A TRALEE school was one of four countywide to take part in the 2017/2018 Teacher/Artist Partnership (T/AP) residency programme at the Education Centre in Dromtacker.

The four participating schools were Tralee Educate Together, Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail, Scoil Mhuire Knocknagoshel and Fossa National school.

Each school worked with an artist in residence and came together to discuss and share their work and experience at a showcase held at the Education Centre on June 12.

Art forms experienced during the residency programme included Dance, Sculpture and the Visual arts. This was a unique opportunity for all involved to explore the nature and educational value of partnerships between teachers and artists in supporting arts education in primary schools.

Ms Kathleen Browne, a member of the Board of Management welcomed all involved to the showcase and the event was chaired by Caitríona Ní Chullota, Director of the Education Centre, Tralee.

The children in attendance enthusiastically shared their learning experiences and both teachers and parents said, ‘you could not quantify the learning’ and one teacher described her amazement at the ‘depth of the learning’ as communicated by the pupils.

Pupils learned a new found respect for each other and a deeper understanding of the ecology of the world around them.

One child from Tralee Educate Together communicated the experience very succinctly, ‘as long as you use your imagination anything is possible’.

The Director of the Centre stated the importance of sharing disciplines in this model of teacher education and arts education. “When the teacher and artist share their respective pedagogies and perspectives on the world the potential benefits for both personal and professional growth and development are limitless for all involved in this learning process –especially the pupils”.

Places are available for this year’s Teacher /Artist Partnership summer course which will take place at the Education Centre, Tralee from the July 2nd – 6th 2018.

This is a unique summer course that improves literacy, numeracy and well-being in schools.  A number of residencies will be awarded to schools, whose teachers attend the Course.  The initiative is supported by the Department of Education & Skills and the Creative Ireland Fund. Book your place now on www.edcentretralee.ie