Tuesday I came in and left pretty soon after getting there. Eileen had done some linking up and making contacts while in her training last week so one of the the people she had met works in one of the secondary schools pretty close to the centre, a school where a few of the children who are in some of the FAN project groups go. We made our way to the school. I was excited about getting the opportunity to see the inside of a school, most likely more than I should have been. I think because I had heard about the school system being so different from the Canadian Education system I thought there might be some interesting differences in the actual structures themselves. I mean I also think I knew this was a long shot, that schools are often, just that, schools. With classrooms, desks, and some kids cutting class, and others making the honour roll. I think it met my mixed expectations. It seemed to be in a older building, like everything in Ireland. It also seemed pretty standard. We met with Eileen's new contact who was really wonderful. She explained to us more in detail her role at the school. She ran the homework club and did one on one work with helping youth find success in school, meaning she would try and help find resources or get any type of supports the youth might need.The Homework club was made up of two main parts which they explain on their website:
HOMEWORK CLUB
We aim to create a safe, student led and comfortable teaching environment for all the students. The HomeWork Club strives to enhance learning and teaching for everyone. The Homework Club has played a positive role in improving our students' school attendance and their attitude towards education.
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday only.
It is only for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year.
Students are provided with a light snack such as pizza slices, sausage rolls, burgers or fruit to begin with.
The club starts at 3:40 and finishes at 5pm.
It is supervised by teachers who help students with their homework.
Reduces the chance of students getting into trouble for not doing homework.
Our school actively encourages healthy eating and lifestyle. The school is supplied on a daily basis with fresh breakfast packs.
BREAKFAST CLUB
Operates from 8am in the morning to 8:35am.
The breakfast club is supervised.
It allows students, who leave home early or forget their breakfast, an opportunity to eat something substantial before class begins.
Cereals are available as well as orange juice, fruit and a variety of rolls, e.g. cheese, ham, turkey, egg and chicken rolls.
Remember, your children will be warm, safe and supervised.
Care Team
At St. Vincents, we are committed to giving our students a stimulating and challenging educational experience. In order to support our students the school is fortunate to have a care team. This team includes the. Principal, Home School Liaison person, Guidance Councillor, RE person and a Councillor.
After she explained her role in more detail Eileen talked about her role at the centre and the type of work she does with the FAN project. Eileen also explained about all the different programs in the centre that young people have access to.
After we all kind of discussed different ways that both could keep in contact or support each other in the work that they are doing with the youth. Eileen talked a bit about and later talked more in depth with me about one of the bigger challenges with her program being how restricted it was at times. It being such a small program and the fact that they could not always just take referrals from anywhere as they are mandated to meet the need of their JLO first. So although telling schools and other community groups is great she feels bad because they are hardly ever at a place where they are able to take on referrals from these places.
One of the other really cool parts of this visit was that when we were all talking about different ways to get involved and utilize each other, I was really a part of the conversation. What I had to say mattered and they both seemed interested to hear what I had to say in the brainstorming progress even though I was a stranger from Canada stepping for my first time into an Irish School.
If you're interested in seeing the school I visited here is the website:
http://stvincentsd11.scoilnet.ie/
Once back at the centre I spend the afternoon working on putting together the rest of the poster for the research project and trying to get that done.
In the evening I took part in two groups where we used this time to finalize the direction the group wanted to go for the rest of the term. I am getting to know the youth better and they are starting to see me more as one of the workers in the centre. I am really loving the groups and starting to feel much more comfortable with the process.
We aim to create a safe, student led and comfortable teaching environment for all the students. The HomeWork Club strives to enhance learning and teaching for everyone. The Homework Club has played a positive role in improving our students' school attendance and their attitude towards education.
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday only.
It is only for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year.
Students are provided with a light snack such as pizza slices, sausage rolls, burgers or fruit to begin with.
The club starts at 3:40 and finishes at 5pm.
It is supervised by teachers who help students with their homework.
Reduces the chance of students getting into trouble for not doing homework.
Our school actively encourages healthy eating and lifestyle. The school is supplied on a daily basis with fresh breakfast packs.
BREAKFAST CLUB
Operates from 8am in the morning to 8:35am.
The breakfast club is supervised.
It allows students, who leave home early or forget their breakfast, an opportunity to eat something substantial before class begins.
Cereals are available as well as orange juice, fruit and a variety of rolls, e.g. cheese, ham, turkey, egg and chicken rolls.
Remember, your children will be warm, safe and supervised.
Care Team
At St. Vincents, we are committed to giving our students a stimulating and challenging educational experience. In order to support our students the school is fortunate to have a care team. This team includes the. Principal, Home School Liaison person, Guidance Councillor, RE person and a Councillor.
After she explained her role in more detail Eileen talked about her role at the centre and the type of work she does with the FAN project. Eileen also explained about all the different programs in the centre that young people have access to.
After we all kind of discussed different ways that both could keep in contact or support each other in the work that they are doing with the youth. Eileen talked a bit about and later talked more in depth with me about one of the bigger challenges with her program being how restricted it was at times. It being such a small program and the fact that they could not always just take referrals from anywhere as they are mandated to meet the need of their JLO first. So although telling schools and other community groups is great she feels bad because they are hardly ever at a place where they are able to take on referrals from these places.
One of the other really cool parts of this visit was that when we were all talking about different ways to get involved and utilize each other, I was really a part of the conversation. What I had to say mattered and they both seemed interested to hear what I had to say in the brainstorming progress even though I was a stranger from Canada stepping for my first time into an Irish School.
If you're interested in seeing the school I visited here is the website:
http://stvincentsd11.scoilnet.ie/
Once back at the centre I spend the afternoon working on putting together the rest of the poster for the research project and trying to get that done.
In the evening I took part in two groups where we used this time to finalize the direction the group wanted to go for the rest of the term. I am getting to know the youth better and they are starting to see me more as one of the workers in the centre. I am really loving the groups and starting to feel much more comfortable with the process.
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