The Director of Faith Development in CEIST, Ned Prendergast, has written an article for the April edition of The Furrow, in which he reflects on the aftermath of the Murphy Report.

Click here to download Ned's article.

We profiled Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School, Drimnagh, for this month's School Profile.

The school very kindly shared with us their excellent articles and images.

On Wednesday 10th March a cluster meeting for teachers involved in the teaching of RSE in CEIST schools, in the South East, was held in the Kilkenny Education Centre.

Teachers from six counties, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford, were present.

Thank you to all those school who have submitted their annual school budget for the 2010-2011 academic year. The CEIST Finance Department is currently in the process of reviewing the submissions and will be responding in the coming month.

We are very grateful to our Boards of Management, Finance Sub-Committees and School Secretaries for all the work involved in preparing and presenting the annual budget. Please remember that the deadline for receipt of the school annual budget is 31st March each year.

Following the most recent budget the government has introduced a carbon tax on various fuels. We have all seen the increases on petrol and diesel in recent times.

From May 2010 a carbon tax of 8.5% will be added to Heating Oil and 6% to Natural Gas. There will also be a tax of 11% added to solid fuels at a date yet to be decided.

Please bear this in mind when budgeting and for those schools who use heating oil, it may be advisable to replenish supplies before May 2010.

CEIST is very happy to be associated with the development of a new MA in Christian Leadership in Education at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick which has just been launched.

Applications are currently invited for an exciting new professional qualification programme which will combine practice, policy and theory of education and education leadership with a strong theology component.

This programme is ideally suited for those working, or intending to work, in leadership roles in the education sector.

“A View From Here” is a DVD both funded and facilitated by the Irish Wheelchair Association.

It breaks exciting new ground in the context of what life is like in school for persons with a disability.

Second years Claire and Marie Kenny of Mercy Secondary Ballymahon Co. Longford are both the creators and directors of this production.

St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Castlebar held an art exhibition recently by past pupils (1994 – 2009) who attended art college and now have a career in the world of art & design.

The exhibition took place on Friday 19th March 2010 in the Reception Rooms of the school, the former home of Lord Lucan.

The Fourth Year LCVP group in Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew, Co. Galway, produced a wonderful Calendar for 2010.

As well as being a great production and a credit to the school, all proceeds from the sale of the calendar are going towards The Mountbellew Tigers Club- an affiliated Special Olympics Club.

The Transition Years in St. Mary's Mallow, Co. Cork, have been busy undertaking some interesting projects, which they have kindly shared with us for this months e-news.

Set up in 1896, Feis Ceoil Association promotes excellence in the learning and performance of music across all ages, levels and disciplines.

Two CEIST Schools have won awards so far in the competition. Mercy College Coolock, Dublin, won the Post Primary Schools Choirs, Two Part with Sacred Heart School, Tullamore, coming second in this Category.

Sacred Heart School went one better in the Schools Choirs Unison Catergory getting 1st place.

Junior Achievement Ireland encourages young people to remain in education and teaches them the skills they need to succeed in a changing world.

Ardscoil na Tríonóide, Athy, Co. Kildare, recently won the Eastern Regional Finals of the Junior Achivement's Company Competition in Chartered Accountants House, Dublin.

St. Brigid's College Callan Student, Rachel Hogan, has been making the headlines for a number of outstanding sporting and academic achievements.

Rachel has won All-Ireland Handball and Camogie medals and no slouch on the academic front either getting 10 A’s in her Junior Certificate Examination in St. Brigid’s in 2009!

Presentation Currylea Fifth Year Student, Soracha O Rourke recently received the Tuam Young Person of the Year  Award.

Soracha helped her local community and her involvement in the Diocesan Youth Council and Order of Malta was noted.

Soracha had some wonderful school achievements including being a member of the Senior Public Speaking team and having an essay published in a book compiled by Concern which featured letters to American President Barack Obama expressing concern regarding climate change.