Gorey Educate Together National School

Gorey Educate Together National School Co. Wexford

PUBLIC ART COMMISSION: MUSIC

Information Brief

Per Cent for Art Scheme

Funded by the Department of Education & Skills

BACKGROUND

The Per Cent for Art Scheme:

The Department of the Environment established an artistic embellishment scheme in 1986, based on Per Cent for Art. The Office of Public Works had established a similar scheme in 1978. In 1997, the findings of a review of these schemes were published in a report entitled Public Art Research Project - Steering Group Report to Government, the recommendations of which were approved. As a result, all Government Departments with construction budgets implement the Per Cent for Art Scheme.

Gorey Educate Together National School:

Gorey Educate Together first opened in September 2005. 

The school is multi-denominational - all children have equal rights of access to Gorey Educate Together.  All social, cultural and religious backgrounds are equally respected.  The identity of every pupil is given active support.        

The school is child-centred - the Board of Management takes decisions based on the educational and developmental needs of the children of the school, over and above other external factors.

The school is co-educational - the children are encouraged to explore their full range of abilities and opportunities.  They are empowered to fulfil their potential irrespective of gender.     

The school is democratically run - Gorey Educate Together was set up by a volunteer group of parents.  Continued partnerships re: school affairs and listening to the voices of pupils, staff and parents are key elements of the democracy that underpins the school. 

Arts education is important to the school and arts activities have provided a hub for community development over the past 4 ½ years.  Parents, pupils and staff collaborate on an annual entry into the local St. Patrick’s Day parade.  Some parents lead or contribute to various visual arts lessons in the classrooms, while others provide musical accompaniment at selected school events.  Most recently, staff and parents worked together in preparation for the performance of a Pantomime by the children in 4^th, 5^th and 6^th classes.    

Two hundred and fifty 4-12 year olds attend Gorey Educate Together at present (up from twenty-six pupils in 2005.)  The expected total enrolment for September 2010 is two hundred and seventy-five children: 2 each of Junior Infants, Senior Infants & First Class; 1 each of Second to Sixth Classes; and 2 Special Classes for Children with Autism.

The school’s permanent building was constructed in two phases during 2008 and 2009.  It is situated 1 mile southwest of Gorey town centre.  Facilities include: 16 classrooms, learning support & resource rooms, rooms for special classes, library, 3 play areas, gardens, assembly hall and shared PE hall.

THE BRIEF

Gorey Educate Together NS now invites submissions from composers/musical dramatists for the composition and implementation of a work of musical theatre.  (Minimum duration: 30 minutes.)

The storyline should be compelling.  The presentation should be novel and entertaining.  Thereafter, the commissioners are particularly interested to receive proposals that embrace the Educate Together ethos and stimulate positive, inclusive, respectful and supportive school environments.

It is possible that many elements of the work would be geared towards the 8-12 years or 10-12 years age groups, but at least one musical element should be suitable for performance by 4-12 year olds, i.e. an entire primary school cohort.       

The pupils’ (or the wider school community’s) experience of the work would be purposeful, and could include opportunities for them to listen and respond, perform and/or compose musical elements, as well as make and/or enact drama.

The work should be informed by the context of this school.  Composers/musical lyricists are invited to visit Gorey Educate Together: please telephone 053 9489662 or e-mail info@goreyeducatetogether.ie to arrange same.  Photographs and up-to-date school news can be found on the award-winning website: http://www.goreyeducatetogether.ie/  The publication ‘What is an Educate Together National School?’ is available at http://www.educatetogether.ie/

THE BUDGET

The total budget for this commission is €30,000 inclusive of all costs, expenses, VAT, insurance and other charges.    

A payment schedule will be agreed with the successful applicant.  This can, if required, include phased payments.  However, the entire amount will not be expended prior to the delivery and/or completion of the work.

The production element of this commission must be managed by the composer, with the support of the school.  There will be no charge by the school re: use of the school piano, use of classrooms for workshops/tuition/practise or use of the PE hall for rehearsals and performance.  All other production costs must be included in the €30,000 budget. 

Props and costumes, if any, would remain the property of the school.

COMMISSIONING PROCESS

This commission will involve a 1-stage Open Competition process.

A selection panel will assess the proposals and select in line with the criteria outlined below. 

Please ensure that information given is sufficiently comprehensive.  Failure to provide any of the information outlined below may result in submissions being dispensed with.

Expressions of interest to include:

• Up to date CV (5 copies)
• A detailed written proposal for the commission (5 copies,) including:

Ideas/concepts (characters, storylines, lyrics, etc.), in response to this brief

Basis/sources for the work

Approach to working with the school

Projected duration of the project

Detailed timescale breakdown re: working with the school  

• Detailed budget breakdown (5 copies)
• Specific examples of relevant past work (to include audio/visual recordings [CD/DVD formats only] and scores, as applicable.) 

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

Standard of submission

Quality and originality offered within the proposal

Suitability of the proposal to the context of the school

Proven track record of the composer/musical dramatist (including work in education)

Value for money

Preferred applicant(s) may be required to meet with the selection panel to elaborate on their proposal.  In such cases, actual travel costs (to a maximum of €100) will be payable by the school.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Prior to signing of contracts, Artists will be required to furnish the commissioner with a:
• Tax Clearance Certificate
• Public Liability Insurance Certificate
• Tax Exemption Certificate
• A completed Garda Vetting Form, issued by Gorey Educate Together National School
• Please note that the successful artist will be awarded a contract for services and not a contract of employment.
• No late submissions will be accepted.
• Gorey Educate Together NS reserves the right not to award a commission. In this instance, Gorey Educate Together NS reserves the right to pursue another procurement process.

CONTACT DETAILS

Applications must be posted to:

Raymond Swan, Principal

(Per Cent for Art Commission: Music)

Gorey Educate Together National School

Kilnahue Lane

Carnew Road

Gorey

Co. Wexford

Deadline for receipt of submissions is: 2pm, Friday 1^st October 2010

Submissions arriving after the deadline cannot be accepted.

Please note that the school office will be closed from late July - late August 2010. 

Our wonderful production of The Wizard of Oz - our second pantomime this year!  A marvellous cast and back stage crew!  Well done everybody!

Dear Parents and Guardians,  We come towards the end of another rewarding year at Gorey Educate Together. 

Let’s commend the children on their development over the past 10 months:  the great thinking and learning, the kind-heartedness, the friendship and understanding, the mutual respect. 

To the staff: thank you for the dedication and determination, the care, the flexibility and the creativity, day after day.

Thank You to the parents and grandparents who supported the school in so many different ways all through the year. 

To the Board of Management, the Parent Teacher Association, the School Council, the Ethos Committee, the Per Cent for Art committees, the Second Level Campaign Committee and the Green Schools Committee: thank you!  Your work was much appreciated.            

This year we bid farewell to our first full grouping of 6th class.  We wish them every success and happiness.  Keep in touch!

In September we will celebrate the 5^th anniversary of the opening of the school.  (A family-day is planned for Sunday the 12th.)  We’ve come a long way since 2005!  Everything achieved is as a result of our collective efforts.  Let’s give ourselves a pat on the back - and be ready to make progress again next year!

Wising you all a safe and enjoyable summer,

Raymond

Payments for school books: As usual, all books will be supplied in class. Please pay the full amount or €60 deposit by the end of June. A receipt is issued for all book payments-check your child’s bag.  School reopens Wednesday, 1^st September.  Please pay the balance on your account by Friday, 3^rd September. This year, your child’s books and supplies can only be passed on to their classteacher when the booklist has been paid for in full.  Unfortunately, the school is not in a position to make any exceptions to the above.

Eligible families may wish to apply for the €200 ‘Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance’:   details available at Social Welfare, HSE and Citizens Information offices.

Teachers 2010-2011

Junior Infants: Chloe Kenny

Junior Infants: Jacinta Hayes

Senior Infants: Deirdre Flynn (Fergus’ current group)

Senior Infants: Mary Foley (Chloe’s current group)

1st class: Laura Dagger (Emma’s current group)

1st class: Andrea Maher (Deirdre’s current group)

2nd class: Grace Sexton

3rd class: Louise Redmond

4th class: Brendan Breen

5th & 6th: Imelda Wright

Special classes for children with autism: Fergal Twomey and Aideen O’Donnell

English language support: Suzanne Keane

Learning support & resource teaching: Andrew Murray, Fergus Lacey and Cathy Roche

English language support: Suzanne Keane

Diversity Week

What I learned in Diversity Week is that if you have a disability, you can still do a lot of things.  Visually impaired people can still swim and do lots of other things.  Overall, what I learned is that it’s OK to be different. 

During Diversity Week we did many things to teach us that we’re all different. I learned how hard it is to have a disability, like being visually impaired or in a wheelchair.  I also learned to be patient with those with a disability and to be happy with who I am.  

When we played Crab Football it made me understand how difficult it can be if you can’t do something in the usual way-but you can adapt.

By Anna, Zara and Sophie.  Editing by Zara.

Keep reading in July and August!

Try the Summer Reading Challenge at your local library.

Wednesday 16th June: Staff Meeting,  classes finish at 12.30. Infants can be collected at 12.15.

Thursday 17th June: Trip for 2nd class to Woodlands Falconry Centre.  Trip for some Senior Infants to Marino Special National School, Bray.   

Monday 21^st June: Sports Day 2^nd-6^th classes, 12pm-2.30pm, weather permitting.

Wednesday 23^rd June: Sports Day Infants & First class, 11am - 1pm, weather permitting.

Thursday 24^th June: Evening event in honour of 6^th class, 7pm-9pm.

Monday 28^th June: Main performance of pantomime The Wizard of Oz by 4th-6th classes, 8pm. 

Wednesday 30th June: End of Term, classes finish at 12.30.  (Infants 12.15.)

Thursday 1st July - Wednesday 28th July: July programme for children with autism.

ComputerXplorers After School Club: We are looking at the possibility of hosting such a club in the school next year, if enough families are interested. ComputerXplorers would provide an instructor, laptop computers and other technology. See attached flyer. Sessions would cost €8 per week (in 6-8 week blocks.) If you are quite sure that your child would take part please send a note to the office by Friday (all age groups.)

Sports Day volunteers: We will need many parent helpers on both days-run one of the activity stations, man the drinks table, help with the tidy-up afterwards.  Please come to the school at 11.30 on Monday 21st and/or 10.30 on Wednesday 23rd.  Thanks!

Payments for school books: Booklists were sent home two weeks ago. As usual, all books will be supplied in class. Please pay the full amount or €60 deposit by the end of June. A receipt is issued for all book payments-check your child’s bag.  School reopens Wednesday, 1^st September.  Please pay the balance on your account by Friday, 3^rd September. This year, your child’s books and supplies can only be passed on to their classteacher when the booklist has been paid for in full.  Unfortunately, the school is not in a position to make any exceptions to the above.

Eligible families may wish to apply for the €200 ‘Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance’: details available at Social Welfare, HSE and Citizens Information offices.

Irish-Spanish Multi-Activity Summer Camp (Irish and Spanish families)  Spanish lessons, swimming   lessons, tennis, yoga, cooking, etc.  Location: Moneylands, Arklow. Contact Liz Kavanagh-087 9314914 or Monica Torres cdte@cdte.es

Another very successful Bake Sale by Sixth Class: €571.87 was raised for Barnardos.  Well done everybody!

Many thanks to the parents who prepared ‘Fruit Kebabs’ to help us celebrate Diversity Week!  (Some reports on Diversity Week will follow in our final newsletter of the year.) 

The Skipathon was very lively.  Our reward - a final piece of new PE equipment - will arrive at the school this week, after a very long journey from China!

Sixth class trip to the ‘Fighting Words’ creative writing centre (established by Roddy Doyle and Sean Love,) June 2010. 

Sixth class organise a bake sale in aid of Barnardos, June 2010.  Great job!

The School Disco was great fun.  The theme was ‘Crazy Hair!’ 

Diary

Monday 24^th May - Friday 28^th May: Our skipathon: lots of heart-healthy skipping activities this week! Parents - show us some more skipping games. Join your child (1st class or older) on the playground for the 10.30 or 12.30 breaks this Thursday.

Wednesday 26th May, 8pm: Information talk for parents, organised by our PTA. ‘Drugs awareness,’ presented by Community Garda Denis McCarthy.  All are welcome. Tea & coffee afterwards. Denis will give advice on what to watch out for in children and young people, and answer your questions.

Thursday 27th May: Bake Sale by sixth class. Also, have your photo taken with some new birds! Chosen charity: Barnardos in Gorey.  Could the children bring €1 or €2 to spend at the sale?

Friday 28th May: Trip for Junior Infants to Woodlands Falconry Centre, Tullow, Co. Carlow.

Tuesday 1st June: Trip for 1st and 3rd classes to Woodlands Falconry Centre. 

Wednesday 2nd June: Trip for 6th class to Roddy Doyle’s Fighting Words creative writing centre, Dublin 1. Bowling afterwards in Stillorgan.   

Thurs 3rd June: Trip for Sen. Inf. to Sea Life Centre, Bray and Zoom Adventure Play, Greystones. 

Friday 4th June: School holiday.  No classes.

Monday 7th June: Public Holiday, school closed.

Thursday 10^th June: Orientation meeting for new families/pupils, 3.15pm.  

Wednesday 16th June: Staff Meeting, classes finish at 12.30. Infants can be collected at 12.15.

Thursday 17th June: Trip for 2nd class to Woodlands Falconry Centre. 

Monday 21^st June: Sports Day 2^nd-6^th classes, 12pm-2.30pm, weather permitting

Wednesday 23^rd June: Sports Day Infants & First class, 11am - 1pm, weather permitting.

Thursday 24^th June: Evening event in honour of 6^th class, 7pm-9pm.

Monday 28^th June: Main performance of pantomime The Wizard of Oz by 4th-6th classes, 8pm. 

Wednesday 30th June: End of Term, classes   finish at 12.30.  (Infants 12.15.)

Thursday 1st July - Wednesday 28th July: July programme for children with autism.

New school year: The first day of school for pupils will be Wednesday 1st September.  The full 2010-2011 school calendar will appear in the next newsletter, (or see the school website.)

Newspaper Photographs: The Gorey Echo is running a series of school photos.  Photos from our school are due to be published this week.

Book Savings scheme: Last day for payments is this Friday, 28th May.  Statements and booklists will issue next week. 

Sports Day volunteers: We will need many  parent helpers on both days - Thanks!

‘Diversity Week 2010′ at Gorey Educate Together, Friday 28th May - Thurs. 3rd June: 

We’re all a little different from one another - in our personalities; our skills and talents; our fears and  challenges; our looks.

For ‘Diversity Week 2010′ (our first such event) we are going to read some thought-provoking stories and complete some inspiring activities to help us understand that people have different challenges - or things they find hard to do.

What if communication is the challenge; or forming friendships? How about physical challenges (vision, motor skills, mobility?) People have different learning challenges too (reading, maths, reading maps, using technology…)

Our aim: to improve understanding of one aspect of diversity, while learning how to show respect, empathy and friendship.   

Parents: join us during Diversity Week for a talk on autism.  Tuesday 1st June, 8pm.  Speakers: Patrick Loughran, clinical psychologist; Nancy Byrne, special class teacher.

Let’s celebrate our learning on Thursday 3rd June with ‘fruit kebabs’ for all the classes. Please donate some apples, grapes, kiwis, bananas, etc.  Or a pineapple or melon.  The school will organise strawberries (and skewers.)  Parent kebab makers needed: meet in the kitchen at 9.10am.  Bring a knife and a serving tray. 

Parents: does your child know his/her fruit ALLERGIES?  Parents of junior and senior infants - remind the class teacher about your child’s (serious) fruit allergies.

Transport Grant: Please return the enclosed form to the school office before the end of term.  A grant may be paid up to the date the school buses started running.  (And families not covered by the bus service - and who live more than 3.2 kilometres from the school - may receive a grant for the entire 2009-2010 school year.)  See www.citizensinformation.ie for full details. (Search ‘primary school transport scheme.’)  The school transport office has asked us to process all forms received in one ‘bulk batch,’ i.e. at the end of term.  We will forward the processed forms directly to the Department of Education and Skills.

Recent PTA table quiz:  Many thanks for supporting the recent table quiz.  €800 was raised.  Part of this money will be used to buy a set of school jerseys for our sports teams - the children are currently voting on the design and colours.

Update re: very successful Educate Together Second Level Information Evening on Wednesday 12th May:  Those who attended included parents, local politicians, representatives of a number of local organisations and teachers & principals from a number of national schools from the North Wexford area.  Paul Rowe, CEO of Educate Together and Emer Nowlan, Head of Education and Network Development, both delivered interesting and thought provoking presentations, and a lively questions and answers session followed.  See press coverage in last week’s local newspapers.  Thanks to Karen Loughran who acted as chair for the evening.  More than three hundred people have now formally registered expressions of interest in the proposed new Educate Together Second Level School for Gorey.  Applications are continuing to come in, and parents who wish to register their interest can still do so at www.et2ndlevelgorey.com.  Thank you all for your continued support.  - the Second Level Campaign Committee.

‘Summer Dayz Kids Camp:’  The camp organisers will rent part of our school premises July 12th-16th.  Contact Niamh Ní Shúilleabháin directly: 086 3777785.  (Advertising leaflets were sent home last week.)

Junior Infants and Sixth Class meet for a weekly ‘Buddy Time.’ 

The senior classes visited the Islamic Cultural Centre and Mosque in Clonskeagh, Dublin 14.  Afterwards, they played in Cabinteely Park.