15th January 2007 - Diary Note: IPPN Annual Conference Killarney, 25th to 27th January
IPPN's Annual Conference takes place in the INEC, Killarney from Thursday 25th January to Saturday, 27th January 2007.
The theme of this year's conference is "Changing Ireland".
The Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN) is the professional association of Irish primary school principals and deputy principals. With over 6,000 members from over 95% of all primary schools, the IPPN, established in 2000, has grown to become the authoritative voice of school leaders at primary level.
The conference always attracts a large attendance and this year, 700 school leaders will gather for three days to hear inputs from leading commentators and to attend workshops on a wide variety of topics. There will be a special Press Briefing on Thursday at 1.00 p.m. followed by lunch. Please let us know of any special requirements you may have with regard to timing of live interviews or print deadlines. We have IPPN spokespersons available on a wide range of education topics including:
- Special Education Needs
- New Irish Children
- Small Schools, Rural Schools
- Educational Disadvantage
- Information and Communication Technology
- School funding
Media Contacts:
John Curran - PRO - 087 231 4259 and 087 296 9168- pro@ippn.ie
Seán Cottrell - Director - 086 6478717
Tomás O Slatara - President - 087 2420118
IPPN Support Office - 1890 21 22 23
Keynote Speakers:
Terry Prone will be the facilitator over the three days and the conference will be addressed by
- Mary Hanafin, T.D., Minister for Education and Science
- David McWilliams, Economist, Journalist, Broadcaster, Author
- Emily Logan, Ombudsman for Children
- Sorina Selaru, the perspective of a "New Irish" parent
- Tomas Ó Slatara - President IPPN
- Seán Cottrell - Director IPPN
- Fergus Finlay - Barnardos - will facilitate a workshop.
Workshops:
A variety of practical workshops are available for principals to broaden their knowledge and hone their skills in a number of professional areas:
- Multigrade Teaching - Practical Strategies - Noel Loftus
- Staff Meetings - A Practical Guide to Success - Cóilín Ó Coigligh
- The School Plan - From the Shelf to the Classroom - Úna Feeley
- Handling Challenging Situations - using emotionally intelligent techniques - LDS Team
- In-School Management- In the smaller school - Bernard McHale
- Curriculum Leadership - In a Changing
- Marie McLoughlin
- Coping with Change - Courageous & Principled Leadership - Fergus Finlay
- Cultural Diversity - Alvina Grosu
- Preparing for Retirement - the Principal's Perspective - Gus Murray, Jim Hayes
- Achieving Work/Life Balance - Ruth Handy
Timetable
Thursday, 25th January
12.00 Trade Exhibition Opens
13.00 PRESS BRIEFING
15.00 Conference Registration Opens
18.00 President's Buffet & Reception
19.30 Conference Opening - Terry Prone
19.40 Fáilte an Uachtaráin - Tomás Ó Slatara, President, IPPN
20.10 International Confederation of Principals - Kate Griffin, President of ICP
20.20 Through the eyes of the Child - Emily Logan, Ombudsman for Children
21.00 Close
Friday, 26th January
09.00 Minister for Education - Mary Hanafin TD
09.40 Changing
- Seán Cottrell, Director, IPPN
10.10 Conference Exhibition & Refreshments
11.15 Concurrent Workshops - Session 1
12.30 Lunch / Exhibition
14.00 The Perspective of a New Irish parent - Sorina Selaru
14.15 GiorraíÂonn Beirt Bóthar:
Distributing Leadership Gerry Murphy, Marcella Ó Conluain
16.15 Conference Exhibition & Refreshments
15.00 Concurrent Workshops - Session 2
19:30 Gala Dinner
Saturday, 27th January
09.00 Conference Exhibition & Refreshments
10.00 OECD - Improving School Leadership
Paddy Flood and Virginia O'Mahony
10.15 Primary Education - Sound Economics? - David McWilliams
11.15 Questions & Answers
Panel facilitated by Terry Prone
12.15 Conference Exhibition
12:45 Lunch
14:00 Conference Close
15th November 2006 - How much is a childs Primary Education worth? - 77 cent a day?
How much is a child's primary education worth? - 77cent a day?
A recent survey of 200 primary schools conducted by IPPN (the Irish Primary Principals Network) has found that 97% of our primary schools do not receive enough to cover their basic running costs and 80% of schools depend on fundraising from parents to cover the shortfall.
Primary schools get €141 per child every year. This is to cover the basic costs of keeping the building open and operating so that teaching and learning can take place. It is meant to pay for heat, light, insurance, telephone, cleaning, and security as well as Art and Craft supplies, PE equipment, science materials, books, software and other educational resources for use by children.
13th November 2006 - Improved Administrative Support for Primary Principals
Following many years of raising the matter with the DES, we are pleased to inform you that three welcome improvements have been announced by the Minister which will provide better administrative capacity for Principals in a small number of schools.
The measures announced include:
- full-time administrative deputy principal in schools of 24 or more mainstream class teachers
- A full time administrative deputy principal in schools with five or more special classes - excluding dyslexia & mild general learning disabilities
- A full time administrative principal in schools with 4 or 5 teachers where there is an autism unit approved by the NCSE.
7th December 2005 - Principal Teaching Standby as well as Supporting Irish Ferries Workers' Rights
Principal Teachers Standby Children AS WELL AS Supporting Irish Ferries Workers' Rights
Primary School Principals have solved the problem of criticism directed at teachers planning to leave their schools this Friday by offering an additional/alternative on-line 'protest option'. "Showing support for Irish Ferries workers and remaining in school are not mutually exclusive" said IPPN Director Seán Cottrell.
"The Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN) fully supports the protest on Friday on the
issue of workers rights and the manner in which Irish Ferries workers are being treated."
said Sean Cottrell, Director of IPPN today. "This is an issue of fundamental justice and is very relevant to children in schools as it is they who will be affected by labour conditions in years to come."
Regrettably, principals and BOMs find themselves in an extremely difficult situation as correspondence regarding Friday has not yet been received from management bodies, DES or trade unions regarding what exactly is to happen on Friday. Principals have learned through the media comments from their own and other Trade Unions that some staff will be withdrawn from schools on Friday.
We welcome the DES press release issued this Tuesday evening which clarifies some of the issues being raised and this will be forwarded to schools as a matter of urgency by IPPN.
Unbelievably, the reality now is that with only two school days to go, Principals must plan for and manage the absence of an agreed number of staff and also deal with whatever unspecified contingencies may arise on Friday. The responsibility to ensure supervision and safety in over 3,300 schools on Friday afternoon rests firmly with principals. Schools will be open and principals will do everything within their powers to ensure that the best arrangements possible are put in place to minimise disruption to normal service. IPPN will provide practical professional advice and guidance to its members later today.
Many principals were concerned at the likely damage to parent -teacher school relations if the children's education is unduly disrupted. Consequently, IPPN has designed an alternative and /or additional form of protest whereby principals, teachers, school staff, parents, pupils and the public in general can show their solidarity with Irish Ferries workers. To facilitate this, IPPN has developed an
on-line 'protest petition' or "Virtual March" available to all who wish to be heard on this issue. "This on-line petition is one alternative available to those who cannot take part in the protests but who wish to register support," said IPPN President Tomás O Slatara. "Many principals are also taking special measures on the day to teach lessons on labour history, international labour conditions and other relevant subjects.
Teachers, parents, children and members of the public can protest in support of Irish Ferries workers by going on-line to www.EducationOpinion.ie
"To our knowledge this is the only additional/ alternative method of protest on offer this Friday to those wishing to support the Irish Ferries Workers, but who for other reasons cannot attend the march," said O Slatara.
