EXCITING YEAR AHEAD FOR SCOIL MHUIRE ERASMUS PROGRAMME

Scoil Mhuire’s TY students and teachers have already enjoyed working collaboratively with our European partner schools and museums from Germany, Poland, and France on two Erasmus+ projects in the past. In years 2014-2016 the topic was “European Memories-Connecting, Constructing, Collecting” (100 years since the end of WWI) and in 2017-2019 the project was named “Real vs Fake” where the student’s work was a part of a major exhibition in the LWL Westphalia Museum Dortmund.

Following consultations with the teachers, TY students and keeping in line with the latest EU Green initiatives, we have decided to work collaboratively with our new German partner school Perineum Gymnasium from Recklinghausen in North-Rhine Westphalia on a brand new KA229 project. This endeavour is a multilayer school partnership and the project programme is fully in line with the “Looking at Our Schools 2016, A Quality Framework for Post-Primary Schools/LAOS 2016” document, that:

1. supports the efforts of teachers and school leaders, as well as the school system more generally, to strive for excellence in our schools.
2. underpins both school self-evaluation and school inspection.
3. is built around the areas of teaching and learning and leadership and management. These are the two key areas of the work of a school that directly impact on students’ learning outcomes and experiences. (LAOS 2016: Pg 5)

In April 2020, during the Covid-19 lockdown the application form was finalised and submitted. Many teachers and students from both partnering schools have contributed with their ideas to the application form. Today we got great new from the Irish National Agency Léargas that we were successful!

Here is a brief overview of the KA229 Eramsus+ project:

1. project title: “School Exchange Partnership: Ways to a greener future”.
2. lead by the TY students and teachers and involving the whole school community.
3. EU funding breakdown: total grant approx.€65300 = Scoil Mhuire €36000 + Petrinum €29300
4. the new COVID-19 school life – exchange of best practice.

The following is planned for, but the timeline for the realisation of it depends on the COVID-19 restrictions and governmental rules and procedures:

1. Students exchange with 15-20 Irish and 15-20 German students from Petrinum Gymnasium in Recklinghausen (near Duesseldorf).
2. One week for Irish students in Germany in November/December and one week for German partners in Scoil Mhuire Trim after our Easter break- including flights, 2 full day outings and 2 half day outings for students and accompanying teachers.
3. Accompanying teachers staying in a B&B/Hotel and students staying with Host families.
4. During the week in April (Germans coming to us) students could be experiencing in our school/lessons: German/Irish breakfast in Home Economics, Olympic Handball/Camogie in PE, Irish music and dancing in Music, History: German/Irish theme, etc.
5. exchange of good practice in Learning & Teaching between schools and teachers.
6. exchange of ideas for Green School/Sustainability between schools.
7. exchange of ideas in the development of ICT in Learning & Teaching, HW strategies, Remote Learning etc. between schools.

SCOIL MHUIRE WELCOMES NEW DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

The Board of Management of Scoil Mhuire is pleased to welcome Mr Peter Maguire to Scoil Mhuire as our new Deputy Principal.

Mr Maguire has previously been a teacher of French and Music in St Joseph’s College, Lucan, Co Dublin.

In welcoming Mr Maguire to the Scoil Mhuire Senior Management Team, the Board wishes him many successful  and fulfilling years as a member of the school community.

Mr Maguire’s appointment is a response to the retirement of Ms Gemma E. Kiernan as Deputy Principal. The Board of Management greatly appreciates Ms Kiernan’s enormous contribution to the educational and pastoral development of  the students in Scoil Mhuire over the past thirty eight years.  In latter years Ms Kiernan has been a dedicated and committed member of the senior management team leading and managing the school.

The Board wishes Ms Kiernan every fulfilment in her retirement.

SCOIL MHUIRE SAY FAREWELL TO CLASS OF 2020

It was our pleasure to hold a socially distanced ‘Farewell Ceremony’ for our graduating Leaving Certificate class of 2020 on Friday 4th September in the school. Thank you to all staff members who helped to make this possible.

Leaving Cert members of Gluais as well as students from the LC Music class prepared 3 songs for the virtual ceremony. Recordings of these songs can be found on the school website and Facebook page.

Best wishes to the Class of 2020.

HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS

As a surprise for students and to end the first term on a high, our staff decided to come into work today in fancy dress! Well done to all staff who participated and put in so much effort to make today a special day for our students. The atmosphere and laughter around the school was so positive and uplifting – badly needed by everyone!

From all of us here in Scoil Mhuire, we hope our students, teachers and families have a lovely, safe, well-deserved midterm break!