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ASTI NEWS
NEWS
ASTI school steward training
Each year, the ASTI provides training for school stewards. The training provides an introduction to the information school stewards will need in order to support ASTI member staff in their schools. Topics covered include the role of the school steward, ASTI policy and structure, industrial relations procedures, contracts, salary, leave entitlements, redeployment, and board of management structure. A school steward training seminar held in Dublin last month was attended by Kathleen Desmond, Caritas College; Aoife Elster, Gaelcholaiste Chill Dara; Noel Gleeson, Drimnagh Castle CBS; Ailish Harkin, Presentation College, Terenure; Tom Hughes, Terenure College; Una Keenan, Templeogue College; Ann Kelly, Salesian College, Celbrige; Ita McAteer, Assumption Secondary School, Walkinstown; Andrew McDonnell; Rockbrook Park School; Michael McMullan, Beneavin College; Tom Noone, Ardscoil Eanna; Derek O’Donoghue, Scoil Dara, Kilcock; Andrew Phelan, Colaiste Phadraig, Lucan; Bridget Tinsley, Colaiste Naomh Mhuire, Naas; and, Michael White, Colaiste Bride, Clondalkin. Also photographed above are trainers Maire Collins and Desmond O’Toole, ASTI Executive Officers, and ASTI President Brendan Broderick.
Managing challenging behaviour The ASTI is hosting a professional development seminar on managing challenging behaviour on January 18 and 25. Early booking is advisable as places are limited – contact Eileen O’Rourke, Tel: 01-604 0170, or Email: asti.library@asti.ie.
Support teacher helps student to scholarship
Pictured with Heictor Gonzaga are (from left): Geraldine Hanley, maths teacher at Gort Community School; Dr James J. Browne, President, NUI Galway; Professor Jim Ward, Galway University Foundation Board member; and, Margaret Geraghty, language support teacher, Gort Community School.
Heictor Gonzaga is the first recipient of a new NUI Galway scholarship to help students from a non-EU country to study at the university. Originally from Brazil, Heictor moved to Gort, Co. Galway, three years ago and following a couple of months with the English language support system, he entered the Leaving Certificate class in Gort Community School. Principal of Gort Community School, ASTI member Denis Corry, said the achievement was very much a team effort: “From not knowing a word of English three years ago to getting 510 points in his Leaving Certificate this year is a remarkable achievement by any standards. I would like to commend his teachers and most particularly his language support teacher, Margaret Geraghty, for her wonderful support to all the Brazilian community over the last ten years.”
This issue in numbers...
1,000
10
Approximate number of teachers that will be lost from second-level schools if the pupil–teacher ratio is increased by one (P13)
ASTIR Volume 29: Number 5: November 2011
27%
Percentage of second-level teachers currently in temporary employment (P21)