Ray beams in for RTÉ’s Home School Hub on TV
PUPILS currently staying home from Rahan, Doneraile, Liscarroll and Shanballymore National Schools got a surprise on Monday morning when their teacher turned up on their TVs.
Teacher Ray Cuddihy from Doneraile is one of three anchor teachers taking the nation’s children to school on RTÉ’s Home School Hub, which opened for pupils on Monday morning as part of the national broadcaster’s plan to help families as they stay at home during the COVID-19 crisis.
“I got the call a week ago that there was a contingency plan, and here I am a week later and it’s all systems go,” said Ray as he started his new role this week.
Along with the North Cork teache,r on the programme are Clíodhna Ní Chíosáin and John Sharpson. Clíodhna was the star of the TG4 teen drama series ‘Aifric’ and has since gone on to become a teacher and gain a post graduate masters degree in education.
Ray himself has plenty of acting experience as he worked with Connemara-based theatre company Fibín, a production company with a track record in puppetry and performance.
The programme lasts one hour per day and starts at 11 am. There’s a shorter fifteen-minute round up programme in the afternoon.
And while it is very entertaining and the first editions generated a great deal of positive feedback on social media, parents need not be under any illusion that it won’t include some of the normal school tasks.
Yes, that means children will be given homework in the form of projects which they can complete after the daily programme.
Production company Macalla Teo has vast experience across a range of TV programme and movie formats and produces a significant number of children’s programmes for both RTE and TG4.
It is also inviting children to send in videos showing them washing their hands as they sing a song. If you would like to participate, send your video to homeschooltvhub@gmail.com.