Dear Secretary,

The ACCS Annual Education Conference is scheduled to take place next week on Wednesday the 26th of April 2023. The event is being hosted by Glenamaddy Community School, Co. Galway and we are delighted that Professor Tom Collins will be launching the event on Wednesday morning.  

The Conference is focusing on the theme of creativity in our schools this year. This conference is an opportunity for us to gather, learn, and share with one another and to showcase the amazing creativity which is abundant in our schools. The ACCS Education Conference 2023 is a festival of learning and a great opportunity to share best practice in a school setting.

Professor Collins is Chairperson of both the Governing Bodies of Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) and Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (ITB) since 2013 and founding Chairperson of the Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) since 2015. He was appointed Chairperson of the Public Water Forum in 2015. Prior to this, Professor Collins has held numerous posts in education including former President of Maynooth University (2010-2011), Professor and Head of the Education Department (2006-2011), Dean of Teaching and Learning (2008-2011) at Maynooth University and Chair of NCCA, (2006-2012). Professor Collins has published and lectured widely in the area of Education and is a regular media columnist.

The agenda is set out below: 

• 9.30-10.00   Registration

• 10.00-10.15 Welcome and introduction by Professor Tom Collins and ACCS President, James Duignan 

• 10.15-12.00 Exploring the creative spaces in our schools

• 12.00-1.00   Lunch

• 1.00-3.00     Showcase Display event

ACCS is delighted with the response from schools seeking to showcase their creativity. Thank you to all schools who have already expressed an interest in bringing along students or/and zooming into the event. There are still some places remaining if other schools wish to register a group for showcasing on the day. For those schools who wish to be included, we ask you to complete the short form below before Friday the 21st of April. After this date we cannot accept any additional schools. Later this week, ACCS will be in contact with each school already registered through the link below to finalise arrangements for your school. Please contact Áine in Head Office at aosullivan@accs.ie / Mob: 086 6016583 if you have any further queries.

https://forms.office.com/e/wdan4MnEVy 

All other delegates who wish to attend the Conference should follow the instructions set out below. 

Who should attend:

Principals, Deputy Principals, Members of Boards of Management and other members of the school community who are well placed and interested in supporting creativity in schools.  

Delegate Registration:

Schools are requested to register delegates on the ACCS Online School Portal. To access the school portal log on to https://www.accscloud.net. You will require your Username (last 4 digits of the main school Phone Number) and password and a maths captcha to login. If you require assistance with this process or your password please call ACCS Head Office staff on 01 460 1150.

Registration Fee:

The registration fee to attend the in-person Education Conference is €50.00 per delegate. Please make payment by direct bank transfer to: Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools Current Account. 

Bank of Ireland, Merrion Road, Dublin 4         Account No: 88457709       Sort Code: 901212      IBAN: IE70 BOFI 9012 1288 4577 09      Swift Code: BOFIIE2D

Accommodation:

Accommodation is available in a number of hotels and guesthouses in the Tuam, Roscommon, Castlebar, Knock area (30 minutes away) + Athlone, Galway (1 hour away). 

We look forward to welcoming you all to Glenamaddy. 

John Irwin, General Secretary, ACCS