1. ASD Parent Support Online Group with Guest Speaker Marie Byrne 15.1.25

This online Support group is for parents of primary and post-primary children with Autism. The aim of the group is to provide support, share ideas and a platform for parents to ask questions.   Please note, this webinar is forparents only and will deal with the Theory of ASD from a parenting perspective and not a school perspective.  Therefore, we would appreciate if SNA /Teachers did not book a place on this support webinar.  This group will meet every 4/6 weeks.

Date:               Wednesday 15th January 2025

Time:               7-9pm

Registration Link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUocu-vqDojHtZPMYab9EZbfyw80LTMxzvJ

Facilitator:      Shaun Greville has returned to school in the Esker Centre, Ballinamere after 5 years secondment to the SESS and latterly NCSE. He fulfilled the roles of Advisor and Assistant National Coordinator for the autism team with a focus on in school support for teachers and both in school and external CPD regarding autism. He is a co author of Autism Good Practice Guidance for Schools.

Guest speaker: Marie Byrne, an experienced teacher & child & adolescent psychotherapist.  After many years as an advisor with SESS/NCSE, she returned from secondment to work in a special class for autism in 2019.  She has recently returned to study as a doctoral candidate  focussing on strength-based inclusive practice in schools.

1. Introduction to Autism – for parents who have received a recent diagnosis for their child

This webinar offers a neuro-affirmative introduction to Autism for parents whose children have more recently been identified as autistic. 

It is also suited to parents who wish to learn about their child's autism diagnosis and how they might support their child at home and at school.  

 The talk will cover the following areas: 

• An introduction to autism, language, terminology and the neuro- affirmative lens 
• Understanding and respecting the autism perspective 
• Common characteristics of autism with a particular focus on advocating for and supporting your child's strengths.
• Exploring what leads to overload or challenges for your child and how to support them, as well as  those caring for and working with them, to recognise what can be done to support regulation and wellbeing for your child.
• Understanding the school support systems and how to access supports when necessary 
• Practical ideas and suggestions to support your child and your family 

 A resource pack of slides, handouts and links will be available to participants through the education centre following the course   

Date:                   Wednesday 22nd January 2025

Time:                   7-8.30pm

Facilitator:      Marie Byrne, an experienced teacher & child & adolescent psychotherapist. After many years as an advisor with SESS/NCSE, she returned from secondment to work in a special class for autism in 2019.  She has recently returned to study as a doctoral candidate  focussing on strength-based inclusive practice in schools.

She has a wealth of professional and personal experience of loving and living and working with people with autism and other additional needs and brings a neuro-psychotherapeutic perspective to her work in the area.  

Registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FGYN5YR-TySPAiUFlM2qrA

The school will not reopen until Monday next, January13th. Nothing is going to change weather wise before Saturday. The Council haven't gritted the footpaths on the Borris road or Colliers Lane, and that is the big danger. Please keep safe and warm. 

Please keep an eye on this app for further information. Thank you.

When we return from our Midterm break this morning, we are straight into:

• TY Applications for current 3rd years, followed by
  
• Senior Cycle Subject Choice for current TY's and for those 3rd years going straight into 5th year.
• Will your son choose to add on LCVP (Leaving Cert Vocational Programme with his traditional Leaving Cert?
• Will he choose to do Leaving Cert Applied? 
• This is an important decision for any current 3rd/TY year student to make and we encourage all parents/guardians to become involved, both at home in discussion with your sons and to attend our Parent Info Evenings, as offered here. 

The Guidance Department will be holding Subject Choice workshops for our current Transition Year students on Monday, February 24th and for existing Third years on Wednesday, February 26th. 

We are holding a Parents' Information Evening to look at the Subject Options for Senior Cycle (meaning those going into 5th year) and at what is Transition Year (for those 3rd years who are considering going into TY in September) on Thursday, February 27th at 7pm. 

The following week, on Tuesday, March 4th, we will be inviting all incoming 5th year students to engage in a taster day on all subject options on offer. 

In a nutshell, those doing TY's are sorted first. Once their decisions are made we will concentrate on the remaining 3rd years and the TY's who will be doing 5th year – 

Þ   what subjects will they do? 

Þ   Will some of them choose Leaving Cert Applied (LCA)? 

Þ   Will they do the Leaving Cert Vocational Programme (LCVP) as an add on to their traditional Leaving Cert? 

All this and more information will be provided to your sons and to those parents/guardians who attend. Your sons will need you  to listen and advise them as they make their decisions for the coming year. 

Study Skills for Post-Primary Parents and Students (three evening workshop series) 9.1.25

This three-evening webinar series on Thursday 9th, 16th & 23rd January 2024 from 7-7.45pm each evening is suitable for all post primary students and their parents. Each family member would benefit from them and are welcome to attend. This short series of webinars will encourage students, with the support of their parents, to develop positive learning and study habits.

 Webinar 1: 9.1.25
• Enhancing the learning environment
• How our memory works
• Organisational Skills
• Dominant Learning styles 
Misconceptions about study
Webinar 2: 16.1.25
• Strategies to motivate students
• Strategies to avoid procrastination
• Coping skills for students
Webinar 3: 23.1.25
• Strategies to enhance information retrieval
• The power of mindmaps
• The importance of 'work-life' balance

Dates:                   Thursday 9th, 16th & 23rd January 2024

Time:                     7-7.45pm each evening

Facilitator:           Kieran Sweeney is a Post Primary Mathematics Teacher. @kieranlec is on Twitter.

Registration:      https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Z9ERte4ySSeWIaApjOrlpQ           

Best wishes

Yvonne  

Yvonne Nolan

Local Course Administrator

Laois Education Centre

Block Road

Portlaoise

Co  Laois

Tel: +353 578672400

Email: yvonne@laoisedcentre.ie

www.laoisedcentre.ie