The National Parents Council Post Primary
cordially invites
All Parents of Pupils attending Post Primary Schools
to attend the
National Parents’ Council Post Primary
Annual Conference 2011
‘The Three Step Challenge’ – An Initiative for Parents
14th – 15th October 2011, Sheraton Hotel, Athlone, Co Westmeath

This year for the very first time the National Parents’ Council Post Primary member organisations (COMPASS + CSPA + FEDCBS + NPAVSCC + PACCS = NPCpp) have come together to host a joint conference for all parents of students in second level schools.
The conference promises to be informative, interesting and will cover a broad range of topics that affect your teenager’s years in second level and on to third level. Our keynote speaker is Senator Ronan Mullen who will speak on all aspects of parental involvement in school life. There will be workshops on bullying, study skills, choice of study paths and on the many challenges pupils face. We will have representatives from various different organisations such as Frances Shearer National Co-ordinator, RSE. Support Service, Department of Education and Skills who will speak on the new Child Protection Guidelines, and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) will give a presentation on future developments within the education system. Dr. Amanda Fitzgerald Postdoctoral Researcher in the Youth Mental Health School of Psychology and Dr. Barbara Dooley, PhD Senior Lecturer School of Psychology at University College Dublin in conjunction with Headstrong will present the findings of the first national study of youth mental health in Ireland.
The conference will be opened on Friday evening by the Minister for Education and Skills Mr. Ruairí Quinn. He will address issues relevant to parents in the current economic climate.  Another first to Ireland and NPCpp is the European Parents’ Association (EPA) President Mr. Johannes Theiner  who will speak on European schools and general aspects of European parents' participation in schools. MOVING UP, a new illustrated book for parents of children transferring to second-level schools will be officially launched at the Conference. The book's author is John Stevenson, a former Principal and the book has been endorsed and supported by the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) and National Parents’ Council Post-Primary.
The National Parents’ Council Post Primary extends an invitation to all parents who have children in second level. We feel that in attending the conference, parents will benefit in many different ways from the information gleaned over the weekend. It is a forum for gathering information but also for sharing. We would encourage you and other parents of children at second level to join us for this weekend.

Saturday Package A
Conference
2x Tea/Coffee and Scones
Lunch

€22.50 per person
including conference material

Saturday Package B
Conference,
2x Tea/Coffee and Scones
Lunch,
Gala Dinner
1 B&B

€149 per person
including conference material

Friday/Saturday Package C
Conference,
2x Tea/Coffee and Scones
Lunch,
Dinner (Fri)
Gala Dinner (Sat)
2 B&B
€199 per person
including conference material

View Agenda here

Registration Form

To register or for further information please contact Sandra at 01 8302740 or email sandraboylan@npcpp.ie  

• Agenda
• Harold Hislop Address
• Junior Cycle NCCA presentation
• President Speech
• Presidents Address
• ESRI Parental Involvement in Education Presentation

Click here to view our video gallery featuring all of the videos lists below.

• Welcome and Opening of Conference by Jim Moore, President NPCpp Presentation
• Minister Barry Andrews TD Address
• Presentation of the ESRI research on Parental Involvement in Post- Primary Education by Dr. Delma Byrne and Professor Emer Smyth
• Q&A Parental Involvement in Post- Primary Education
• NCCA Presentation by Dr. Anne Looney CEO, Janet Wallace and Judith Ní Mhurchú on Innovation and Identity: Towards a New Junior Cycle
• Q& A Towards a New Junior Cycle
• Keynote Address “Risk or Opportunity” by NPCpp President Jim Moore.
• Address by Bridget McManus Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills               
• Acknowledgements of NPCpp past Presidents
• Harold Hislop, Chief Inspector, Department of the Education and Skills  - Role of the Inspectorate including the Role of the Whole School Evaluation (WSE)
• Harold Hislop, Chief Inspector   - Presentation Q&A.