CELEBRATION!!!

Yesterday, Wednesday, July 25, 2012 marked a milestone in both Educate Together’s and the Irish education’s history.  

Last year, the Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn announced that Educate Together was finally recognised as an official second-level patron. In the past, Educate Together only served primary schools, so Minister Quinn’s announcement last year was definitely a reason to celebrate.

This year, Minister Quinn announced the patronages of fourteen new second-level schools. After 24 years of dedication and hard work, Educate Together will be involved, officially, in the patron bodies of two second-level schools. In Clonburris, South Lucan, the County Dublin VEC is the patron and working “in formal partnership with Educate Together” (aka ET is not officially considered part of the patron body). In Drogheda, Educate Together and the County Louth VEC hold joint patronage over the new second-level school. But perhaps most excitedly, in Blanchardstown West, Educate Together has a second-level school to call its own. All three schools are set to open in 2014. For more information, check out the Educate Together official press release here: http://www.educatetogether.ie/media/national-news/educate-together-makes-history-first-new-second-level-patron-1930s

Derek and I went to the second-level announcement celebration yesterday, and I couldn’t believe that I was actually standing amongst this crowd of dedicated people who’d finally achieved their dream after so, so, so many years of hard work and perseverance. I was honoured to be standing amongst some of Ireland’s most progressive educational pioneers, including Áine Hyland, the founder of Educate Together. Words could not adequately express how lucky and blessed I was to be celebrating such a historic moment with such inspiring people, and it certainly served as a reminder than hard work really does pay off, and, as corny as it sounds, dreams really can come true.

Congratulations, Educate Together. I feel so honoured to be a part of such a great team, to play even a small role in such an inspiring organization. Thank you for playing such an integral role in my growth and development as a person and for constantly encouraging me to work hard to achieve my future goals. Here’s to hoping that Educate Together will continue to grow and establish more post-primary and primary schools in Ireland. Here's to hoping that all of Ireland can “Learn Together to Live Together.” And here's to hoping that Educate Together's mission and vision of “No Child an Outsider” will one day truly be fulfilled. It sounds idealistic, but hey, yesterday proved that, sometimes, dreams do come true.

Smiles,

Anna