http://www.wexfordcypsc.ie/building-connectedness-in-our-school-communities
"The ESERO Space Education Confluence is an annual professional learning experience supporting teacher engagement with Earth and Space strand of the Junior Cycle.
Brought to you by ESERO Ireland in partnership with MTU Blackrock Castle Observatory (BCO) and Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT), the conference used co-creation design principles to learn how it could best support Junior Cycle Science Teachers to engage with the Earth & Space Strand. Teachers showed a desire for a practical element and to focus on E&S 8 (Students should be able to examine some of the current hazards and benefits of space exploration and discuss the future role and implications of space exploration in society).
Thanks to teacher input, ESERO have designed an exciting programme linking Irish and international scientists and engineers from the space sector with the Junior Cycle Classroom. The event will focus on the joint ESA/NASA Solar Orbiter<https://sci.esa.int/we
This event is free but booking is essential.
When: Saturday Oct 2nd
Time: 09:45 -13:00
Where: Online
For more information, or to register, follow the link here<http://www.spaceweek.ie/e
Leave No Trace are delighted to share the news that for the 6th consecutive year we have been awarded the contract to deliver the Explorers Education Programme to Primary Schools, we are particularly excited this year to be in a position to offer workshops to Wexford Primary Schools on behalf of the Marine Institute.
The Explorers Education Programme was established in Galway over 15 years ago and is funded by the Marine Institute. Over the years the programme has expanded around the coast of Ireland, and will now be reaching schools all around the coast, including in North Dublin, Wexford, Limerick and Leitrim offering a wide range of marine project modules in the classroom and fieldtrips to the seashore. With this expansion, the teams will also be able to offer online and blended learning modules to classes from inland counties.
Sheila Byrnes, Communications Manager of the Marine Institute welcomed the new outreach team and the expansion into new counties by the Explorers Education Programme this term. “As an island nation, it is important to promote the value of Ireland’s marine resource, the importance of our ocean, as well as the work of the Marine Institute. By creating a community of ocean advocates at national, regional and local level, and building long-lasting networks and partnerships, we look forward to working with the Explorers Education team engaging with educators and children throughout Ireland.”
The Explorers outreach teams are based in coastal counties from Donegal to Kerry, and from Cork to Louth. Each county boasts a rich marine heritage, supporting Ireland’s marine research activities, industries, recreational activities, to even having the shortest coastline in Ireland. “With an increasing awareness of ocean literacy and the value of ocean sciences in Ireland, we can’t wait to share all of what the Explorers team have to offer with primary schools in these new counties,” said Cushla Dromgool-Regan, Strategic education and communications manager, the Camden Education Trust.
“We have been very lucky to have been working with a group of marine education experts and outreach officers for a number of years, and we are now extremely pleased to be working with additional new members joining the team. They have all showed how extremely passionate they are about sharing their ocean knowledge with children, as well as supporting teachers with the delivery of marine themed content, that can be used on the primary school’s curriculum,” Ms Dromgool-Regan said.
The Explorers team members will be working with primary school teachers introducing a range of exciting Explorer marine projects and resources to the children over the coming months, covering topics such as marine biodiversity and living things, environmental awareness and care to a range of STEM topics leading up to maths week in October and Science week in November.
“The teams can reach classes delivering face-to-face project modules held in the class, seashore safaris, as well as through online and blended learning.
For more information and application forms to book your class on the marine cross curricular Explorers Education Programme please contact Leave No Trace Ireland or
Description: The Climate and Nature Summit is a call to action for primary and post-primary schools. The Irish Schools Sustainability Network wanted to hold a summit at a time when world leaders were coming together to accelerate climate action.
In this session we will talk about the next UN Climate Change Conference, otherwise known as COP26 and we will outline what happened in the Paris Agreement.
You'll understand how the Climate and Nature Summit is organised for primary and secondary schools and you can use this as an opportunity to gain some leadership experience. This is an opportunity to brainstorm with other schools and think about how we can make the most of this week and continue on our journey to positively influence our pupil's, colleagues, and wider community.
Speakers:
Aoife Denton has been a Deputy Principal in Ardscoil na Mara in Tramore, Co Waterford for the past 4 years. Trained in Mater Dei Institute of Education and received a Bachelor of Religious Science. Aoife taught Religion and History for 15 years. In her career she has been part of many initiatives that promote Global citizenship, including running the Peace and Justice group, Immersion projects, working with Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders and World Wide Global schools. She has been an advocate for sustainability in her school for many years and has a strong belief that education for sustainability needs to be at the core of the curriculum in any school.
Assumpta O’Neill is the Director of Waterford Teachers’ Centre which is one of 21 full-time centres and 9 part-time centres that operate within the network of Education Support Centres in Ireland (ESCI). On behalf of the national support services in education and the Department of Education (DE), Education Support Centres organise and facilitate the delivery of programmes for teacher professional development. Education Support Centres (ESCs) also organise a varied local programme of professional learning activities for school communities. ESCI is delighted to be supporting the delivery of the CPD element of the Climate and Nature Summit and looks forward to this exciting initiative and to continue their support for CPD in Sustainability.
Laura Ní Mháille is a Primary School Teacher in North Dublin NS Project with over 15 years’ experience in a variety of settings. She has a keen interest in promoting sustainability in primary schools, believing strongly in the role outdoor learning can play in connecting children with and inspiring action towards a more sustainable future. As a forest school leader she connects these principles across the curriculum and has recently completed research into the role inquiry-based learning in the outdoors can play in promoting student action.
Patrick Kirwan worked as an Epidemiologist before his transition into Teaching. While working in disadvantaged schools in London Patrick developed a bespoke award winning model for a whole school nature curriculum. In school and community settings, he uses nature as a conduit to foster wellbeing, leadership skills, confidence, resilience, environmental awareness and climate action. In March 2021 he founded The Irish Schools Sustainability Network (ISSN). The network brings together teachers and students from different schools to foster climate and nature conversations. These schools work together as a community on joint initiatives, they share best practice, and they work towards pushing sustainability to the top of the educational agenda. Patrick believes that we need to build networks within and across sectors, working as one, to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. You can follow Patrick on twitter @growgardeners or catch up with ISSN @IrishSchSusty