Laois Scriobh Leabhar Awards Night 2017

Scriobh Leabhar Awards Night 2017

There was palpable excitement in the Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise on Tuesday evening last  14^th March when over 400 teachers, principals, parents, grandparents and pupils converged to celebrate the publication of over 640 books written in Irish by 748 pupils from 14 schools in the Midlands (Laois, Offaly, Kildare and North Tipperary) in the Scríobh Leabhar 2017 project.

Yvonne LaCumber and Jim Enright Laois Education Centre and Guest Speaker Marion Flanagan presenting pupils from Senior Infants class Timahoe NS with certificates at Scriobh Leabhar awards evening.

They were among the 1000s of primary school pupils throughout the island of Ireland who were inspired again this year to use their creative skills and compose, design and publish their very own book in Irish as part of Foras na Gaeilge’s Scríobh Leabhar project. This exciting project is co-ordinated by Laois Education Centre.

principal Beth Burns and Jim Enright Laois Education Centre presenting Suzannah Raben & Avril White, Sandylane NS with certificates at the Laois Education Centre Scriobh Leabhar awards evening.

Since its launch in the 2006/2007 school year, more than 60,000 pupils have participated in the Scríobh Leabhar project nationally.  As part of this initiative, children not only write their own books, but they also have the opportunity to read and discuss stories written by children in other schools. Teachers also have a central role in Scríobh Leabhar and they are offered in-service courses in the Education Centre to help them support the pupils with their efforts.

The Scriobh Leabhar project links the curricular areas of Visual Arts, and Gaeilge, while also promoting integration with practically every other curricular area for teacher and pupil.  It is a particularly valuable tool for teachers to develop pupil creative writing and develop oral language skills‘ through the medium of Irish.

Yvonne LaCumber Laois Education Centre, Teacher Alison Phelan, Guest Speaker Marion Flanagan and Teacher Edel Doran with pupils from Paddock NS receiving certificates at the Laois Education Centre Scriobh Leabhar awards evening.

Guest of Honour on the night was Ms Marian Flanagan, Teacher and Presenter. Marian commented very positively on the very efficient organisation of the project by Laois Education Centre and said the books were a great compliment to all the teachers, pupils and parents involved.  The standard of written Irish was very high which augured well for the future of Irish in the midlands.  Marian encouraged pupils to use a few words of Irish whenever possible.

Jim Enright, Director of Laois Education Centre welcomed all present and stated that Laois Education Centre was delighted to be in a position to offer the Scriobh Leabhar project to schools.

He commented on the quality and presentation of the books which represented a very diverse range of topics all of which were beautifully and artistically illustrated.  Jim further stated that the project aims to awaken childrens’ interest in Irish books, by encouraging them to design and write their own books ‘as Gaeilge’.

Jim Enright Laois Education Centre, Guest Speaker Marion Flanagan, Yvonne LaCumber Laois Education Centre and Teacher Elizabeth Ryan presenting pupils Megan McIIroy & Sean Hayes with certificates at the Laois Education Centre Scriobh Leabhar awards evening

The programme is run completely through Irish, and ‘we have had very positive feedback from the schools involved last year’.   Jim thanked his colleagues in the Education Centre who had done enormous work in co-ordinating and organizing the project in particular Yvonne LaCumber, who administered the project.  He also thanked Orlagh Mahon, Chairperson of Laois Education Centre and Edel Keating who helped on the evening of the Awards Ceremony.   Jim also thanked Foras na Gaeilge for their support of the project.  He thanked the principals and teachers who supported their pupils, read other class books and helped with recommending awards.

125 pupils were presented with a medal and a certificate of participation on the evening and each of the 748 participating pupils received a certificate of participation and a Scriobh Leabhar pencil pack.

Yvonne LaCumber and Jim Enright Laois Education Centre, Principal Serena Senior and Guest Speaker Marion Flanagan presenting Noel Leech, Naomi & Miriam Senior from St Paul’s NS Mountmellick with certificates at Scriobh Leabhar awards evening.