Mobility to Ireland 09th – 14th March
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- Written by Super User
- Category: Mobilities
Comenius Mobility to Ireland 09th – 14th March
The run up to the Comenius mobility in Ireland was hectic as our small school, St. Kevin’s CC prepared to host nearly 50 visitors. The group stayed in the Clarion Hotel, a short walk from the school, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre and the bus into Dublin City.
Monday 10th
Everyone arrived in St. Kevin’s at 9.30am. The Principal Mr. Lowry welcomed everyone to the school.
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The group then listened to some short presentations about St. Kevin’s and the steps it takes to prevent Early School Leaving. Ms McGee spoke about DEIS, Ms Norris About her role as HSCL (Home, School, Community Liaison) and Mr Whelan spoke about his role as SCP (School Completion Programme) officer.
After this meeting the students played some icebreaker games in the PE Hall of St. Kevin’s while the teachers had an opportunity to observe teaching and learning in St. Kevin’s.
After lunch, the group travelled to Dublin city and took a short walk through the Temple Bar area, past Trinity College and up to St. Stephen’s green where they went on a Viking Splash tour of Dublin City.
Tuesday 11th
It was time for both students and teachers to do some work. Teachers met to discuss the final products of the project and to compile all information collected already, in particular best practices.
The students went to class with the Irish students where they got a chance to experience teaching and learning – Irish style.
Thankfully the sun was shining when the coach picked everyone up at the hotel to take them to the Dublin Mountains. The group hiked for over two hours and the views of Dublin city and the surrounding area were spectacular.
There was not much time to freshen up that evening as the group had to be in the Arlington Hotel in Dublin’s Dame St for dinner and a Show by 7.30. Irish music and dancing was the order of the night. A couple of our visiting teachers even managed to get themselves on stage to strut their stuff.
Wednesday 12th
A full day, action packed adventure at Causy Farm in Co. Meath.
Causy Farm is a working farm that offers visitors a glimpse of Irish living. Students and teachers took part in a number of activities including:
Bread baking,
Hurling,
Bodhrán playing, wall graffiti
cow milking, and bog jumping,
all culminating in everyone dancing the ‘Siege of Ennis’ in one of the farm’s out buildings.
Thursday 13th
Once again it was time for the teachers to do some work. The mobility to Reims needed to be planned and the final preparations needed to be made to the contents of our final products. The students got a chance to experience some of the rewards/encouragements given to the Irish students who might be at risk of Early School Leaving as they went bowling in Palmerstown.
Thursday afternoon was the first chance many people had to relax and take it easy as the visitors had a free afternoon in Dublin city. Some visited the Guinness Brewery, others Trinity College or the Science Museum and yet others choose to stroll around Dublin City and soak up the atmosphere.
Friday 14th
The meeting was held in the Hotel this time as everyone would leave from there and do so at different times. Final preparations and homework checks were made for the Reims mobility. Slowly the group got smaller and the mobility came to an end. From an Irish perspective I would like to thank the weather for playing with us this time and also my partners in this project who made the mobility a huge success.