Cumann Pheadair Naofa (St. Peter’s GAA Club, Warrenpoint) www.warrenpointgaa.com

CUMANN PHEADAIR NAOFA C.L.G. OIFIGEACH IDIRCHAIDRIMH SCOILE

(SCHOOL LIAISON OFFICER)

REPORT TO CLUB AGM - 14 OCTOBER 2014

6 October 2014

1. OVERVIEW

Cumann Pheadair Naofa Club has a very strong ethos in the promotion of activities for young people and children within the Club and it has been a natural progression to appoint a School Liaison Officer for C.P.N.

Five strategic objectives for developing and sustaining Club school links for Cumann Pheadair Naofa were identified and approved by the Senior Management Committee. They are as follows:

a) To put children and young people at the centre of Cumann Pheadair Naofa (CPN) in partnership with local schools. Our children are the future of the GAA and will determine the shape of the Association over the next four to five decades.

b) To improve the CPN communication with local schools in an effort to assist and support schools in developing GAA activities both sporting and cultural, in partnership with St. Peter’s GAA Club.

c) To encourage as many young people as possible to become involved in Cumann Pheadair Naofa through liaising with the PE and GAA Co- ordinators in local schools.

d) To play a proactive role developing the school Club-Link in promoting a society based on sound values, mutual respect and a positive attitude to life and healthy living.

e) To build a sense of community and belonging to community, thus building sustainability of the importance of community for all our children and young people in the years ahead.

2. BUILDING ON CLUB SCHOOL LINKS

St. Peter’s GAA Club has members who attend a variety of schools both in Warrenpoint, and Kilkeel area at primary and post primary level. However it should be said that the most accessible and successful partnership is with St. Dallan’s PS Warrenpoint.

St. Peter’s GAA has been very fortunate to enjoy a very good relationship with St. Dallan’s Primary School. Club member Mr Brendan Rice has played a very proactive role in the promotion of within St. Dallan’s PS. The Cumann Pheadair Naofa / St. Dallan’s PS Partnership is a strategic and functional relationship. Since the appointment of the School Liaison Officer (SLO) in Janaury 2010, this has been St. Peter’s GAA focus for development.

Sustained efforts are being made to build relationships with other schools and the vehicle for this is through passing on St. Peter’s GAA information which is relevant to particular schools i.e. information for pupils who play or for St. Peter’s attending schools outside of Warrenpoint. This is solely an information exchange and to date this is not a firm enough foundation on which to build meaningful links, however 2014/15 has been targeted for advancing these links particularly with Dromore Road School.

The majority of our juvenile members attend St. Dallan’s PS Warrenpoint. At post primary level our members are spread across at least 6 post primary schools. It was therefore considered appropriate to give priority to the principal primary school, servicing its catchment area and to provide information to other schools, including post primary schools, and also to support these schools when requested.

3. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR C.P.N. CLUB / SCHOOL LIAISON OFFICER FOR THE ACADMIC YEAR 2013/2014

Fifteen Key Performance Indicators were identified in the Outline Club/School Link Strategy and are detailed below with supporting commentary on actual performance.

MILESTONES – KEY PERFORMANCE COMMENTARY ON ACTUAL INDICATORS (KPI’S) PERFORMANCE 1) To continue to implement the Sponsorship of and development of GAA communications strategy as Noticeboard in St. Dallan’s Primary outlined in the strategy for the School. Relevant information re E- development of St. Peter’s GAA Nuacht, To The Point Newsletter and Club-school link through the Club Activities forwarded to St. Dallan’s. School Notice Board, C.P.N. e- Nuacht, To the Point and the St. St. Dallan’s has a direct link on their Peter’s GAA website (ongoing). website to C.P.N. Website.

2) To keep the St. Peter’s GAA Club Ongoing. SMT updated on School Links (ongoing).

3) To provide St. Peter’s GAA Club Achieved. St. Dallan’s Primary School with an overview of the GAA has an excellent partnership with the Down coaches in St. Down GAA coaches and in particular Dallan’s (October 2013 –June 2014). Benny Coulter who visits St. Dallan’s. DENI Coach McCartan McKenna works with P1 – P3. In addition to the school receiving communication from Down County Board in relation to the new funding arrangements for GAA School Coaches, CPN Club/School Liaison Officer met with the then Acting Principal and outlined the significance and importance of this fundraising initiative to secure funding for Down GAA coaches in St. Dallan’s. 4) To assist St. Dallan’s through St. Ongoing. Excellent progress was made Peter’s GAA Club with their during the academic year. coaching needs in the school setting (ongoing). Hurling coaching for P4 – P7 ran from January – June on Thursday and Friday afternoons. Thanks to Declan Doyle, for his meticulous planning of the coaching timetable and implementation of “Coaches other than Teachers” Strategy.

 2014 Gaelic4Girls was a tremendous success in St. Dallan’s with 60 pupils participating. Miss Rafferty and Miss Johnston represented St. Dallan’s on the programme which was led by CPN Ladies . Significantly, Miss Rafferty and Miss Johnston attended a ‘Gaelic4Girls coaching course in February 2014 along with CPN members. This coaching course was delivered by GAA Council in association with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association.

Miss Rafferty and Miss Johnston provided after school coaching in St. Dallan’s for P6 and P7 pupils in Term 3.

Miss Johnston also travelled to Croke Park along with CPN members for the National Gaelic4Girls Blitz in June 2014.

 Pupils from Dromore Road were part of the Gaelic4Girls Programme (4 in total).

 Mr Rice continued to take Gaelic football afterschool and to liaise with the Club.

 Camogie coaching provided in Term 3 by C.P.N. Camogie Club. Thanks to Katrina Fegan and Rebecca Fegan who led the Camogie coaching.

 Pupils enjoyed a Camogie/Hurling Taster Afternoon for Primary 6 and Primary 7 pupils which was a joint venture between CPN/St. Dallan’s. The Club provided coaches for Hurling and Camogie. Conor Keenan, Conan O’Neill, Declan Doyle, Katrina Fegan and Rebecca Fegan were in attendance. The pupils enjoyed a special assembly at which the and Katrina Fegan’s County and Club Camogie Medals were on display. Kirsti McDonald prepared a Hurling/Camogie Information Pack for the event. The aim of the Hurling/Camogie Taster Afternoon was to encourage Primary 6 and Primary 7 pupils to participate in Hurling and Camogie in school and in the Club.

5) To draw up guidelines for St. Achieved – Template used across all Peter’s GAA Club re Coaches going codes. into the school setting (Achieved).

6) To secure GAA promotional Handball material provided and Down material for schools, notably Cúl 4 County secretary Sean Óg McAteer Kids and promotional material provides GAA material for the Annual (ongoing). GAA Health & Wellbeing Day.

Ulster GAA Council supply booklets on a Healthy Lifestyle 7) To encourage a diversity of Gaelic Achieved and ongoing development in Games at primary school level – this area. Gaelic football, Ladies Gaelic football, Hurling/Camogie and Handball (ongoing).

Rounders The most significant development for 2014 in this area was the introduction of Rounders to St. Dallan’s. The school held a Rounders Tournament for Primary 7 pupils with the presentation to the winning team made at the Annual GAA Day in January 2014. The introduction of Rounders was in response to the publication of the Rounders Strategy by Liam O’Neill, Uachtáran C.L.G. where Clubs and Schools were encouraged to promote Rounders as an inclusive sport. 8) To seek out PR opportunities for St. CPN. profile St. Dallan’s GAA success Dallan’s Primary School in and shares on website and other conjunction with St. Peter’s GAA communication tools, notably Press (ongoing). Notes and E-Nuacht CPN. PRO developed a working partnership with St. Dallan’s Communication Co-Ordinator Mrs Noreen Kelly.

Designated section on St. Dallan’s/CPN link at the 125 Exhibition which took place in the CPN Clubrooms 25 – 28 October 2013.

Visit of Uachtáran C.L.G. Liam O’Neill to St. Dallan’s in May as part of his visitation to in preparation for Feile na nGael. St. Dallan’s/CPN/Club School Link was central to the visit with Uachtáran seeing at first hand the diversity and inclusivity of both School and Club in all five GAA Codes, Culture and Drama.

Annual Art Exhibition from St. Dallan’s GAA Health & Wellbeing Day exhibited in Walsh Pharmacy, Church Street for the month of February 2014.

CPN Fact Sheet distributed to all incoming Primary 1 pupils in May 2014.

Following the Hurling section being successfully shortlisted for the Etihad Hurling Club of the year, St. Dallan’s, St. Mark’s High School and St. Mary’s Burren played a very proactive role in seeking votes for the competition. 9) To endeavour to provide more Achieved and ongoing particularly in opportunities in sport for girls academic year 2013/14 through Ladies (Achieved and ongoing). Gaelic Football and Camogie Coaching and the introduction of Rounders. 10) To work in partnership with the Ongoing. School PE and GAA Co-ordinators to have Club input to Sports Day (ongoing).

11) To co-ordinate along with St. Achieved – Annual GAA Day was linked Dallan’s and St. Peter’s GAA Club to CPN’s participation in the National Primary 7 Health and Wellness Healthy Clubs Project. The focus was on Day (January 2014) (Achieved). healthy lifestyle, including Internet safety and Cyber Bullying. This was also viewed as a follow up to the highly successful “Beat the Cyber Bully” seminar for parents which was organised by Club Health & Wellbeing Officer Katrina Kernan.

Club President Barney Carr made a presentation on behalf of CPN to retiring Principal Philomena Quinn at the annual GAA Day on 24 January 2014 in appreciation of her contribution to the Club/School Link and the local community. 12) To work in partnership with the St. Dallan’s/C.P.N. Partnership Fact Principal and the GAA Co- Sheet distributed to new P1 parents in St. ordinator to identify opportunities Dallan’s. to build the role of St. Dallan’s and St. Peter’s GAA Club as a  CPN/St. Dallan’s Link incorporated partnership in the local community in School 5 Year Development Plan. (ongoing).  Visit of Uachtáran Liam O’Neill in May 2014.

 Participation of St. Dallan’s Staff member Miss Rafferty in the highly successful ‘Point Does Strictly’ was considered significant by the Club as Community involvement

 Participation of PSNI Community Officer in the Annual GAA Day; Constable Stan Lutton gave a very thorough presentation to Primary 7 pupils on internet safety and Cyber Bullying.

 Primary 7 Healthy Club Art project was exhibited in Walsh’s Pharmacy. This was part of a six week curriculum project on the GAA and Healthy Lifestyle.

 Involvement of Ulster GAA Council and Down County Board in GAA School activities.

 CPN/School Liaison Officer paid courtesy visit to St. Dallan’s to welcome new Principal Mrs Una Farrell on Thursday 30 September. 13) To meet Principal and Staff to plan December 2013 and September 2014 - and review the CPN/St. Dallan’s PowerPoint Presentation to St. Dallan’s Partnership. staff as part of ongoing development of CPN/St. Dallan’s Club School Links by Club School Liaison Officer. 14) To liaise with St. Peter’s GAA  Promotion of all Community and Outreach and Health and Wellness Outreach and Health and Wellness Co-Ordinator to give a co- projects in St. Dallan’s Primary ordinated approach to School. children/parents encouragement of a healthy lifestyle (ongoing).  Focus on Healthy Lifestyle in partnership with Ulster GAA Council at GAA Day in January 2014.

 Internet safety delivered to Primary 7 pupils.

 St. Dallan’s won the Ulster GAA Council “Be Safe Be Seen” Road Safety Campaign. 15) To build the profile of the Kellogs Achieved with St. Dallan’s Primary GAA Cúl Camp in St. Dallan’s School. Input by St Dallan’s Teacher Primary School and Dromore Road Brendan Rice to Cúl Camp made a Primary School (June 2014). significant contribution to the Cúl Camp 2014. Dromore Primary School pupils also attended the Cúl Camp.

3. CONCLUSION

Good progress continues to be made in Club / School links. I would like to thank the Club Senior Management Committee and the various sub sections within the Club for their support in my role as Club / School Liaison Officer. In particular the Hurling Club and the Camogie Club for their input to after school coaching. Thanks to Miss Rafferty and Miss Johnston for their significant input into Ladies Gaelic Football. I would also like to record special thanks to former Acting Principal Kirsti McDonald and to retired Principal Philomena Quinn, Mrs Bronach Daly, P.E. Co- ordinator and Mr Brendan Rice, teacher responsible for developing Gaelic Games at St. Dallan’s. Finally, on behalf of the Senior Committee and members of CPN, we send best wishes to the recently appointed Principal of St. Dallan’s Primary School, Mrs. Una Farrell and look forward to continuing our partnership with St. Dallan’s Primary School in the year ahead.

Anne McCormack (School Liaison Officer) 6 October 2014