The Speaking of Irish

The Speaking of Irish

Gaelscoil Uí Chéadaigh

School Details

The Aims of the School

Gaelscoil Uí Chéadaigh is an all-Irish, co-educational, Catholic school. We aim to provide an excellent education through the medium of Irish. We strive to cultivate a positive attitude towards and love of the Irish language and culture.

All children, irrespective of linguistic, social, religious background or nationality are welcome and respected in Gaelscoil Uí Chéadaigh.

The Board of Management and the staff of the school aim to create a happy atmosphere which fosters the development of the whole child on an intellectual, moral, spiritual, social and emotional level.

We work with the children to develop their self esteem and to foster their love of learning.

Irish

• Irish is the language of instruction and the language of communication amongst teachers, children, management and parents/guardians (where possible) in Gaelscoil Uí Chéadaigh.
• Irish is a living language within the classroom and without, in the schoolyard, and in the vicinity of the school.
• Irish is the language of communication at social functions, sporting occasions, school tours and at any other activity where we are present as a school.

School Rules

1. Irish is the language of the school. Always speak Irish in the classroom, in the yard and at all school events.
2. We ask parents and everyone involved with the school to help us.

The Board of Management

Irish is the language of communication amongst members of the Board. The meetings of the Board of Management in schools under the Patronage of An Foras Patrúnachta must be conducted through Irish therefore all Board members are required to have a working knowledge of Irish. The Board oversees the Irish Policy in the school.

Parents

Parents are encouraged to use whatever Irish they have in and around the school environment.

Parents are further encouraged to use Irish in the home, the “cúpla focal” (few words), short phrases or sentences whenever they can. A positive attitude towards Irish in the home makes a significant contribution to the work of the school.The Curriculum

The school follows the Primary School Curriculum as laid down by the Department of Education & Skills with a special emphasis on Irish music, song, Irish dancing & Gaelic football which are integral to the spirit of our Gaelscoil.

Parents are further encouraged to use Irish in the home, the “cúpla focal” (few words), short phrases or sentences whenever they can. A positive attitude towards Irish in the home makes a significant contribution to the work of the school.

The Curriculum

The school follows the Primary School Curriculum as laid down by the Department of Education & Skills with a special emphasis on Irish music and song, Irish dancing and Gaelic football which are integral to the spirit of our Gaelscoil.

Immersion Education

We speak to the children in Irish from the start in Junior Infants and throughout their time in the school. We use the early total immersion method of language acquisition and English begins to be taught from Senior Infants on.

Initiative to help foster the speaking of Irish

We aim to encourage the use of Irish as the language of communication amongst the children in class, in the yard and at school events. We recognize individual efforts to speak Irish with a merit award system. Each child has a green card initially, with his/her name on it, on display in their classroom. A child who is noticed speaking/discussing/playing in Irish on a regular basis gets awarded a sticker. When this card is full he/she receives a little prize and goes around to the other classes to show how well they are doing. When the green card is completed the child then moves on to complete a yellow one when a further award can be achieved.

Buddy System

The Senior classes accompany the Infant classes to the yard and back each day. They hold the Infant’s hand and speak Irish together on route.

Gaelscoil Uí Chéadaigh – The Speaking of IrishLth 1