St. Patrick's National School, Diswellstown, Castleknock.

Email: info@stpatricksns.ie Phone: 01 824 9930 Fax: 01 824 9928

Address: Diswellstown Road, Castleknock, Dublin 15, D15 PH21.

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Parents' Association News - Archived

NPC Education Conference 2017 - Shaping the Future - Saturday 10 June 2017

Register now!

The NPC Conference will take place in the National College of Ireland, Mayor Square, Dublin 1 on Saturday the 10th of June 2017 from 10.30am to 4pm.

To register to attend please click here

All those interested in primary education are welcome to attend, ADMISSION IS FREE!

Keynote speaker - Dr. Janet Goodall: Narrowing the Gap: Parental Engagement in Children's Learning

Janet Goodall is a lecturer in Educational Leadership and Management in the Department of Education, at the University of Bath.

Janet has been involved in educational research for many years, researching issues such as networks and federations of schools, the evaluation of the impact of continuing professional development of teachers, middle leadership in universities.

For the past 10 years, much of Janet’s work has been concentrated around the value and impact of parents’ engagement with their children’s learning.  Janet has published widely on the subject, in both the academic and popular press, and on social media.  She has just completed a yearlong pilot of a toolkit to support schools in this area, working with over 30 schools in Wiltshire Local Authority. Janet’s new book, Narrowing the Achievement Gap: Parental Engagement with Children’s Learning, was published by Routledge in the spring.

Guest speakers

Niall de Burca - Niall is a traditional storyteller with a unique style that turns an ancient art form on its head and drives it into the 21st century. Combining powerful stage presence and delivery, he has an ability to reach all ages from early childhood through to teenagers and on to elders. Niall will demonstrate this art form and will show parents how they too can engage their children through storytelling and by doing so enhance their learning at home.

Mette With Hagensen -  Learning through play

Mette With Hagensen, MSc. BA, mother of 3 and president of the Danish association of school boards and parents in public schools, Skole og Forældre. Mette With Hagensen represents a strong voice for parents and she is an advocate for close cooperation between schools and parents in the shared responsibility to educate children and nurture children’s curiosity and creativity. Play is fun and learning should be fun too to engage children and create interaction and involvement in class. In Denmark LEGO is a natural part of childhood and by introducing LEGO six bricks in education children learn so much more than just putting bricks together. Mette With Hagensen will give an insight to the concept of LEGO six bricks.

The NPC Fred O'Connell Award will take place on the day, recognising innovative partnership between parents and schools.

Fred O’ Connell was involved with NPC in the early years of the organisation development. Fred served as Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of NPC and was also NPC’s first paid employee. Fred believed that parents have a vital role to play in their child’s education. This award is in honour of Fred. The NPC Fred O’Connell Award seeks to shine a light on the excellent partnership work that we know Parent Associations are engaging in across Ireland.   

To register to attend please  click here