Teachtaireacht ó Ghabriel: Scoil Nua Dara Leibhéal (A message from Gabriel: New Second Level School for Baile an Chollaigh)

Scoil Nua Dara Leibhéal

(New Second Level School for Baile an Chollaigh)

A thuismitheoirí, a chairde.

Litir an-thábhachtach. An féidir libh é a léamh le bhur dtoil? Please take a moment to read this email. It is very important.

Tá sé fógraithe ag an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna go n-osclófar iarbhunscoil nua i mBaile an Chollaigh. Tá an próiseas maidir le meánscoil nua a roghnú do Bhaile an Chollaigh beo anois.

The Department of Education and Skills has announced that a new secondary school will open in Ballincollig. The process to decide what kind of new secondary school it will be is underway.

Two patron bodies have applied to the Department of Education and Skills for the patronage of the new school:

• An Foras Pátrúnachta – a Gaelscoil Patron Body for multi-denominational Gaelscoileanna, agus
• Le Chéile Schools Trust – a Catholic Patron Body.

Parents of children in Ranganna 2, 3, 4, 5 agus 6 are asked to vote for their preferred patron by 16 Samhain (November) 2020.

It has been, and continues to be, my responsibility to ensure that all pupils in Gaelscoil Uí Ríordáin receive a first class education as Gaeilge. Likewise, I would like to ensure that the Department of Education and Skills provides a Gaelcholáiste that teaches all subjects as Gaeilge and that is totally independent like Gaelscoil Uí Ríordáin.

You may say that this is already available in Gaelcholáiste Choilm. However, Gaelcholáiste Choilm is an aonad (unit) answerable to Coláiste Choilm. It is not neamhspleách (independent) with its own independent staff.

My three children went to Gaelcholáiste Choilm and they got on very well there. They loved it and the staff are very dedicated and committed.

What I have been asking for over a long number of years is that Gaelcholáiste Choilm would become the third secondary school in Ballincollig. Fully independent, with both the capacity and authority to grow in line with demand, with its own Board of Management, príomhoide (principal), deputy principal and staff, while also retaining its own name “Gaelcholáiste Choilm”.

While there is no guarantee that a new Gaelcholáiste would amalgamate with Gaelcholáiste Choilm, we now have the opportunity to show the Department of Education and Skills that there is a very real demand for a fully independent Gaelcholáiste in Baile an Chollaigh, capable of meeting demand.

I am asking all parents of children who are eligible to vote to cast your vote through the following link: http://gaelscoil4all.ie/ballincollig/

If you will not be sending your child to a Gaelcholáiste please still use your vote as the Department of Education and Skills needs to understand that there are already two large English speaking secondary schools in Baile an Chollaigh and that we need an independent standalone Gaelcholáiste. Can you imagine Ballincollig without Gaelscoil Uí Ríordáin? We need to be ambitious. We need further capacity to support the ever-increasing demand for secondary school education trí Ghaeilge. Baile an Chollaigh deserves that at this time.

Is feidir leat cabhair a thabhairt (You can help by):

• Voting for An Foras Pátrúnachta: click on this link http://gaelscoil4all.ie/ballincollig/ (2nd to 6th class only – you will need your child’s PPS number).
• Asking other parents to vote for An Foras (even if they have another school in mind or wouldn’t choose this school – their votes can help ensure that your child attends a Gaelcholáiste!)
• Spread the word on social media (Facebook: New Gaelcholáiste for Ballincollig, WhatsApp, srl.)

Seolaim chugaibh roinnt doiciméid le breis eolas. Attached please find two documents with additional information.

Go raibh mile maith agaibh as an litir seo a léamh. Má tá aon cheist nó tuairim agat labhair liom ag (021) 4872752 nó seol rphost chugam ag runai@gaelscoiluiriordain.ie

Please ring me at (021) 4872752 or write to me at runai@gaelscoiluiriordain.ie if you have an observation or question.

Beir bua agus beannacht,

Gabriel.

P.S.  Caith do vóta le bhur dtoil. Please cast your vote. You have a vote for each child in Ranganna 2 –6.

Gaelcholáiste_Bileog (002)

Réamheolaire_Prospectus