Secondary schools host series of open nights around region
Minister for State for Mental Health and Older People, Helen McEntee T.D., launched a new Cyber-bullying Awareness Campaign in Ardee Community School, an initiative that will be rolled out across the three local secondary schools which serve the educational needs of mid-Louth and north-east Meath, namely Ardee Community School, O’Carolan’s College, Nobber, and Scoil Uí Mhuirí, Dunleer.
Minister McEntee praised the efforts of the three schools in working in partnership to achieve an effective intervention which tackles something which often stays hidden but can have a dreadful impact upon the mental health of our young people.
Parents and the Home School Liaison Teachers from the three schools had previously formed a Local Education Committee (LEC) to explore areas of common interest. The Cyber-bullying Awareness Campaign is the first such initiative.
At the launch, HSCL for O’Carolan’s College, Carmel Carey, explained the three strands to the campaign: (a) An awareness pack which contains advice and information will be given to the 2,000 students attending the three schools; (b) Agencies, including ISPCC and “Boomerang” will provide information sessions for students & parents in the three schools; and (c) A group of students from each school will be trained as “IT Mentors” as fellow students may feel more confident to approach a student rather than a teacher if they are being cyber-bullied.
The impetus for this campaign came from the participating parents, some of whom have experienced it. Ciara Durrigan and Carol Ward, parents from Ardee Community School, told of the effect of cyber-bullying on families, and a short but powerful film from Carol’s daughter, Kayleigh, explained the devastating affect that it can have on adolescents. Mary Maguire from O’Carolan’s College, spoke of the importance in resourcing mental health services for the young people attending the three schools.
Principal of Ardee Community School, Mary Jackson, speaking on behalf of the three Principals, outlined how cyber-bullying has become problematic for secondary schools as it largely takes place away from school, it may be hidden and it is difficult to investigate. Alan Duff outlined ISPCC’s services to young people in relation to the topic, and National Co-ordinator for HSCL, Fionnuala Mac Aonghusa, recognised the role played by the three HSCL Teachers in initiating the LEC in October 2015.
Future IT Mentors from the three schools were presented with Awareness Packs by Bridget Smith, HSCL for Ardee Community School, and Antoinette Rourke, Chairperson of the Parents Association in SUM, Dunleer. Prizes were also awarded to the winners of the LEC logo competition.
In her concluding remarks, Carmel Carey confirmed that over 5,000 information leaflets will be distributed to primary schools, community groups, doctor’s surgeries, etc. over the coming weeks.