New C of I school; Down Institution; Parish’s 40th anniversary; TCD on Trinity Monday; Powerscourt Children Take Giant Leap into the Future; RTE claims State gave commitments to Roman Catholic Church on education; ‘Inappropriate’ for teachers to befriend pupils on Facebook – Minister Quinn;
Figurehead launched at world’s largest Titanic museum; Ecclesiastical insurance group is hoping to spread the word here; Vatican report attempts mere excuse not explanation
The children of Powerscourt National School in Enniskerry will take one giant leap into the future on Friday morning (March 30). The arrival of the Easter holidays means the last day in their 194–year–old school building. Next term they will take up residence in their new, state of the art passive school.
The children themselves will begin the move at 9.30 am on Friday morning by carrying items of significance, such as the school bell and the roll book from the old school in the centre of the village to the new one on the outskirts of Enniskerry.
The original schoolhouse which, along with two pre–fabs, currently accommodates the 64 pupils was built in 1818. It is the oldest continuously used national school building in the Republic of Ireland and is a landmark in Enniskerry.
The new school is equally striking and is one of the two first ‘passive haus’ schools in the country. It comprises four classrooms, all of which are bright and airy, a multi–purpose room, a library and resource room and a spacious high–ceilinged school hall, which the school board hopes will be utilised by the whole community.
Inside the school there will be panels mounted on the wall which show how much energy is being used in each of the classrooms. In the classrooms, storage is hidden behind sliding walls which can themselves be used as pinboards and whiteboards. All classrooms, as well as the hall and multi–purpose room, are fitted with interactive whiteboards and computer stations. Each classroom has access to an outdoor seating area so that in good weather some lessons can take place outside.
The passive design of the school means that windows open by themselves when classrooms reach a certain temperature, lights turn off automatically if there is no activity in a room and water used to flush the toilets is harvested rainwater.
“The two school buildings couldn’t be more different,” comments school principal, Ms Anna Ovington. “We will be moving from a very old building on a site which was not very accessible to an ultra modern school which has as little impact on the environment as possible. It is so exciting and the new school will provide a wonderful, stimulating environment for the children to learn in.”
“It is quite exciting to be part of a development which marks a significant historical transition from the oldest continuously used National School to one of two of the most up to date National School’s in Ireland,” adds the Rector of Powerscourt, Archdeacon Ricky Rountree. “The new Powerscourt NS will be one of the two first ‘passive haus’ schools in the state and will be both a very exciting teaching and learning environment as well as a research development for the Department of Education & Skills. After 15 years of effort on behalf of many people it is wonderful to see this come to completion.”
Currently there are three class teachers at Powerscourt National School with part time learning support and resource teachers. The new school is built for four teachers as numbers are on the rise with 74 pupils expected next year. And while the school is looking to the future, it is very firmly rooted in the community of Enniskerry with five children on the roll who are the third generation of their families to attend.
Rector instituted in St Mark’s, Dundela
Revd Adrian Dorrian was instituted as rector of St Mark’s Dundela in the diocese of Down on Wednesday 28 March. Bishop Harold gave the address and Adrian’s friend and colleague from his days at theological college, Revd Gary McMurray, read the gospel. Adrian is no stranger to the diocese having served a three year curacy in St Mark’s, Newtownards and chaired the Down and Dromore Youth Council. Adrian also led a diocesan youth team to Beaver Cross Camp in our link diocese of Albany in 2009. He was incumbent of St Peter and St James’ in the Diocese of Connor for almost three years before being appointed to St Mark’s. This isn’t the only big event in Adrian’s life this year. He turned 30 this month and has plans to marry his fiance, Miss Anne Graham, in August.
Trinity on Trinity Monday
The Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, will be the preacher at this year’s Trinity Monday Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving. The service will take place in College Chapel on Monday 16 April at 10.30 am. The service is held following the announcement of the new TCD Scholars and Fellows by the Provost in Front Square at 10.00 am.
St Saviour’s looks back as it celebrates the big 4-0!
Portadown Times – So, it’s perhaps a new beginning on Saturday March 31 for the congregation at St Saviour’s Church of Ireland, Craigavon who are preparing for a week of special events and activities to celebrate 40 years of ministry in central Craigavon.
http://www.portadowntimes.co.uk/community/st-saviour-s-looks-back-as-it-celebrates-the-big-4-0-1-3657027
Bishops deny pushing school agenda
Irish Times – The Catholic bishops have rejected a contention that the programme to teach religion to pupils in community national schools was proposed and designed by the Catholic Church. A report on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme yesterday said new details had …
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0330/1224314098034.html
State gave commitments to Catholic Church on education
RTE.ie – Other religious leaders were clearly opposed to this. In a letter to the Department in 2007, Canon John McCullough of the Church of Ireland warned that it would be “inappropriate to separate denominational groups for religious education as this runs …
http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0328/educationfoi.html
‘Inappropriate’ for teachers to befriend pupils on Facebook – Quinn
TheJournal.ie -The Irish education minister says he cannot see how it could be appropriate for teachers to communicate with their students online.
http://www.thejournal.ie/inappropriate-for-teachers-to-befriend-pupils-on-facebook-quinn-399442-Mar2012/
Figurehead launched at world’s largest Titanic museum
Irish Times – The dedication, carried out by clerics from the Catholic, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist churches, was part of the countdown to Saturday’s opening of the six-storey Titanic Belfast exhibition. The Titanic Belfast building , in the new …
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0328/1224314008616.html
Ecclesiastical insurance group is hoping to spread the word here
Irish Times – “My remit is growth,” Ecclesiastical’s newly appointed managing director Ireland David Lane told me this week. “The board has given us the green light for a growth strategy.” Set up in 1887 to provide insurance cover for the Anglican church in Britain, …
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0330/1224314097251.html
Vatican report attempts mere excuse not explanation
Irish Times – Fr Tom Doyle writes – The report on the apostolic visitation reflects an exercise in irrelevancy. The visitors listened but did they hear? The report includes the standard apologies, blame for the bishops and religious superiors, and praise for all the church has done in digging into the clerical culture to determine why the horrendous epidemic occurred. But in reality, they looked for excuses rather than explanations. This “crisis” is not primarily about sexual molestation. It’s about the obsession with power and the corruption and stagnation of the clerical culture. The visitors were not about to pierce the protective veil that covers the institutional church, a veil that hides the reason the clericalised church is unravelling and the communion between bishops and people is ruptured. The total lack of accountability by the authoritarian model of the church is the root of the crisis.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2012/0327/1224313953836.html