From a Distance …
As the schools are closed we at CEIST are hoping to dedicate this page to diary entries from Principals, Deputy Principals, Teachers, Students, Ancillary Staff and Parents to describe their experiences of the current situation to date. Our hope is that this will present a more human perspective and help to keep us in touch with how our school community is coping. Please feel free to email in your thoughts/words of wisdom/resources/ideas to info@ceist.ie All are welcome and will hopefully be a support to us all.
Presentation Secondary School, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
Presentation Secondary School Clonmel have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Principal: Michael O’Louhglin This journal entry was kindly shared with CEIST by Presentation Secondary School, Clonmel Principal Michael O’Loughlin. In this piece, Michael says that his school are using Microsoft Office 365 and Microsoft Teams as means of providing online teaching and learning with their teachers and students during the school closure. In midst of challenging times, the staff have been exceptional in leading learning and support for all students. |
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Easter Message A special Easter video was kindly shared with CEIST by Presentation Secondary School Clonmel Principal Michael O’Loughlin. In this message both staff and students were asked to send in photos which represented “Hope” to them. In sharing this message Principal O’Loughlin says “Our Easter celebrations are a little different this year but our message still stays the same – where we experience hope we experience God. Happy Easter from all at Presentation Secondary School Clonmel.” |
Presentation College, Carlow
Presentation College, Carlow have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Principal: Ray Murray We would like to let all our students know we are thinking of them, missing them and hope they are keeping well. For this reason staff put together a video of messages for our students. Both staff and students enjoyed seeing familiar faces and the encouraging words and sentiments.
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Students Messages
The below piece gives views from a number of different students from all years in Presentation College Carlow to the current Covid-19 lockdown. |
St. Leo’s College, Carlow
St. Leo’s College, Carlow have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Principal: Niamh Broderick This journal entry was kindly shared with CEIST by St. Leo’s College Carlow Principal Niamh Broderick. Throughout this piece Principal Broderick says she is so proud of the commitment, innovation and absolute determination of both staff and students since the school closure. She compares the past few weeks to a whirlwind saying it is really important and helpful for us all to step back momentarily, to reflect and take stock.
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Deputy Principal: Imelda Whelan Journal entry shared by St. Leo’s College Carlow Deputy Principal Imelda Whelan. In this journal DP Whelan describes how the school spent a week preparing for the event of a possible school closure. Ensuring that students were able to access their Microsoft 365 accounts; passwords were reset; teachers upskilled through workshops delivered at lunchtimes by the Digital Strategy Team; a Staying Connected document was distributed to each student so that they could gather their teachers’ email addresses in a central place and document the work that they should be completing at home in the event of a school closure; Registration each morning focused solely on all of the above for the full week. So, when An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the closure of all schools, we felt as prepared as we could be in a short period of time.
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School Administrator: Helena McKenna The below resources were kindly shared with us by School Administrator Helena McKenna. Please click the link below to view.
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IT Teacher – Fergal Murphy
These newsletters are being sent out in the hopes that it will help make online teaching a bit easier. Moving to teaching online and using technology to mark students’ work is very challenging at the best of times. I hope that some of what are in the newsletters might be of use, but I don’t want to add extra stress or pressure on anyone thinking that they should be using loads of apps and websites or videos or whatever. We are all good teachers, in difficult circumstances, doing the best we can for our students. We do what we can, and that is enough. Please click links below to view newsletters by date. Tuesday 18th March – Supporting Online Teaching and Learning Friday 20th March – Supporting Online Teaching and Learning Sunday 22nd March – Supporting Online Teaching and Learning Tuesday 24th March – Supporting Online Teaching and Learning Thursday 26th March – Supporting Online Teaching and Learning Thursday 1st April – Supporting Online Teaching and Learning
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Leaving Certificate Student: Meadhbh Brown The below piece was taken from an interview given by Leaving Certificate Student Meadhbh Brown to Extra.ie. It is an excellent insight into a students perspective on the current situation.Please click the link below to view.
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TY Wellbeing Video Stay active, safe and well at home! Physical activity is so important for your overall wellbeing. Check out Ceola’s great TicToc video completed as part of her TY activity project for Ms. O’Neill. Great work!
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Students Reaction to Lockdown The below piece gives views from a number of different students from all years in St. Leo’s College Carlow to the current Covid-19 lockdown.
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Coláiste na Toirbhirte, Bandon, Co. Cork
Coláiste na Toirbhirte, Bandon have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Head and Deputy Head Girl’s
A special message from the Coláiste na Toirbhirte, Bandon Head Girls team Emily Walsh and Deputy Head Girl, Sadhbh O’Riordan. In this message the girls address their fellow students with a message of hope and solidarity for the whole school community during this time of isolation.
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Scoil Mhuire Trim, Co. Meath
Scoil Mhuire Trim have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Principal: Jacqueline Maher
This wonderful video was shared with CEIST from Scoil Mhuire Trim Principal Jacqueline Maher. The video was created as a special message to the students of Scoil Mhuire Trim from all teachers and staff to encourage them to stay positive and stay safe during these uneasy times of remote learning while schools are closed.
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Scoil Mhuire Trim Head Girls The special video was created by Scoil Mhuire Trim Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl to encourage social distancing and HSE guidelines amoungst all students and the wider community.
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Scoil Mhuire School Band “Gluais” This video was created by Leaving Certificate members of the school band Gluais who recorded the song “Hero” from the social distancing of their own homes to honour the Frontline Health Care workers.
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Presentation Secondary School, Waterford
Presentation Secondary School, Waterford have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Principal: Orla Bolger This journal entry was kindly shared with CEIST by Presentation Secondary School, Waterford Principal Orla Bolger. In this piece, Orla says since the scramble on 12th March to make sure everyone was ready for remote working the approach to learning and teaching has taken on a very different guise in the Presentation Waterford. As a school, the entire school community has taken on the task of replicating the functions of a school without the actual school building.
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Presentation Waterford Students A special message to all Presentation Secondary School, Waterford students from Qetsia Pamelo (Head Girl) and Grace Malone (Deputy Head Girl). Letter written by 5th year student Sophie Griffin entitled “Students in Isolation”.
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St. Brigid’s Secondary School, Killarney, Co. Kerry
St. Brigid’s Secondary School, Killarney have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Formal Friday Fundraiser St. Brigid’s Secondary School Killarney urged its students, teachers, parents and staff to get dressed up for Formal Friday which is a novel nationwide initiative by Today FM to raise funds to support charities aiding frontline staff during the Covid-19 pandemic. St Brigid’s Killarney embraced the project which encouraged people to wear ball gowns, tuxedos or their favourite fancy attire and dress up in solidarity for those who put on their uniforms every day to help those most in need. The only rule was that those who dressed up must also donate to the fund which raised over €150,000 nationwide. We in St. Brigid’s Killarney were delighted to contribute to the success of the Formal Friday initiative.
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Transition Year Students St. Brigid’s Secondary School Killarney TY students were asked to take time to reflect on what they were grateful for during the Coronavirus. Please click the link below to view. |
Presentation College, Headford, Co. Galway
Presentation College Headford have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Acting Principal: Aisling Mc Alpine The TY and 5th Year editorial team of the annual PCH student yearbook made a decision to publish this year’s Annual on-line. Our team of student editors wanted Leaving Certificate students in particular to have a year book as they venture to pastures new. Thank you to Mr. Joseph Kelly who has worked ‘from a distance’ to ensure completion of this year’s endeavour. The following is Acting Principal Aisling Mc Alpine’s address to the learning community in Presentation College Headford. Please click the link below to view.
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Coláiste Bríde, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
Coláiste Bríde, Clondalkin have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Principal: Marie-Therese Kilmartin Coláiste Bríde, Clondalkin Principal Marie-Therese Kilmartin has kindly shared a letter written to all schools by her in which she addresses her schools approach to teaching and learning throughout this pandemic. In this letter Principal Kilmartin stresses the importance of being a school leader and using the current situation to look forward, look outside to learn and bring this back to our school team.
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Student Video Message A special video message from the Coláiste Bríde, Clondalkin Head Girls team. |
Sacred Heart Secondary School, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
Sacred Heart Secondary School, Tullamore have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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First Year Students A special video message created by 1st Year students of Sacred Heart Secondary School, Tullamore was kindly shared with us. Throughout this message the 1st Year students stress the message “Stay home – Stay safe!”. They demonstrate new ways in which they are completing their school work, staying in touch with each other and the different activities they are doing in their homes each day.
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Presentation Secondary School, Co. Wexford
Presentation Secondary School, Wexford have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Principal: William Ryan Presentation Secondary School Wexford Principal William Ryan has kindly shared a journal entry with CEIST. In this piece Principal Ryan states that Presentation Wexford have devised a Remote Teaching timetable for students and staff that will work for the duration of the school closure. All students and teachers will work from this timetable. Teachers have been asked to be available at the allocated times and to assign students work for these allocated times. Likewise students are to be ready for these one hour slots for each subject.
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Student Head Girl Team A special message from our Head Girl Team- Aoise, Aine and Clara.
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St. Aloysius Girls Secondary School, St. Maries of the Isle, Sharman Crawford Street, Cork
St. Aloysius Girls Secondary School, Cork have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl Jiang and Maham A special message from St. Aloysius Girls Secondary School, Cork Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl Jiang and Maham was kindly shared with us. In this message the girls ask their fellow students to be patient, take care of each other by washing their hands and keeping to strict social distancing guidelines, but also to be mindful of themselves and others around them. In sharing this message school Principal Alexandria Savage said “As always we are ever so heartened by our girls looking after each other.” Please click the link below to view. |
St. Vincent’s Secondary School, Dundalk, Co. Louth
St. Vincents’s Secondary School, Dundalk have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Principal: Deirdre Mathews An interview given to the Irish Independent by St Vincent’s Secondary School, Dundalk Principal Deirdre Matthews was kindly shared with us. During this interview Principal Matthews says that her teachers and students have really stepped up to the mark during this pandemic. She also acknowledged the work carried out by the schools Deputy Principal Linda McCusker who coordinates ICT and who recently oversaw a project to update the schools ICT infrastructure and upskill all staff in the use of this technology for school work. |
Eureka Secondary School, Kells, Co. Meath
Eureka Secondary School, Kells have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
| TY Student: Laura Vaughan
Eureka Secondary School, Kells TY student Laura Vaughan has been extremely busy making cotton masks for local health care workers. This is such a lovely gesture at this time of need and her work has been greatly received by everyone. The school also held a competition for students to design an Easter Egg. All entries were fantastic and a wonderful way to bring the school together over the Easter period. |
Sacred Heart Secondary School, Drogheda, Co. Louth
Sacred Heart Secondary School, Drogheda have kindly shared the below piece with us.
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Principal: Leoni Carroll Journal entry shared by Sacred Heart Secondary School, Drogheda Principal Leoni Carroll. During this address Principal Carroll praises her students saying the spirit and resilience they have demonstrated during the past few weeks can only be admired. The weekly school assembly is being continued virtually through email with contributions from students and staff of reflections they wished to share, prayers and inspirational quotes and most importantly the feel good Friday song suggestions, all of which are part of our normal assembly.
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Head Girl: Megan Devin Below is a special message from Sacred Heart Secondary School, Drogheda Head Girl Megan Devin. In this message Megan gives tips for all her fellow students to help keep them motivated and positive and this time. Please click the link below to view. |
Presentation Secondary School, Tralee, Co. Kerry
Presentation Secondary School Tralee have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Principal: Mary Kenelly Journal entry shared by Presentation Secondary School Tralee Principal Mary Kenelly. In this piece Principal Kenelly says that the school have just completed its first ever virtual well-being week in place of our normal week. During this week the school shared prayers, reflections, activities and supports. The singer Owen Rua also created a special video clip in dedication to the Presentation Tralee students. |
Presentation Secondary School, Loughboy, Co. Kilkenny
Presentation Secondary School Kilkenny have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Student Choir The students of Presentation Secondary School Kilkenny created a special video of the choir singing “When You Believe” by Stephen Schwatrz and Hanz Zimmer in dedication to the wonderful and heroic work being undertaken by frontline staff in Ireland. Each piece is provided separately from all students through home video links. This is a truly lovely video and we are very thankful to Presentation Secondary School Kilkenny for sharing it with us. |
Presentation De La Salle College, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow
Presentation De La Salle College, Bagenalstown, have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Deputy Principal: John Cullinanc John Cullinane, Deputy Principal of Presentation De La Salle in Bagenalstown spoke to Newstalk Breakfast advocating that Mobile networks should provide unlimited data to allow school children complete their assignments. DP Cullinane said that teachers and students have been absolutely fantastic in their approach to adapt to new ways of teaching and learning online but that the reality is that this approach requires a huge amount of internet data usage. For this reason he is calling on internet providers to allow for unlimited data usage to school staff and students to facilitate online learning during this pandemic. |
Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise, Co. Laoise
Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Student: Kate Corrigan 6th Year An interview given to the “Laois Today” by 6th year student Kate Corrigan was kindly shared with us by Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise. In this interview Kate discusses her daily routine for study and school work at the moment, supports available to her, exercise, wellbeing and interaction with friends. Kate acknowledges that this time is obviously a really difficult time for anyone let alone a leaving cert student and says that everyone we really appreciate some clarity. |
St. Mary’s Secondary School, New Ross, Co. Wexford
St. Mary’s Secondary School, New Ross have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Principal: John Michael Porter An interview given to the New Ross Standard was kindly shared with us by St. Mary’s Secondary School, New Ross Principal John Michael Porter. In this interview Principal Porter said that in all his years teaching and as a principal he has never seen anything on the scale of the coronavirus. He also tells how secondary school teachers across the district have been going above and beyond to help their students keep on track as much as possible with their academic studies during these long days of coronavirus restrictions. |
St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge, Co. Meath
St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Deputy Principal: Niamh Sheridan Journal entry shared by St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge Deputy Principal Niamh Sheridan. In this message DP Sheridan tells of how her school are keeping in touch with their students through a number of different ways. Examples include keep fit challenges, photo of the day competition, soccer challenge, guidance updates on mindfulness, religious reflections shared to every student to help them reflect in this new quiet time they have and teachers who are delivering online curriculum in new and exciting ways. |
Presentation Secondary School, Mitchelstown, Cork
Presentation Secondary School, Mitchelstown have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Principal: Lorraine O’Keeffe Journal entry shared by Presentation Secondary School, Mitchelstown Principal Lorraine O’Keeffe. In the message Principal O’Keeffe gives credit to the Digital Strategy team who set up a great plan with Microsoft Office 365 over the past year. The school are continuing their weekly newsletter with an addition Student Wellbeing newsletter to help everyone stay connected to school. Recorded messages, including CEIST prayers, are also shared with the school at the beginning and end of each week. |
Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School, Drimnagh, Dublin 12
Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School, Drimnagh have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Principal: Pádhraic Gibbons Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School, Drimnagh Principal Pádhraic Gibbons has outlined a list of what has been put in place in the school to help aid students and staff during the school closure. Examples include Microsoft Office for teaching and learning, Webex for staff meetings, HSCL linking in with parents and school phone diverted to selected staff mobiles. Principal Gibbons acknowledges the workload associated with online school is overwhelming in many respects and so is very happy to share all resources with fellow CEIST schools. |
Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon, Co. Longford
Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Principal: Josephine Donohue A special message shared with us from Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon Principal Josephine Donohue. In this address she highlights the advantages of being an iPad school in dealing with this new situation. Principal Donohue has linked in with the parents by phone and the timetable has been rearranged for them, so as to help ease stress at home. She also congratulated all school staff and students for their trojan work.
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Our sincerest condolences to the staff and school community of Mercy SS, who are reeling after the death of their beloved colleague Inma De La Fuente on Friday evening. This morning the father of two of their students passed away suddenly. May they be granted eternal peace. As Josephine says ‘ It is just so difficult not to be physically present to comfort people in the usual way’.
Coláiste Muire, Ennis, Co. Clare
Coláiste Muire, Ennis have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Principal: Jean Pound A special message shared with us from Coláiste Muire, Ennis Principal Jean Pound. In this address Principal Pound tells us that her school have donated all school PPE equipment to the local hospital and nursing homes. She also praises her staff and students for the sterling work of remote Teaching and Learning. |
Coláiste Bríde, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
Coláiste Bríde, Enniscorthy have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Deputy Principal: Niall Moynihan Since the month of February, before the closure of schools, Mr. Lee Watson, a student-teacher at Coláiste Bríde Enniscorthy, organised a team of student journalists ranging from 1st to 5th year. The students were tasked with writing articles in response to the current events unfolding in the world, their first working title, “COVID-19: Can we stop it?”. The magazine was further developed via Microsoft Teams following the closure of schools. There are hopes to continue this project into future issues, involving not only the original team, but due to the nature of the website, it is also possible for any student around the country to get involved via the website’s contact page. |
Presentation Secondary School, Ballyphehane, Co. Cork
Presentation Secondary School, Ballyphehane, Co. Cork have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Principal: Nicola Barrett Below is a special video message from Principal Nicola Barrett titled “Feel Good Friday”. In this video Nicola shares her feel good moment, (her puppy Croí), and acknowledges the hard work completed by all students and staff, encouraging them to take care of themselves and enjoy the sunshine. Please click the link below to view. |
Christ King Girls’ Secondary School, Cork
Christ King Girls Secondary School, Cork have kindly shared the below pieces with us.
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Principal: Richel Long Principal Richel Long has published special video messages to students of Christ King Girls School, Cork. The first video was directed to Leaving Certificate students regarding remote study and remote learning techniques during school closure. A second video addressed to all students was also created recently. Richel used Zoom to record these message and is also using this tool to for video conferencing with staff. During her message Principal Long advised our students to structure their day and timetable study throughout the day. Being sure to take time for mindfulness and breaks. Principal Long also expressed how proud she is of all our students who are adhering so respectfully to all the warnings given by the HSE and An Garda Siochana re social distancing and the corona virus.Please click below to view video messages:• Week 1: Leaving Certificate Students Message • Week 2: Message to all students |
