Trim Educate Together hold information sessions

Trim Educate Together will host two public information sessions for interested parents in Trim Library on Friday, 25th October from 10.30am to 1pm and on Tuesday 29th October from 3pm to 5pm.
Trim Educate Together Start Up group was established in 2009 and is now awaiting the response from the Bishop of Meath on possible reconfiguration options for schools in Trim, after a survey last year found there was sufficent demand for an alternative patron.
“We are waiting with bated breath for the outcome. It is out of our hands entirely. We feel that if we got the nod we would be able to make plans,” said Carla Bannon a member of the Trim Start Up group. She explained that their ability to do anything at the moment is limited, pending the response.
However, she said they are told that when things start to happen, it can happen quite quickly and they are hoping to have an Educate Together School in Trim by next September or September 2015.
Pre-enrolment forms will be available at the information sessions on 25th and 29th October and those wishing to register their interest or seeking further information are invited to come along. Trim Educate Together is also on Facebook where the public can keep up to date with developments or they can be contacted by email trimeducatetogether@gmail.com.

Ms Bannon said at the moment, the overwhelming majority of primary school places in Trim and surrounding areas are in schools with an active Roman Catholic ethos and who teach an integrated Roman Catholic curriculum. 

“We are extremely fortunate in with the quality and standard of teaching in our local primary schools and many of us in Trim Educate Together Start Up Group are lucky enough to know that first hand. However, a ‘one size fits all’ approach is no longer appropriate in a modern education system. The present situation, where there is no meaningful ‘opt out’ for children of non-Roman Catholic families, places parents in a very difficult position, particularly around Christmas, Easter and in First Holy Communion and Confirmation years.
“We at Trim Educate Together have had many parents tell us that they reluctantly decided to partake in religious ceremonies like baptism or First Holy Communion just so they can secure their child a place in the local school, or that their child is not left out of such an integral part of school life.
“The provision of a Multi Denominational school would go a long way to recognising the diverse population that makes up present-day Trim and to respecting the religious beliefs (or lack of) of every family. We look forward to the Bishop of Meath’s response in early course and we’re confident that he too will recognise the strong demand in Trim for diversity in primary school education,” said Ms Bannon.