adult Education Service in Blanchardstown will be holding an online art auction on the 9th of December. The auction is in aid of the Ukrainian Appeal and the Laura Lynn Foundation.
The auction is a perfect opportunity to get a unique piece of art – makes a great Christmas pressie! There are beautiful artworks available for all budgets. You can see the artwork here.
Haystacks in St. Vincent’s College, Castleknock. Artist William Nathans – DDLETB AES Blanchardstown Art Auction
Blanchardstown Adult Education Officer, Sharon Hennessy has given us more info below.
About The Charities
As you are aware, the war in Ukraine has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of refugees, many of whom have now settled in Ireland. Therefore, we decided to organise this charity Art Auction to raise funds for this very worthwhile appeal. The inspiration for this Auction came from one of the learners, Jelena who donated some of her beautiful artwork for this fundraising campaign. Subsequently, other talented artist learners and staff members became involved, donating some of their high-quality original artwork for this campaign.
Additionally, the Adult Education Service Blanchardstown has been fundraising for the Laura Lynn Foundation for over 10 years. Laura Lynn is Ireland’s Children’s Hospice, which provides specialist palliative, and supportive care services to meet the needs of children with life-limiting conditions. It also provides essential supports for their families in Ireland.
About The Artists
Three of our artist tutors (Will, Marysia and Eleanor) and two of our artist learners (Jelena and Valentina) have contributed over 20 works of Art to this charitable campaign. In recognition of the quality of the work the amazing artists have donated and the essential causes that this campaign supports.
https://www.ddletb.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/DDLETB-AES-Blanchardstown-Art-Auction.jpg757958Jennifer Farleyhttps://www.ddletb.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/logo-1-1.pngJennifer Farley2022-11-14 08:26:272022-12-19 08:23:15Online Art Auction - Proceeds To LauraLynn Foundation & Ukrainian Appeal
Greenhills Community College has two fantastic courses for people interested in working in the fields of healthcare and medical administration: Healthcare Assistant Level 5 and Medical Secretary Level 5 courses.
Healthcare Assistant Level 5
This course gives students the skills necessary to work as Healthcare Assistants in a variety of healthcare settings or progression to further study through the Higher Education Links Scheme.
Deansrath Community College have two excellent courses with places still available:
The Early Learning and Care course and the new Special Needs Assistant (Education and Training) course.
Early Learning & Care Course
This course investigates the development, learning and support required during the first six years of life. Successful learners are awarded a nationally and internationally recognised certificate in the theory and practice of Early Childhood Care and Education. The learner will gain knowledge, skills and the competence to work under supervision and independently in a range of Early Childhood Care and Education settings. This award provides a link to Early Childhood Care and Education Degree Programmes in Ireland through the CAO system.
This is a one year part time course leading to Level 5 and Level 3 QQI Component Awards.
In addition to the Level 5 Children with Additional Needs and Special Needs Assisting modules learners will obtain a Level 3 award in Communications, Irish and Maths.
The aim of this programme is to enable the learner to acquire the knowledge, skills and competence to work independently and under supervision in a range of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) settings and or to progress to higher education and training.
Learners may gain employment in school settings both Primary and Post Primary
https://www.ddletb.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Deansrath-Early-Learning-Course.jpg757958Jennifer Farleyhttps://www.ddletb.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/logo-1-1.pngJennifer Farley2022-10-24 05:59:442022-11-15 14:32:54Deansrath CC Early Learning & Care and Special Needs Assistant Courses - Places Available
ETBI (Education And Training Boards Ireland) are delighted to announce a brand-new podcast series created in partnership with SOLAS and co-hosted by Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen, authors of the ‘Oh My God, What a Complete Aisling’ series.
As Further Education & Training alumni, Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen will be putting learner voices from across Ireland behind the microphone to explore how FET has helped people of all ages and backgrounds to find their paths!
You can find all the episodes below. We’ll add more as they come out. Or you can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or at your favourite place to listen to podcasts.
Episode 6
Destination Anywhere – using the FET highway to get there
Emer and Sarah talk to Fiona Kavanagh, who always dreamed of becoming a primary school teacher but says she struggled to understand her own learning style in secondary school. When she didn’t get the points she’d hoped for in the Leaving Cert, she found a new route to make her dream career happen – a Childcare Special Needs course in Whitehall College of Further Education. She went on to do an education course in DCU, and then decided to go back and do her Masters of Education during the pandemic. She is now working as a sixth-class teacher.
Emer and Sarah also speak to Emer McMullin who went straight into the world of work after leaving school. After the bank she worked at left the Republic of Ireland market, she worried that while she had years of experience, she didn’t have any qualifications that would help her find new opportunities. Emer rang Donegal ETB who told her all about ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’- tune in to find out more!
Episode 5
Returning to Learning
Emer and Sarah speak to Liam Cleere, who had a bad experience in school but totally transformed his life through Adult Education in Tipperary ETB. Just eight years ago, Liam could read a little bit, but couldn’t write his own name. Now, he is about to publish a book.
Similarly, Dolores Millea has changed her life for the better by participating in Family Learning after leaving school at 13. She has taken cookery, gardening and woodwork courses, and this year she is planning on gaining IT skills through a computer course.
Episode 4
Everything you didn’t know about Apprenticeships!
Whatever you think you know about Apprenticeships, Emer and Sarah are here to turn that upside down. In this episode they meet Lorraine Carey, an Accountancy Technician Apprentice coming to us from Kerry ETB, and all-round superwoman, and Aisling Cleary who is currently completing a Supply Chain Manager Apprenticeship at Masters Level through Laois Offaly ETB.
Episode 3
Bringing the Great Outdoors into the studio.
Emer is a self-confessed lover of the great outdoors. She swims in the sea, and not only owns a pair of hiking boots, but also hiking sandals! She and Sarah chat to Mick Kane, Director of Achill Outdoor Education Centre, as he maps his journey from a teenager obsessed with the outdoors to embodying his environmental passions by working in conservation.
They also speak to Tadhg Boyden, a teacher of outdoor learning at Cork Education and Training Board. After leaving school feeling ‘lost’, he says he stumbled across outdoor education and tells Emer and Sarah how adventuring outdoors has helped him overcome fears.
Episode 2
The Leaving Cert really isn’t for everyone – PLC learners have their say!
Emer and Sarah meet two young learners who have some thoughts on the Leaving Cert.
Abbie Foley struggled during school and left without sitting her Leaving Cert but with the support of her guidance counsellor, found a path into a PLC in Journalism, Digital Media and Public Relations at Dunboyne College of Further Education which she felt was ‘made for her’. Emer and Sarah also chat to Amanda Jonaityte, who completed a Level 5 PLC in Business Studies and Computing in Ó Fiaich Institute of Further Education, Dundalk back in 2018. She is now in her final year in Law at Trinity College Dublin, and she has a special interest in data protection law.
Episode 1
A Love Letter to Ballyfermot – Emer and Sarah go back to where it all started for them.
Did you know that best-selling authors of the Oh My God, What a Complete Aisling book series Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen met at Ballyfermot College of Further Education? Listen to them recount their path through Further Education and Training (FET) after deciding university wasn’t the path for them. They also chat to John Moriarty, formerly of Ballyfermot College and now Director of Transformation and Knowledge at City of Dublin Education and Training Board and Cleo Knight, a learner who left school feeling she wasn’t academic and now inspires the next generation of students coming through Ballyfermot College.
https://www.ddletb.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/OMG-What-A-Complete-Education-DDLETB.jpg757958Jennifer Farleyhttps://www.ddletb.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/logo-1-1.pngJennifer Farley2022-10-15 12:30:032022-12-19 08:22:38Oh My God, What A Complete Education! Podcast
On Friday the 23rd of September, Skerries Community College celebrated the official opening of our Sensory Cube situated in what has now been named our ‘Seomra Ciuin’.
The Calm Cube offers a sensory space for students to support them throughout the school day. It is a designated area within our school which can support a student’s sensory preferences and needs. It is a space which aims to provide students with the individualised sensory input they need to self-regulate, so they can be better prepared for learning and interacting with others.
Furthermore; The Calm Cube offers a space for students to access a quiet environment to support their health and wellbeing and promotes a positive school culture.
Skerries Sensory Cube Balls
The Cube was custom-made by Senco Sensory Solutions to suit the individual needs of our school.
Some of the features include; A bubble tube, Star Projector, Sensory music, Plinth with mirrors and UV light and an Infinity tunnel.
A special thank you to Eamon O Reilly for organising the 5k fundraiser and to Roisin Schlindwein and Tina Neary for assisting with running the event.
We would also like to thank the Parents Association, SYSS and local businesses sincerely for their generous donations.
The Calm Cube is a welcome addition to Skerries Community College and offers our students a sanctuary and an environment where they can achieve optimum success.
https://www.ddletb.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Skerries-Sensory-Cube-5.jpg757958Jennifer Farleyhttps://www.ddletb.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/logo-1-1.pngJennifer Farley2022-10-05 11:22:462022-11-15 14:53:15Sensory Cube Opens In Skerries Community College
Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) is seeking an organisation with experience of providing services to young people, to deliver a new service to young people in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Area.
This is being established in line with the UBU Your Place Your Space Scheme funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Inclusion & Youth (DCEDIY).
The services will be targeted and specific to the needs of the young people in the area.
Requirements For Service Provider
The organisation sought should:
✔ Exemplify good practice in relation to vision, methodologies, governance, compliance, programme design and delivery
✔ Be experienced in working with teenagers and young adults, using a non-formal educational methodology
✔ Operate in an out-of-school setting, including evenings, weekends and holidays
✔ Understand the nature and needs of a diverse youth population and offer appropriate responses
✔ Able to devise and measure effective responses
✔ Be committed to on-going sharing of learning and collaboration
How To Apply
Application is by means of an Application Form and Pre-Qualification Questionnaire.
For an Information Pack, Pre-Qualification Questionnaire and Application Form, please contact Denise Cummins, Staff Officer at denisecummins@ddletb.ie
Closing Date
Closing date for receipt of Application Form and Pre-Qualification Questionnaires, in four hard copies: Friday 21st October at 12 noon.
Please return the completed Application Form and Pre-qualification questionnaire to: Caitriona Murphy, Chief Executive Offi cer, Reference: UBU DLR New Service DDLETB, 1 Tuansgate, Belgard Square East, Tallaght, Dublin 24. D24X62W.
https://www.ddletb.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/UBU-Call-For-Provider-2022.jpg757958Jennifer Farleyhttps://www.ddletb.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/logo-1-1.pngJennifer Farley2022-10-03 09:09:402022-10-24 06:38:19UBU Your Place Your Space Scheme - Call For Service Provider
Staff and students at Youthreach Swords were delighted to welcome EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira to their amazing centre. The Commissioner was overwhelmed by the work, skills and achievements of both present and past students and all the staff. The Commissioner made all the students feel so relaxed, as she asked them about their educational journeys, and students felt the Commissioner was so focused on them and listened with such interest to their stories and how Youthreach had changed their lives for the better.
Swords Youthreach opened in 1989 to provide an alternative learning programme to early school leavers. Like other Youthreach centres in our ETB they provide a framework within which young people can develop self-confidence and the skills necessary for employment or further study. Great stress is placed on the development of the individual and students are made aware that while work is essential part of a person’s life, it is only a part. There is a need to develop other aspects of one’s personality and, as a result, they place great emphasis on positive mental health.
The Irish Times Higher Options Expo is taking place at the RDS in Dublin from Wednesday, September 21st to Friday, September, 23rd.
The conference is the starting point for many students as they begin to plan the next phase of their educational journey.
It brings together representatives of institutions and organisations offering students information on almost every conceivable educational progression opportunity available in Ireland and abroad.
DDLETB will be there! Please come and visit us at Stand 20.
Have a chat with our teams from
Blackrock Further Education Institute
Dún Laoghaire Further Education Institute
Dundrum College of Further Education
Sallynoggin College of Further Education
Stillorgan College of Further Education
Adult Education Service Guidance
Deansrath Community College
Grange Community College
Greenhills Community College
Baldoyle Training Centre
Loughlinstown Training Centre
Tallaght Training Centre
DDLETB offers courses, apprenticeships and training in a wide range of subjects and fields.
We look forward to meeting you at the expo!
The following information is from the Irish Times and gives a little more information about what to expect at the Higher Options education expo.
What is Higher Options?
It is an education expo where institutions from at home and abroad are represented. You will have the opportunity to talk to them in-person to help you make an informed decision about what course you will study and what type of institution you will attend.
What makes it so special?
While most institutions organise their own open days, Higher Options brings them all under the one roof, meaning that you can engage with several institutions in a short time. Even if you already have an idea about what you would like to do, you may not have decided on what type of college you would like to attend or what particular course would best suit you.
What questions should I ask?
The first question you ask should be one that you ask of yourself. What kind of course are you interested in and what are you looking for in a college? Jot these down before you attend and draw up a list of colleges you wish to talk to. As a rule of thumb, it is a good idea to ask the same questions of each representative. That will help you get as measured an understanding of each institution as is possible. Tailor your questions to suit your interests and needs. Ask about the various courses on offer. What are the academic requirements, what courses will make you more employable? What areas are covered in each course and how are they assessed? How big are lectures/classes and do they feature one-on-one or group supervision? Remember, you can ask representatives for contact details in case you have any further questions you may want to ask later.
https://www.ddletb.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Higher-Options-DDLETB-2022-Featured.jpg757958Jennifer Farleyhttps://www.ddletb.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/logo-1-1.pngJennifer Farley2022-09-20 15:06:042022-10-03 08:24:41Come and Visit Us at the Higher Options Expo RDS Dublin
