Kildare support to secondary schools programme
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This presentation will reflect on Kildare Library Service's award winning programme of events, workshops and classes aimed at supporting the school curriculum.
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Kildare support to secondary schools programme
- 1. Presented by Gillian Allen And Brian Mulcahy
- 2. Annual programme of events, workshops and classes Aimed at supporting the curriculum, career and personal development of second level students in Kildare First ran in the academic year 2012/13 Provides opportunities for young people to learn in an interactive way outside of the classroom Majority of events take place in the community library Kildare, Naas and Leixlip Libraries chosen as venues for the programme
- 3. Promotion of Kildare Library Service Supporting Literacy and Numeracy Early School Leavers Further Education
- 4. Input from School Completion Programme Coordinators Meetings with school principals and staff Choosing topics and facilitators Designing and printing the programme Taking bookings and ongoing communication with the schools
- 19. Shakespeare Workshops History and Appreciation of Art Support for the Special Topic in History
- 22. Personal Development Workshops Gaming Workshops Creative Writing Workshops Graphic Novel/Comic Workshops Local History Projects STEM Workshops Irish Language Workshops Digital Media Workshops Film Studies Lectures Mind Mapping Workshops
- 27. Involved since 2017-18 School year 3 secondary schools St Wolstan’s Girls secondary school. 750 students. Salesian’s boys Secondary school. 700 students. Celbridge Communty School mixed secondary school. Est. 2015 (junior cycle only)
- 29. Two main Secondary Schools Árdscoil Trionóide Total Enrolment: 831 Boys: 417 Girls 414 Athy Community College Deis school Total enrolment: 410 Boys: 229 Girls: 181
- 30. Internet safety training ( cyber safe Ireland, Webwise) In conjunction with safer internet day (6th February 2018) Lego workshops (story starter, improved literacy through creativity in story building) Talks on social issues eg consent, alcohol misuse linked to Healthy Ireland at Your Library for TY and Senior cycle.
- 31. Since 2012 over 23,000 students attended events from 12 different schools In 2017/18 to date over 4,500 students have attended events - up on previous years Feedback overwhelmingly positive from teachers and students “There was a huge amount of work put into the programme from the library and it was hugely beneficial to the school community. It was lovely to be able to use the library facility and it makes a great change for the students. They all plan to come back and visit in their free time.” Teachers and students, Colaiste Chiaran, Leixlip.
- 32. Engaging with teachers and principals Busy curriculum which is exam focused Cancellations at the last minute – inspectors or another more important event Possibly undervalued as it is a free programme Biggest success – developing strong links between secondary schools and the library service
- 34. Any questions??? Further information or copy of slides contact:celbridgelib@kildarecoco.ie
Editor's Notes
- Kildare Library Service Support to Secondary Schools Programme is an annual programme of events, workshops and classes aimed at supporting the school curriculum as well as career and personal development for students in secondary schools in Kildare. The programme was first ran in the academic year 2012/13 and has continued every year since then. The programme provides opportunities for young people to learn in an interactive way outside of the classroom setting. The majority of the programmed events take place in the community library thereby also encouraging the young people who participate to become familiar with the library space and the services that are available. It has initially ran as a pilot project through Kildare, Naas and Leixlip Libraries. Those three library branches were chosen as venues for the programme as they all had large secondary schools in their community, they all had suitable library space to hold large groups for the activities and they had supportive library staff who were willing to proactively engage with their local post-primary schools. Kildare Town in particular was chosen as a new large community school had just opened in September 2012. Both Naas and Kildare Libraries are also close to 6 of the 7 designated DEIS post primary schools in Kildare: Curragh Post Primary St. Conleth’s, Newbridge St. Paul’s Secondary School, Monasterevin Piper’s Hill College, Naas St. Farnan’s , Prosperous Ardscoil Rath Iomghain, Rathangan Leixlip Library has a large multipurpose space ideally suited for running the programme as well as being the location of Platform4 Digital Media and Recording Studio which is managed by the Arts Service. It also has 2 large secondary schools Colaiste Chiaran and Confey College. For that reason it was seen as an ideal location as the North Kildare centre for the programme.
- Promotion of Kildare Library Service Traditionally the secondary school years sees usage of the public library service by teens drop off as they get more involved in their academic studies, sport and hobbies and visiting the library is no longer seen as a cool thing to do. Most young people stop visiting their local library once they start second level education and often don’t return until they are adults and parents themselves. For this reason many young people are not aware of the services and events organised by the library aimed at students and young adults. This programme includes many interesting and relevant events and workshops during school hours. By encouraging teachers to bring their students as a class to visit the library it raises the awareness of what the modern public library service has to offer them and thereby increase the numbers of young people who take membership and visit the library in their own time outside of school hours. The library is seen as a fun and welcoming place to visit where young people can avail of the opportunity to try new things and get involved in their local community. Supporting Literacy and Numeracy Kildare Library Service has always had a history of good working relationships and partnerships with our primary schools but not enough had been done to forge similar links at post primary level. With the launch of Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life: The National Strategy to improve Literacy and Numeracy Among young people and the introduction of literacy and numeracy plans in secondary schools in 2012 it was seen as a good time to improve our links with them and actively support schools in the promotion of both literacy and numeracyThe Government’s strategy - Literacy and Numeracy For Learning and Life 2011 – 2020; has recognised the importance of libraries in the development of literacy and numeracy skills. Elements of this Programme such as the One Book, One Year Literacy Project, Author visits and Creative Writing Workshops, Maths Week, Science Week and Engineering Week events all provide additional support to schools in their literacy and numeracy plans while strengthening the links between the public library service and the schools. Early School Leavers & Further Education Almost 4,000 children a year in Ireland drop out of school between first and transition years. In addition only 24% of pupils go on to higher education from schools involved in the Deis-Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools Scheme. Kildare County Council is represented on the Kildare Children’s Services Committee and one of the 4 priority themes included in the KCSC 3 year plan was Early School Leaving. The Library Service has engaged with the School Completion Programme Co-ordinators in St. Paul’s Secondary School, Monasterevin, St. Farnan’s , Prosperous, Curragh/Kildare and Ardscoil Rath Iomghain, Rathangan to see what areas of interest we could include in the Programme for students who are most at risk of leaving school early. Another aim of this programme is to encourage students to engage in fun and interesting workshops and thereby encourage them to attend school , try new things and consider future career opportunities in areas they had not considered.
- Through KCCs work on Children’s and Young Peoples Service Committee the library service was able to link with the SCP Coordinators for the DEIS schools. They gave us good input when deciding what type of workshops and events to include in or exclude from the programme. This consultation and the consultation with teachers enables us to choose topics and then we can research and choose facilitators based on their experience and how they interact with young people. An initial meeting was held in each of the participating schools with members of the library team to discuss the programme, the benefits for the school and the students and to get suggestions and input on how the programme could be run and what should be included. Mailing lists for teachers were created along with lists of which subjects they teach to enable targeted promotional emails. The programme offered ideal opportunity to target the teachers in these school and offers them a programme of events to complement their classroom teaching methods and offer support to their literacy and numeracy plans. It enables them to stay informed about all the free services and supports the library can offer them e.g. book club sets, facilities for viewing films, computers and printing services, online and eServices etc The participating teachers sign up for regular emails and receive information on relevant events and services from their local library. A full colour programme is printed every year and distributed by email and in hard copy directly to every teacher in the participating schools at the end of August. This gives them time to timetable in the events into their school calendar in advance. This is especially beneficial for the TY Coordinators. Teachers are contacted by email regularly throughout the year to arrange bookings and ensure all events are well attended.
- The programme is divided into 3 sections - aimed at Junior Cycle, Senior Cycle and Transition Years Introduction to your local library – for first years. This is given as part of the induction week for the new students. Gives library staff an opportunity to meet with every first year in our town and introduce the library service to them. We organise a tour and show them study space, internet, Wifi and printing facilities, eServices – Mango Language Online, Universal Class, eReference and our eHistory services etc. Library staff have also gone out to the schools and demo’ed the eServices in the schools computer lab – some of our schools are now using tablets instead of books and the teachers are really interested in learning all about all the eServices the library has to offer free of charge. On these library tours we can also remind the students that the library isn’t just for study – we also have free workshops and events for teens throughout the year, young adult collections, manga, graphic novels, console games, DVDs and Box sets etc
- Junior Cycle especially First Year and Second Year has more opportunities for students to engage in fun activities than in the Senior Cycle. Teachers are really interested in the students having an enjoyable experience while also learning important course work. A case of identity – Forensics workshops we have run for the last 3 years with a company called Education Interactive who are based in Australia.
- This 90 minute workshops explores the importance of cyber safety with social networks, the dangers of drink spiking and the consequences of taking risks. The students have to investigate a murder and decide who did it based on the clues and forensic evidence. Who did Sally meet at the beach and how did she die? This is a science based workshop which we hold to tie into Science Week where students examine the crime scene and analyse the evidence including entomology, trace evidence, fingerprints, toxicology and much more – but it also incorporates the social and personal and health education – SPHE course because it also deals with issues such as cyber bullying and drink spiking.
- Feedback from these workshops has been fantastic – teachers are already enquiring about next years workshops.
- Over the years we have had many fabulous workshops for the Junior Cycle students – creative writing workshops are always popular (here’s one with poet and writer Dave Lordan in the middle last year)
- Over the years we’ve had creative writing workshops with Debbie Thomas, Nicola Pierce, Dave Rudden, Jane Mitchell, Here’s one with Oisin McGann
- Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
- One of our most popular workshops both for Junior and Senior Cycle students are the History Live workshops with Michael Moylan. Michael can bring any era in Irish history to life with his interactive, hands-on and entertaining workshops. Students get to touch the replicas of historical artefacts, wear the costumes and get a better understanding of the history of each era. Michael offers workshops on the 1916 Rising, The Stone Age, The Tudors, The First World War, Second World war and one of our most popular workshops – The Plantations -teachers request it every year because it seems to be quite a difficult topic to cover for some reason.
- Micheal brings a huge amount of weapons, uniforms, helmets and other artefacts with him – the kids love dressing up and of course holding the weapons. It really does bring the period of history they are studying to life.
- Michael can also design workshops to include local history or any event the teachers would like their class to cover. Teachers love this workshop because it really excites even the most unenthusiastic student and helps them understand the “boring” stuff. Michael has the skill of recognising the students who seem to be most bored and choosing them as the “volunteers” to get involved. Teachers have often said this is the most enthusiastic they have ever seen their students about history! He is hugely popular every year with both Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle teachers and is one of the first events fully booked.
- Tech Create Workshops which we held during Science Week 2017– Digital Fabrication Taster workshops which included a Demo of 3D design software, demo of 3D printer, introduction to robotics. Teachers are particularly enthusiastic about any workshops that can demonstrate new technology and how it relates to future careers.
- We have been very lucky to be able to develop really good relations with the Science and Engineering Depts in Maynooth University over the years. They also participate in the Secondary School Programme as part of Engineering Week, Science Week & Maths Week. This is a photo of the Maynooth University Robotics Club who organise visits to libraries each year as part of the Programme.
- The robots play a game of football in the library – the students and the teachers love it. This particular team were the European Champions in 2016. The staff from the University also use the opportunity to talk to the students about engineering and the future of robotics emphasising the importance of maths and science in the students future careers.
- Over the years we have learned that teachers are very reluctant to bring Senior Cycle students out of the school to engage in workshops unless the event is curriculum based and of benefit to the students for their exams and revision. With the result that we have reduced what we offer over the years to 3 or 4 events that support the curriculum but attendance is always very good. Shakespeare continues to be a difficult topic for a lot of students and teachers are delighted to get any opportunity to introduce them to the plays in a fun and interactive way. We run two workshops each year one for 5th Years which is an introduction to the plot, characters and sequence of events. For the 6th Years we run another workshop to help students prepare for answering exam questions including in depth discussion about themes encouraging critical thinking and opinions. The History and Appreciation of Art is always the most difficult part of the Leaving Cert Art paper and teachers admit that students often struggle with it. We are very lucky to have Dr. Maebh O’Regan who also lectures in the National College of Art and Design to deliver 2 x 90 minute workshops from a choice of 5 different topics including Irish Art and the Gallery Visit and new to the syllabus last year Understanding Lucien Freud. Support for the Special Topic in History is delivered by Mario Corrigan Local Studies Executive Librarian. Mario holds a seminar each year where he talks to the students about how to chose their special topic, gives tips on how to create a successful project and where to find relevant sources and documents. This is an ideal opportunity for us to introduce students to the many resources that are available in the Kildare Local Collections and online in our eHistory service while helping them with their research.
- We also have run events to mark College Awareness Week over the last few years – Here’s Education Consultant Catherine O’Connor, student recruitment officer in Trinity College with a groups of students talking about making the Transition from Secondary School to College.
- Catherine talked to students about the challenges that will face them in 3rd Level including Making informed choices about college courses Preparing for change Getting to know how the third level system works What students face in the first weeks and months at college How to manage the many challenges Where and when to look for help Living at home or away With the number of students that drop out of college in First Year each year teachers felt this was an area that they hadn’t been covering and the feedback was really positive for this workshop.
- Transition year is the year that allows students and teachers the opportunity to try new things, explore new interests and they also have more dedicated time for trips outside the school and non curriculum based activities. Over the years we have tried many different types of workshops with TY students including anti-Bullying and Personal Development Workshops, Gaming Workshops, Creative Writing Workshops
- Because TY students have more time they are able to participate in a series of workshops. For example Dave Lordan delivered 3 X 3 hour Creative Writing workshops with TYs for the last few years that was aimed specifically at teens who had shown an interest in writing, drawing or broadcasting. At the end of the series of 3 workshops the teens produced both a publication and a podcast which they published online. Feedback from the teachers on this workshop series was really positive with teachers reporting that those who participated felt it had really increased their self-confidence and their expressive skills.
- TY Sound Engineering Course – run in partnership with the Arts Office – this is a 3 day course that focuses on the art of recording. Participants learn how to adjust, augment and adapt recorded sound using the most up to date industry standard equipment. Participants also become familiar with all the equipment in a recording studio and how to use it appropriately. The programme is delivered in Leixlip Library’s Audio and Digital Media Studio, Platform 4 or the Arts Service also have a mobile recording studio that can travel out to the schools. This course is delivered by Paul Dowling a freelance recording/mixing engineer.
- Philip Barrett has worked with us from the beginning of the programme in 2012 to deliver Comic/Graphic Novel Workshops with TY students. Over 2 x 90 minute workshops students learn how to draw and develop a wall of panels (page of a comic). Feedback from these workshops are always really positive and are always one of the first workshops to book up.
- Literacy Project aimed at Junior Cycle and Transitions Years Library Service will lend 120 copies of each title Students, teachers, parents and families are encouraged to read the book together Schools organise art, creative writing and history projects where applicable based on the themes of the book Some of the titles also have films based on the novel that can be shown in the library. If the title is historical then we can arrange for a History Live Workshop to tie in with the project Books are borrowed on a block loan and providing the titles are available schools can participate as often as they wish. We ask teachers each year around May to suggest titles they want to include for the following year. This year for Junior Cycle we included Coraline, Girl Missing, A Monster Calls, Wilderness and Wonder For TYs we included Room, Brooklyn, The Great Gatsby, The Runners by Fiachra Sheridan . In 2016 we included a graphic novel – Blood Upon the Rose to tie in with the Commemorations For our first year in 2012/13 to mark the anniversary of the Titanic we included the novel Spirit of the Titanic and Nicola Pierce visited the schools and gave a presentation on how she researched the book. The students loved it.
- Since the introduction of the Support to Secondary School Programme in the school year September 2012 over 6 years we have had over 23,000 student attended events from 12 different second level schools attending workshops, talks, shows, films, author visits etc in Kildare, Naas and Leixlip Libraries. In 2016/17to date we have had over 4,500 visits – so the success of the programme has continued to build year on year. Feedback from all of the schools who participated in the programme has been overwhelmingly positive. Through their involvement with the programmes both teachers and students are recognising the fantastic resource the library is within their communities. Students who have never been in the library before are now members and regular users outside of school hours. Conclusion The Support to Secondary Schools has proven over the 5 years we have developed it to be a very worthwhile project. We have been lucky to have been approved funding for the next school year 2017/18 and we plan to extend the project to include schools in Celbridge.
- The main challenge is always going to be engaging with the teachers, to get the information to them, to get feedback or suggestions for the programme from them. A way around this is to arrange a meeting with the principal or department heads before they finish for summer to discuss the programme for the following September, the mailing lists, sending in the brochure and then emailing the PDF to them at the start of each term. The have a very busy curriculum and we really never expect the exam years to engage with the programme which is why we focus more on the Transition Years, First and Second Years. It can be very difficult to schedule a suitable date for the workshops – that is why we ask them to book early and we chose a date and time that suits the school, the facilitator and the library. They have a tendency to cancel or postpone events if something more urgent comes up – school inspectors, forgotten sports days, half days etc. There is a huge amount of management, reminder emails/phone calls and general running around after teachers and facilitators. The library staff who work on this project in each location have to be very organised and patient people! The Support to Secondary Schools has proven over the 6 years we have developed it to be a very worthwhile project. We have been lucky to have been approved funding for the next school year 2018/19 and we plan to extend the project to include schools in Celbridge.
- Kildare Library Service won the Chambers Excellence in Local Government Best Library Service Award in 2017 for the Support to Secondary School Programme.