Welcome to the Rush and Lusk Educate Together National School Web Resource

The school opened its doors for its first intake of pupils on Monday, 1st September 2003.

A Few words from the new Principal

I AM VERY HAPPY to be part of the new Rush and Lusk Educate Together National School. I have been working as a primary teacher for many years in a number of different schools, including St. Kilian’s German School and Bayside Senior Primary School. During my time in Bayside I was fortunate to be granted leave to take up two very exciting and fulfilling positions that contributed greatly to my professional development. The first was my six years spent working as an APSO teacher in Lesotho, Southern Africa, where I taught English at second-level and in the Teacher Training College. More recently I worked as project co-ordinator for an innovative curriculum project in Interculturalism and Inclusion with the CDVEC Curriculum Development Unit. This whole-school research project supported three schools in introducing intercultural policies and action plans into their school communities.

Through my appointment to this principalship, I have become a member of a very vibrant team, whose aim is to work collaboratively to develop Rush and Lusk Educate Together School into a caring and enriching learning environment for the children. The opening of the school coincides with many exciting developments in education in Ireland, particularly the introduction of the Revised Primary School Curriculum, which offers clear objectives to enable all children to reach their full potential, as unique individuals and as social beings. A wide range of teaching methodologies is encouraged in the Revised Curriculum, with increased emphasis on co-operative learning through group and pair-work.

In order to reach their fullest potential, it is important that children feel accepted and affirmed in whom they are and that they learn to respect and value difference in others. This understanding is developed in an environment that acknowledges and celebrates social, cultural and religious diversity and promotes values-based learning. This approach is fundamental to the ethos of an Educate Together School. Establishing such an ethos in Rush and Lusk Educate Together School will be an important task ahead for all parts of the new school community - the Board of Management, teachers, parents and pupils working together.

I look forward very much to being part of this school community and to contributing to the realisation of a school-vision we can be proud of.

Marie Moreau

Ireland Soccer Jersey Online at E-Bay

AS FUNDRAISING FOR THE NEW YEAR GETS UNDERWAY a football shirt recently signed by all the Irish team has gone on sale at E-Bay - and all funds raised will go to RaLET.

See the auction H E R E - and if you know someone who might be interested in bidding let them know!

Three New Educate Together Schools Open - September 2003

Three New Educate Together Schools Open Today

*** SEPTEMBER PRESS RELEASE FROM WWW.EDUCATETOGHETHER.IE ***

After a difficult and trying summer, Educate Together is thrilled to announce that three new schools have opened their doors this morning. The schools are in Rush, Newbridge and Wicklow. This brings the total of Educate Together primary schools in Ireland to 31. It is the fastest growing sector in Irish education and has doubled in size over the past four years.

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The Rush and Lusk Educate Together School

The Rush & Lusk Educate Together (RaLET) Association came into existence following a public meeting in December 2002 in the Community Centre in Rush. The meeting addressed by Mr Paul Rowe, Chief Executive of Educate Together and by representatives of the ET schools in Donabate and Swords identified a need for a new multi-denominational school to serve the Rush and Lusk area. A committee was established, a pre-enrolment day was organised and several offers of temporary premises were made so that the RaLET Association was in a position in January 2003 to apply to the Dept. of Education & Science for recognition of the proposed school.

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The Educate Together Charter

The Educate Together Charter - Formally launched on 12th May 1990 at the Aula Maxima, University College Galway, Ireland.

Amended on April 17th 1999 at the first Annual General Meeting of Educate Together, Bray Co. Wicklow.

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Educate Together - Core Values and Ethos

Paul Rowe, Chairperson, Educate Together
Paper Presented to the Marino Institute Conference on School Culture and Ethos, March 20th 2000.

I would like to present to you some of the experience of the Educate Together movement in handling the atmosphere and culture within which our schools operate. But firstly by introduction, let me briefly explain what Educate Together is and how it operates.

Educate Together is the national representative organization of patron bodies and Boards of Management of schools that subscribe to the Educate Together Charter. There are currently 18 such schools in the Republic of Ireland. They are all national (primary) schools. These schools are recognised and funded by the Irish Department of Education and Science, they are non fee-paying and operate under the same set of regulations and law as do all state funded primary schools in the Republic.

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Educate Together - Facts, Figures and History

Educate Together started as an organisation in 1984, when the first three schools decided to set up a co-ordinating committee that would disseminate information among the existing schools and assist in the growth and development of new schools. The three schools were located in Dalkey, Bray and Glasnevin, all in the greater Dublin area.

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An Introduction to Educate Together

Educate Together is the representative organisation of the Educate Together schools and associations throughout the Republic of Ireland. It owes its origins in the movement to establish new multi-denominational primary schools which emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s. By 1984, when Educate Together was established, there were three schools and the organisation acted as their co-ordinating body. Since then the movement has grown considerably. Today there are 28 schools, 15 of which are in the greater Dublin area. The organisation became a company limited by guarantee in 1998 and has charitable status. It has a small national office which provides representative and support services to schools and start-up associations. The directors and members of the company work in a voluntary capacity.

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Rush and Lusk Educate Together School Approved by Minister

The Minister for Education and Science, Mr. Noel Dempsey, has granted formal recognition to the ‘Rush and Lusk Educate Together’ (RaLET) national school. The need for a new multi-denominational school in the Rush and Lusk area was identified back in December 2002 and subsequently a committee was established to start the enormous task of setting up the school.

The RaLET committee consists mainly of parents and is chaired by the principal of Castleknock Educate Together national school, Mr. Dermot Higgins, who said “We are thrilled with the news that the educate together school for Rush and Lusk has been approved by the Minister and that the hard work of everyone involved has paid off. With the continued support of both the Rush and Lusk communities we can now look forward to opening the doors of our new school in September.”