Local Programmes

Ficheall: Primary Teachers Promoting Chess

Information Coming Soon!

Please visit the Ficheall website in the meantime.

Primary Digital Book Project 2020-21 – 'My Time Capsule'

Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light.

~ J. K. Rowling

During the 2020-21 academic year, Kilkenny Education Centre invited Senior Classes in Primary schools (Third - Sixth Classes) in our catchment area to participate in our Primary Digital Book Project 2020-21 – ‘My Time Capsule’. Through our Digital Book Project, we encouraged Senior Primary school students to look back on the pandemic to date from a positive perspective, with them designing, creating and writing their own digital ‘My Time Capsule’ book.

Click on the panels below to view each school's 'My Time Capsule' digital books.

School Excellence Award (SEA)

Project in conjunction with South East Technological University (SETU), Waterford Teachers' Centre and Wexford Education Support Centre

Kilkenny Education Centre, Waterford Teachers' Centre and Wexford Education Support Centre, in conjunction with South East Technological University (SETU), formerly Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), have been involved in the School Excellence Award (SEA) for the past 10 years. For the past 10 years, Primary schools were invited to join the Project by forming a team of teachers to examine and evaluate a particular theme. Themes explored over the years include;

2015-16: Supporting Healthy Schools
2016-17: Developing a School Garden
2017-18: The Creative Language School
2018-19: Hands on Maths
2019-20: Greening Our School
2021-22: Sustainability in Schools

School teams attend a number of workshops in the Centre during the year and are guided, supported and encouraged throughout the process by experienced facilitator/s. A maximum of four teachers per school is required for participation in the Project at school level. A minimum of two teachers must attend each individual workshop from each school in order for an award to be issued at school level. There is also an opportunity for individual teachers to participate and receive an individual award in Innovation in Teaching, which was introduced in 2016.

The School of Education, SETU, issue a School Excellence Award for schools who attend and successfully complete the Project. Participation in the Project can be used by any of the participating teachers for accreditation purposes for Postgraduate Studies (one 10 Credit Module) in SETU, or it can simply be an award that the school receives for its involvement in the Project.

Kilkenny: Subjects to Citizens 1912-1923

A Kilkenny Education Centre Commemoration Project

The purpose of the Kilkenny: Subjects to Citizens 1912-1923 website is to provide local resources for schools around the era of the Decade of Commemoration.

There are many useful classroom tools referenced, which can be used in digital format with students. Local newspaper cuttings, advertisements, cinema, food, and transport methods, for example, all bring an insight into the tapestry of life during the early part of the 20^th Century in Kilkenny.

Teachers can access a multitude of materials on the website which focus on history in a social and political sense; there is something here for every age group. Enjoy the journey and exploration through life in Kilkenny during the period 1912-23 as you work with your students on this important period in our local history.

We hope, also, that this wesite will become a valued resource for anyone with an interest in the rich history of Kilkenny City and County.

Concern Primary School Debating Competition

The Primary School Debating Competition has successfully taken place in Kilkenny Education Centre for the past ten years. During the 2015-16 academic year, Concern Worldwide joined with participating Education Centres throughout Ireland to facilitate Primary Debating.

The Debating Competition is aimed at Senior classes in Primary schools; Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Classes. There is no charge for entry into the Competition and the Centre can accommodate a maximum of 32 Teams. Participating schools compete against other schools on a knock-out basis, culminating with a local winner. Participating schools have found the overall experience of the Competition to be educationally advantageous and a great benefit in developing oral language skills.

2020-21

Scoil Bhríde N.S., Paulstown Team #1
St. Leonard's N.S., Dunnamaggin
Presentation Convent N.S., Castlecomer Team #1

The overall winner of the Competition in the Kilkenny Education Centre catchment area in the 2020-21 academic year was Scoil Bhríde N.S., Paulstown Team #1. St. Leonard's N.S., Dunnamaggin and Presentation Convent N.S., Castlecomer Team #1 were awarded second and third place respectively. Congratulations to all three Teams!

In June 2021, Scoil Bhríde N.S., Paulstown Team #1 proceeded to the inaugural national All-Ireland Concern Primary School Debating Competition Final, narrowly losing out to Scoil Cholmcille, Kilmacrennan, Co. Donegal. Heartiest congratulations to Scoil Bhríde N.S., Paulstown Team #1 on their wonderful achievement!!

2021-22

St. Leonard's N.S., Dunnamaggin
Scoil Bhríde N.S., Paulstown
Newtown Dunleckney N.S.

St. Michael's N.S., Danesfort

The overall winner of the Competition in the Kilkenny Education Centre catchment area in the 2021-22 academic year was St. Leonard's N.S., Dunnamaggin. Their Team successfully opposed the Motion 'We need to pay more for our clothes to fight fast fashion'. Scoil Bhríde N.S., Paulstown were worthy finalists, and their Team was awarded second place. Newtown Dunleckney N.S. and St. Michael's N.S., Danesfort were awarded joint third place. Congratulations to all four Teams!

In March 2022, St. Leonard's N.S., Dunnamaggin proceeded to the national stages of the All-Ireland Concern Primary School Debating Competition, narrowly losing out to Holy Family Senior School, Portlaoise, in the Knockout Round. Heartiest congratulations to St. Leonard's N.S., Dunnamaggin on their fantastic achievement!!

2022-23

Scoil Bhaile Nua Dún Leicne, Dunleckney
Presentation Convent N.S., Castlecomer
St. Joseph's N.S., Clinstown

St. Leonard's N.S., Dunnamaggin

The overall winner of the Competition in the Kilkenny Education Centre catchment area this academic year, 2022-23, was Scoil Bhaile Nua Dún Leicne, Dunleckney, who now progress to the national stages of the Competition commencing in late March 2023. Their Team successfully proposed the Motion ‘If we really care about climate change, we should all fly less’. Presentation Convent N.S., Castlecomer were worthy finalists; their Team was awarded second place. St. Joseph’s N.S., Clinstown and St. Leonard’s N.S., Dunnamaggin were awarded joint third place. Congratulations to all four Teams!

In March 2023, Scoil Bhaile Nua Dún Leicne, Dunleckney proceeded to the national stages of the All-Ireland Concern Primary School Debating Competition. Having successfully proposed the Motion 'Protestors should give up on disruptive action' against Danescastle N.S., Wexford in the National Knockout Round, Scoil Bhaile Nua Dún Leicne, Dunleckney progressed to the next Round. Heartiest congratulations to Scoil Bhaile Nua Dún Leicne, Dunleckney on their fantastic achievement!!