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Beech Hill College

Monaghan

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Beech Hill College invests in the Future

€1.5 million in improvements
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 Over the past number of months Beech Hill College  has seen a massive investment in the upgrade and development of its infrastructure and facilities. 

The overall spend on works and improvements at the College is in the region of €1.5 million. This is seen as a major vote of confidence by a number of government departments in Co. Monaghan VEC’s capacity to deliver a quality education service in the County Town now and into the future.

Next Generation Broadband: Beech Hill College is the only school in Monaghan chosen by the Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources for the next phase of broadband in schools. It will have 100 Mbits of broadband delivered to its door and a Local Area Network (LAN) installed. 

broadband

Students will enjoy fast broadband

This programme will provide world class infrastructure to enable teachers and students access and exploit media-rich online digital content and collaborate with colleagues on a world wide basis. The speeds available are similar to those that are being offered to high-end national and multinational companies in Ireland. This has resulted in a very generous funding package for IT equipment for the school in line with recommendations made by the National ICT Strategy Group in a report to the Minister for Education & Science in 2008. 

The College has had a computer room fully refitted with twenty six top-of-the-range desktop computers of the highest specification, ready to tap into the opportunities presenting themselves for teaching and learning in the digital age. Furthermore, every classroom in the school is equipped with a digital projector and the school has been furnished with a cohort of fourteen laptops, which will be mounted on a trolley and available for use in any classroom in the school. 

In addition to this the five rooms used for extra one-to-one and small group tuition have been equipped with additional computer facilities. 

The National Council for Technology in Education (NCTE) will work with the school to ensure the full benefits of this high speed broadband connection are availed of and will provide a range of support services to the school. There are exciting times ahead for staff and students alike with this investment in our digital future.

High Tech Home Economics Suites: A huge investment has been made by the Department of Education in the complete refurbishment of the two Home Economics Suites in the College. Fitted out with new high spec appliances from NEFF and Bosch and equipment and work areas of the highest standards, these two suites are designed to be student friendly. Each suite is divided up into ten self-contained kitchen areas, each one completely fitted out. 

On top of this each suite is equipped with digital projector, interactive whiteboard, a document visualiser to aid demonstration and a computer suite for student project work. The impressive range of equipment is rounded off with an array of high spec sewing machines. 

The Home Economics teachers in the college have invested much time in ensuring that the new facilities are second to none and are very pleased with their new technology-rich teaching and learning environment.  

 Home Economics Room

A Home Economics Room to be proud of!

Other Improvements: The College has almost completed a total general upgrade to its wiring system. Under this the whole electrical system is being rewired, the whole school is being refitted with new ceiling lights, all lighting in the school is motion sensitive and a number of data points are being included in each classroom. This will be followed by a full upgrade to the College’s telephone system. 

In tandem with this the two Engineering Rooms in the College are to be refitted. This work will involve the installation of new work benches, new flooring and equipping each of the rooms with a suite of computers. This work will be followed by a total refurbishment and upgrade of all the toilets in the school.  

Into the 21st CenturyAll-in-all the teaching and learning environment and the overall atmosphere in the College are greatly enhanced by these improvements. Students and teachers alike can look forward to a 21st Century facility of the highest standards as these enhancements along with ongoing professional development on the part of teachers will mean that the full potential of the digital age can be tapped in the interests of learning.

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