Celebrations for CBS Primary School after first place finish in All-Ireland history competition

Maria Doyle with her victorious class

There were celebrations in the CBS Primary School in Chapel Street last Friday after Maria Doyle’s third class were notified that they had come first in an All-Ireland history competition.

The local school came out victorious in the ‘A Decade of Centenaries” category in the competition run by the Department of Education and Skills.

The project was entitled “The First World War – A Local History” and the project included several stories from individual children’s ancestors and their roles in the war, as well as research the pupils carried out on other local aspects including the sinking of the S.S. Dundalk on 14th October 1918.

Commenting on the win, the class teacher Ms Doyle said: “The pupils were thrilled when the news came through and as their teacher, I’mm delighted that their interest and work has been acknowledged.

They will receive their prize from the Minister for Education and Skills at an award ceremony in UCC on 14th May,” she said.

VEC advertises teaching jobs

Co. Louth VEC has this week advertised in the national press, and on its website, to fill teaching posts that are expected to arise in the new school year. The posts will be attached to its various schools and adult education centres across the county.

Dr. Pádraig Kirk, CEO of the VEC, said, “increasing student numbers in our schools and centres for education, exacerbated by recent staff retirements, and some maternity leave and career break scenarios, has given rise to the need to fill a cohort of teaching posts. The immediate future looks bright also for jobs as we will be opening two new schools next year and these will require teaching and ancillary staff also”.

The teaching positions currently available span a range of subject areas including Irish, Physical Education, Spanish, French, Science, Geography, Science/Biology, Maths, English and Business Studies.

Dr. Kirk points out that it is vital that prospective applicants are registered with the Teaching Council. “The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, T.D., will invoke Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act (2001) on 1st November this year. This will mean that it will only be possible to pay teachers who are registered with the Teaching Council out of funds made available by the Oireachtais”.

Completed applications for these posts will only be accepted on-line via the VEC’s website at www.louthvec.ie and must be submitted by the deadline of 4pm on 6th June. Dr. Kirk said that, “in the current climate this is a good news story. Jobs are vital to the local economy of Louth and the VEC will continue to do all it can to secure as many for the county as possible”.