a program showcase - Child Care Exchange
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PROGRAM SHOWCASE exchange
Reprinted with permission from Exchange magazine. Visit us at www.ChildCareExchange.com or call (800) 221-2864. Multiple use copy agreement available for educators by request.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
a program showcase Scoil Iognaíd Rís by Michael Kalinowski
The Irish Christian Brothers established Ignatius Rice Primary School in 1851 and shortly thereafter erected a solid stone two-story building. Downstairs were two large classrooms. The upper story acted as a residence for the Brothers. The original building was located slightly in front of the facade of the pres-
ent school. On the 26th of September 1860, it opened its doors to a large influx of pupils. “Two hundred and sixty boys were put on the rolls that day, but many others had to be excluded for lack of space” (C.B.S. Primary School web site, see For Further Information). The current red brick school building was opened in 1953. Scoil Iognáid Rís is an all-boys school for 260 pupils from 7 to 11 years. “Our aim is to enable each child in our care to live a full life as a child; to help him identify and develop his talents, so that his full potential is reached. In the tradition of Blessed Edmund Rice and the Christian Brothers, each child is taught respect for himself and for others in an environment that teaches Catholic and Christian values. We seek to develop the whole child — personal, academic, spiritual, and social” (C.B.S. Primary School web site, see For Further Information). In 2008 the Christian Brothers handed 93 schools over to the Edmund Rice School Trust, a lay body. Denis O’Reilly has been on the school staff for 31 years, and served as principal for ten. He notes two relatively recent changes — the integration of children with special needs, and the inclusion of an increased number of children of foreign nationals: PHOTOGRAPHS BY M. KALINOWSKI
Ignatius Rice Primary School is located in Kilkenny, a popular southeast Irish tourist destination with many medieval buildings, including a castle, on the River Nore. Kilkenny celebrates its 400th anniversary as a city this year. The school was the first to be named after Edmund Ignatius Rice (Iognáid Rís), born in 1762 in Callan, 10 miles from Kilkenny. Rice forged a successful career in business and, after a tragic accident that killed his wife and left his daughter disabled, devoted his life to the education and service of the poor. He founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and conceived the idea of a ‘Catholic Model School,’ eventually establishing 11 such programs in Ireland. Several others were later established throughout the world. Rice died in 1844 in Waterford, and became a saint in 1996.
“We are mainly a Catholic School, but now have a growing number of non-Catholic children, including some Muslim and Hindu children. Kilkenny is well served with a number of primary school options: single sex, co-ed, one multi-denominational, one Irish lay school, one Church of Ireland school, and three specialized schools. There is no Muslim option in Kilkenny, however. Catholic schools have a strong religious ethic, which Muslim families may favor, even though the specific religion is not their own. The school is well known for the breadth of its extra- curricular a ctivities. Sports include hurling, Gaelic foot-
ball, soccer, swimming, basketball, and athletics. There is also a boys’ choir and instruction in piano, Irish dancing, drama, a chess club, and, for the older boys, French and guitar instruction. There is a sister school in Peru for which they raise funds every year.” Mr. O’Reilly reflected on his own history with the school saying, “When I started teaching, we had large classes with 45 children and little equipment. Now the average class size is 28, although it varies by school and by classroom. When I was a teacher, the method of instruction was ‘Chalk Talk.’ Now there is a much
PROGRAM SHOWCASE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
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EXCHANGE
greater variety of materials available and most schools are connected to the Internet with free broadband access. The staff of a school is hugely important. We have a very hard-working, dynamic staff that work well together as a team. They share their talents with the children and are very willing to give their time after school with games and activities. We also have a very, very strong Parents Council and we work closely with them. We all work in partnership together for the good of the school.” When I asked Mr. O’Reilly what was the hardest part of his job as an administrator, he responded without any hesitation: “Dealing with people, and perfecting people skills. That was hardest when I moved from being a teacher. As a principal, I deal with parents, staff members, boards, and the community. Trying to keep my cool and keeping things in perspective is very important.”
For further information contact: Mr. Denis O’Reilly, Principal Ignatius Rice School Stephens Street Kilkenny, Ireland [email protected] homepage.eircom. net/~cbsprimarykilkenny
The Program Showcases were developed by Michael Kalinowski as a component of the World Forum on Early Care and Education. They are intended to highlight the work of particularly interesting, unique, and/or exceptional early childhood programs around the world. Selected programs will appear in future issues of Exchange, and are also available on www.ChildCareExchange.com.
PROGRAM SHOWCASE exchange
Reprinted with permission from Exchange magazine. Visit us at www.ChildCareExchange.com or call (800) 221-2864. Multiple use copy agreement available for educators by request.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
a program showcase Scoil Iognaíd Rís by Michael Kalinowski
The Irish Christian Brothers established Ignatius Rice Primary School in 1851 and shortly thereafter erected a solid stone two-story building. Downstairs were two large classrooms. The upper story acted as a residence for the Brothers. The original building was located slightly in front of the facade of the pres-
ent school. On the 26th of September 1860, it opened its doors to a large influx of pupils. “Two hundred and sixty boys were put on the rolls that day, but many others had to be excluded for lack of space” (C.B.S. Primary School web site, see For Further Information). The current red brick school building was opened in 1953. Scoil Iognáid Rís is an all-boys school for 260 pupils from 7 to 11 years. “Our aim is to enable each child in our care to live a full life as a child; to help him identify and develop his talents, so that his full potential is reached. In the tradition of Blessed Edmund Rice and the Christian Brothers, each child is taught respect for himself and for others in an environment that teaches Catholic and Christian values. We seek to develop the whole child — personal, academic, spiritual, and social” (C.B.S. Primary School web site, see For Further Information). In 2008 the Christian Brothers handed 93 schools over to the Edmund Rice School Trust, a lay body. Denis O’Reilly has been on the school staff for 31 years, and served as principal for ten. He notes two relatively recent changes — the integration of children with special needs, and the inclusion of an increased number of children of foreign nationals: PHOTOGRAPHS BY M. KALINOWSKI
Ignatius Rice Primary School is located in Kilkenny, a popular southeast Irish tourist destination with many medieval buildings, including a castle, on the River Nore. Kilkenny celebrates its 400th anniversary as a city this year. The school was the first to be named after Edmund Ignatius Rice (Iognáid Rís), born in 1762 in Callan, 10 miles from Kilkenny. Rice forged a successful career in business and, after a tragic accident that killed his wife and left his daughter disabled, devoted his life to the education and service of the poor. He founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and conceived the idea of a ‘Catholic Model School,’ eventually establishing 11 such programs in Ireland. Several others were later established throughout the world. Rice died in 1844 in Waterford, and became a saint in 1996.
“We are mainly a Catholic School, but now have a growing number of non-Catholic children, including some Muslim and Hindu children. Kilkenny is well served with a number of primary school options: single sex, co-ed, one multi-denominational, one Irish lay school, one Church of Ireland school, and three specialized schools. There is no Muslim option in Kilkenny, however. Catholic schools have a strong religious ethic, which Muslim families may favor, even though the specific religion is not their own. The school is well known for the breadth of its extra- curricular a ctivities. Sports include hurling, Gaelic foot-
ball, soccer, swimming, basketball, and athletics. There is also a boys’ choir and instruction in piano, Irish dancing, drama, a chess club, and, for the older boys, French and guitar instruction. There is a sister school in Peru for which they raise funds every year.” Mr. O’Reilly reflected on his own history with the school saying, “When I started teaching, we had large classes with 45 children and little equipment. Now the average class size is 28, although it varies by school and by classroom. When I was a teacher, the method of instruction was ‘Chalk Talk.’ Now there is a much
PROGRAM SHOWCASE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
35
EXCHANGE
greater variety of materials available and most schools are connected to the Internet with free broadband access. The staff of a school is hugely important. We have a very hard-working, dynamic staff that work well together as a team. They share their talents with the children and are very willing to give their time after school with games and activities. We also have a very, very strong Parents Council and we work closely with them. We all work in partnership together for the good of the school.” When I asked Mr. O’Reilly what was the hardest part of his job as an administrator, he responded without any hesitation: “Dealing with people, and perfecting people skills. That was hardest when I moved from being a teacher. As a principal, I deal with parents, staff members, boards, and the community. Trying to keep my cool and keeping things in perspective is very important.”
For further information contact: Mr. Denis O’Reilly, Principal Ignatius Rice School Stephens Street Kilkenny, Ireland [email protected] homepage.eircom. net/~cbsprimarykilkenny
The Program Showcases were developed by Michael Kalinowski as a component of the World Forum on Early Care and Education. They are intended to highlight the work of particularly interesting, unique, and/or exceptional early childhood programs around the world. Selected programs will appear in future issues of Exchange, and are also available on www.ChildCareExchange.com.
