Two Laois national schools among the 27 schools around the country to receive funding under the Teaching Council’s new Féilte Bursary Scheme.
St Colman’s National School, Stradbally, and Ballinakill National School were both named as part of the scheme, which is “designed to support collaboration between schools and enhance teachers’ professional learning.”
However, as well as these two schools, a further four national schools in the county will also benefit from the funding.
St Colman’s will lead a four-school inclusivity project while Ballinakill leads a two-school music and language project.
In total, the Teaching Council has awarded funding of €100,000 to schools across Ireland.
St Colman’s NS – €5,000
St Colman’s leads a collaboration with three other Laois schools – Rath NS, Fraoch Mór NS, and Scoil Mhuire Fatima, Timahoe.
The collaboration, called ‘Our School, Our Community,’ aims to foster inclusive practices.
All schools involved have experienced a significant increase in student population from international backgrounds, highlighting the need to create environments that celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity and welcome all students.
This project seeks to enhance teachers’ skills in supporting students from diverse backgrounds, cultures and learning abilities, including effective strategies for differentiated instruction and cultural responsiveness.
Ballinakill NS – €2,000
In partnership with Abbeyleix South NS, the Ballinakill school will run a ‘Content and Language Programme’ that will teach music through Irish.
The focus will be on performing and composing music and will see students compose and perform their own rap songs and sean-nós songs.
The project aims to increase the exposure of learners to Irish by extending the use of the language as a medium of communication and instruction in a setting beyond Irish lessons.
Congratulating the schools, Director of the Teaching Council, Dr Lynn Ramsey commended the successful schools, saying the teachers involved “have shown significant creativity, innovation and commitment to professional learning.”
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