Principal’s Letter
Summer 2009Dear Parent,
Tá an téarma seo ag druidim chun deireadh agus ár gceann scríbe beagnach bainte amach againn. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas pearsannta a ghabháil le múinteoirí scoláirí agus tuismitheoirí a chuidigh leis an scoil in gcaitheamh na bliana. Tá tuirse orainn cinnte ach tá sásamh le sonrú freisin as an bhfreastal agus an seirbhís atá tugtha.
The end of a very testing and demanding school year is now in sight for students, teachers and not least yourselves the parents. 2008 – ’09 has been an extraordinary year in the school’s development with so many people taking leading roles in ensuring that Coláiste Iognáid performed spectacularly in a variety of co-curricular activity. Notwithstanding the terrific success on this important front we are now looking forward to our exam classes doing themselves great justice when they undertake their Leaving and Junior Certs in June. Guíonn muid go dtreoróidh an Tiarna Dia ár scoláirí sna scrúdaithe seo.
It would be most remiss of me not to mention a number of great highlights this year including the capture of the Girls Irish Hockey title, the Senior Rugby Cup our great successes in Debating, the Kairos Retreat, Careers Day, a magnificent show and school concert. Indeed in recent days the most moving Graduation Mass brought a terrific closure to our Leaving Certs’ time with us. The year will also be remembered for the great honour President McAleese bestowed upon us with her visit. The teaching staff’s unselfish labours on the pupils’ behalf saw the year touch many homes and enriched the experience of so many pupils.
New Building
Some very solid work has been undertaken with the DES in relation to the Building Project. As of now it is expected that the re-tender process will be conducted in July. This scenario will not enable us to move into the pre-fabs in August. It may well be October before the Andrews Building is vacated. On vacating the Andrews Building the classes will be set in pre-fabricated accommodation at the bottom of the field. It is expected that the building process will take some eighteen months. We would thus hope to be in the new Building and the totally refurbished Griffin Building at the start of the 2011 – ’12 school year.
The Finance Committee expects that it will cost the school up to 2 million euro to see the building project realised and paid for. The Covenant Scheme and a series of major fundraisers will be addressed from next year on. As a school community we have to collectively respond to this challenge with energy and gusto. Ní neart go cur le chéile. The Jes has been very fortunate at long last to have gotten the green light for the project. It is our role now to discharge that debt and to also ensure that there is money there to ensure that the ethos of the school is both sustained and further developed.
Mocks
This academic year the staff has taken a long and hard look at the timing of the Mocks examinations. Considerable thought has been given as to which is the most effective time to both test our students and to support them in their exam years. Having discussed and reflected on the question at great length the staff believe;
that in the best interests of our Leaving Cert students that there should be no change to the timing of the pre-Christmas arrangement and that teachers will continue to correct their own scripts
that 3 rd year students should do a house test at Christmas and then undertake a full written Mock paper in early February. Papers here would be sent out for correction unless a class teacher wished to correct the papers themselves.
I am delighted that we will still continue the sixth year arrangement and feel that there is real merit in reviewing what kind of progress can be made in altering the timing of the Junior Cert. Mocks. These changes are set to take place next year and the 3 rd year students will be briefed in the first term as to how they can best respond to this alteration to the Jes Junior Cert. experience.
Parent Involvement
A great source of satisfaction for us in the school is the manner in which both the Ignatian Identity Group and Parents Council contribute so handsomely to the development of the school community. The I.I.G’s critical support for the Ignatian ethos empowers us all and their active reflection challenges us continually to examine just how focussed and directed our work is towards the Jesuit vision. The Parents Councils quiet and unobtrusive loyalty to the school touched us in a new way recently with that wonderful salute to the staff, and all the success of the year with its celebratory function.
Strategic Plan
The Board of Management is in the process of putting together a strategic plan for the future direction of the school in the medium term. All stakeholders will be addressed during that process next year. I am glad that whilst the dream of having a much more enhanced campus starts to become a reality that we will not be guilty of failing to shape a vision for the school for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The Board is intent that this process will be as inclusive as possible.
Staff
Next year the school is delighted to welcome Cathal Doherty S.J. who will be ordained in June. That most positive news is in contrast to the teachers who will be leaving this summer. The change in the pupil-teacher ratio sees us lose two teaching posts. Whilst the DES have given us curricular concession hours against that loss the effects of the changes will be severe as the timetable in assembled for next year.
Going Forward
We are conscious at this time of the Jes community still breathing and still touching the lives of so many. Our thoughts are very much with those doing the state exams. We trust the Lord will protect them and inspire them and the staff and Leaving Cert students who will travel again to South Africa this summer in the Slí Eile challenge. The present Leaving Certs will take their Kairos retreat in October.
In our search for excellence, for the magis, for the care of the individual and our continued commitment to the Ignatian vision I am struck daily by the unfailing support of staff for the pupils. Their service, unselfishness and unfailing commitment is a source of real inspiration. Alongside them the pupils challenge us and also affirm us with their respect and dedication. The parents are more and more central to our community and I believe they will not fail the school for the challenges ahead be they in fundraising, planning or supporting the work of the Jes.
As with Ignatius, we are comforted that the Lord who knows us by name, and has carved those same names in the palm of his hand will be with us in the times ahead. Is mór an tacaíocht an méid sin . Tá rudaí go leor bainte amach ag an gColáiste í mbliana. S’én sásamh is mó dúinn ná go bhfuil an gníomhaíocht ar fad ag eascrú as ár ndílseacht don chreideamh agus don fhís Iosánnach. Thar mo cheann féin agus mo chomhleacaí Catherine Hickey agus an fhoireann scoile, gúim go mbeídh samhradh fiúntach, álainn agaibh uilig.
Go soirbhí Dia sibh uilig.
Le gach dea-ghuí,
Bernie