DIGITAL SCHOOL OF DISTINCTION
AWARD CEREMONY 2014
SCOIL ÍOSAGÁIN
CBS SEXTON STREET
Dublin West Education Centre
FÁILTE
Inniú cuireann muintir Scoil Íosagáin fáilte roimh ár gcuairteóirí
cáiliúla. D’Oscail Úachtarán de Valera an Scoil seo i 1966. Ón lá
sin táimid bródúil as na millte daltaí a fuair scoláireacht den scoth
anseo agus a fuair suim insna ceimeanna eile san
ealaiontóireacht, ceoil, spóirt, drámaíocht agus eolaíocht. Go
mór mhór táimid ana bhrodúil go bhfuil an tAire Oideachais
anseo agus gurbh as Luimneach í.
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CUAIRTEÓIRÍ
Minister for Education & Skills:
Deputy Jan O Sullivan T.D.
Mayor Of Limerick : Cllr. Michael Sheehan
Managing Director of Hewlett Packard: Mr. Martin Murphy
Managing Director of Microsoft Ireland: Ms. Cathriona Hallahan
Education Manager Hewlett Packard : Ms. Ann Marie Whelan
PR Manager Digital Schools of Distinction: Ms Anna Doody
Director of Dublin West Education Centre: Mr. Gerard McHugh
Chair of the Board of Management: Mr. Seamus Bermingham
Deputy Principal: Mr. Michael O Loughlin
Members of the Board of Management of Scoil Íosagáin
David Neill, Bro. James Dormer, Mr. Michael Keogh & Mrs. Angela O Flynn
School Divisional Inspector : Dr. Carmel O Doherty
INTO Chairperson Limerick City : Mr. Michael O Sullivan
Members of the Staff of Scoil Iosagain
Chairperson of Parents’ Council: Mrs. Deirdre McMahon
Principal of Coláiste Mhichíl : Mr. Tom Prendergast
Principal of St. Michael’s Infant School: Ms. Tracie Tobin
Principal of Coláiste Nano Nagle: Ms. Marion Cummins
Principal of Presentation Primary : Ms. Laura Horgan
Members of the School’s IT Team : Mr. DJ Lenihan & Mrs. Nancy Kelly
Managing Director Sord Data: Mr John O Keeffe
Digital School of Distinction Team: Ms Alvy Quinn
Managing Director Amalagated Computer Supplies: Paul Sweetman
SSTAY School Completion CoOrdinator: Mr. Tommy Lynch
Pupils : Aaron Quinlivan, Keith Kane, Michael Lawlor, Justin Reddan, Luke Considine,
Ross Ambrose & Ben Dillon
Representatives of Organisations Linked to the School
Analog Devices : Ms. Kate O Riordan
Junior Achiement : Ms. Theresa Leahy
Carambola: Mr. Paddy Curley & Ms. Rachel Mescall-Fitzpatrick
ICS Computer Training : Linda Keane
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FROM WHERE WE CAME TO WHERE WE’RE GOING
In almost 200 years of existence CBS Sexton Street has remained faithful to the
core principle that education is always changing and that education has two
key values; to raise the spirit of a student and to prepare that student for the
life he has before him. This dual purpose has guided the school through the
generations not only in curricular areas but also in sport, culture and most
recently in the field of Information Technology.
This ‘new’ field of technology was initiated here when the then Mayor, Cllr. Jan
O Sullivan, opened our computer room in 1994. At that time with basic BBC
Acorn computers we began a tradition that continues to this day; of valuing
the role Information Technology has to play in the lives of the students, staff
and families of this school. To encourage continuation of this ideal Úachtarán
na hÉireann, Mary Robinson, visited the facility in 1995.
Over the years with thanks to the Department for Education and Skills, our own
fundraising, the Dormant Accounts Funds and to various donors including the
Regeneration Fund for Limerick, Carambola Kidz and the excellent recycling by
CAMARA we have enhanced the role IT plays in the school. Using the Microsoft
support initiative we today ensure our students have access to quality
Microsoft programmes and are taught the basics in Word and Powerpoint.
Others get opportunities to use IT to begin an interest in games development
using ‘Scratch’ and ‘Lego’. Our aim is to prepare the student for the future
knowing that IT will be a central role in all areas of his life.
Parents and others have benefitted through the many IT courses set up by the
HSCL and recently others funded by ICS.
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As our commitment to the ‘Oscailt Network’ we developed our computer room
to a ‘Media Lab.’ to enhance the use of the school outside of school hours and
at holiday periods.
To qualify for the ‘Digital School of Distinction’ we had to show a varied use of
technology including linking, through Skype, with our EU partner schools in our
Commenius Projects. We had to show the internal use of IT in classrooms and
begin our ‘laptop’ programme to ensure as many as possible can use laptops
in their education. This programme now ensures all 6th class students use
laptops as part of their day to day education.
When we speak of Information Technology we speak of a constantly changing
element in education. Each year brings advances and ongoing financial
challenges to ensure we keep moving forward. The ongoing need for the
business community to forge links at all levels of the education sector must
continue and increase.
The benefits of technology to enhance literacy and numeracy should not be
forgotten. When I was young we were lectured about the waste of time of
‘comic books’ but history shows the excellent reading skills that comics
developed and now at this time we should not easily forgo the possibilities that
computer games can play in encouraging reading, maths and deduction skills
in our students.
Scoil Íosagáin today uses technology to enhance teaching and learning in many
ways. Some classes can activate video clips or tutorials on many aspects of the
curriculum. Others get a news bulletin from RTÉ to ensure the students learn
about the world around them. Others link to schools elsewhere in the world in
our EU Projects. Pupils can play and socialise using the IT facilities at playtime
and ensure equality for all students.
We thank those who have been part of this initiative and wish all those who
take part every success going forward. Limerick is a world renowned IT
producer and learning hub and today we add our little string to the web of
technology learning and development in our beautiful city.
Patrick Hanley
Principal
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Participating in
Noye’s Fludde
Opera
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FEILE LUIMNI
A word of thanks to the teachers, other school staff, various
agencies of Limerick City Corporation and others who devise,
develop and fund such a variety of activities for the students of
our school.
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Clár
3:30pm : Fáilte le cách (Patrick Hanley)
3:40pm: An Scéim ‘Digital School of Distinction’ le Gerard McHugh
Chairperson of Digital Schools of Distinction steering Committee &
Director of Dublin West Education Centre
4:00pm Microsoft – Cathriona Hallahan MD
4:10pm: Minister Jan O Sullivan T. D. & Unveiling of the plaque.
 Visit to the IT area and Light Refreshments
MEDIA ROOM STUDENTS
Computer Room Support Person: Roseann McCarthy
LEGO PROGRAMMING INITIATIVE STUDENTS : Jake O Mahony, Daniel Yermak,
Scott Hughes, Rhys Holmes, Patrick Barry & Lewis Ubebe.
MICROSOFT POWERPOINT : Cheeattanai Wisethon, Kian Judge, Jonathan
Franklin & Jordan Caulfield
MICROSOFT WORD :, Jason Bowen, Chima OHanya, Jan Nagi, Justin Reddan,
Marcin Martynowski & Laurence Esan.
PHOTOSTORY: Szymon Szulc, Martin Maurs & Sebastian Zabre
PIVOT: Showan Howlander
WELCOMING STUDENTS
Pamphlets : Luke Considine and Michael Lawlor
Flowers: Ben Dillon and Kian Judge
SECRETARIAL TEAM
Marion McLoughlin & Catherine Costelloe
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www.cbslk.ie
cbslk@eircom.net
061413950
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