The National Association of Compass“ Cooperation of minority Religion and Protestant Parent Association
Interactive Meetings
The National Association of Compass“ Cooperation of minority Religion and Protestant Parent Association
Bunreacht na hEireann( Constitution of Ireland) acknowledges parents as the primary educators of their children and under the Education Act 1998 have the right to be consulted as a group about the education of their children.
While we endeavour to carry out this important function through our directorates on the National Parents Council Post Primary( Compass has 4 directors out 20 on the NPCpp) and in consultation with our educational partners, we also realise the importance of training and support for parents. To this end we arrange Interactive meetings and a Transition year retreat.
Interactive Meetings
We arrange for speakers to address parents on various aspects of adolescent psychology, and other topics of interest at“ Interactive Meetings” held at different schools around the country during the year.
The most recent Interactive was held in Dundalk Grammar School on Saturday 19 th November and the guest speaker was Professor Donal O’ Shea- St Vincent ' s Hospital in Dublin, Voice for those suffering with obesity in Ireland, Father of 3 girls, High School Parent, and well known in recent years for his work with RTE on
Donal O’ Shea the“ Operation Transformation” project.
Jonathan Graham, Headmaster of Dundalk Grammar School
The interactive was opened by Richard Brickenden, President of COMPASS and Jonathan Graham, Headmaster of Dundalk Grammar School.
23 parents attended the event. Professor O’ Shea presented an interesting talk on“ Tackling Childhood Obesity”. Some key messages from his talk were:
• 90 % of weight gain is reversible for 90 %
of people.
• Research shows that weight is a function
of diet, exercise and thin friends!
• Modern perspectives have normalised
obesity.
• We are living longer but chronic illness is
pervasive.
• Brands such as Tayto, Nutella, Coca Cola,
Doritos target under 12s.
• The Irish food pyramid is misconstrued
when compared with other countries.
• Exercise daily for 1 hour 95 % endurance
such as walking and 5 % resistance – muscle toning activity.
Professor O’ Shea qualified from University College Dublin in 1989 and then moved to Hammersmith Hospital in London. Completed an MD with Professor Stephen Bloom on GLP-1 and appetite control. Moved to current position establishing the first hospital based multidisciplinary treatment unit for the management of adult obesity in the country. Is a member of the Department of Health special action group on obesity established in 2011 and chaired a group carrying out a health impact assessment on the potential benefits and harms of a tax on sugar sweetened drinks. Has presented the EU Ministers for Health and the Director General of the WHO on the importance of prevention of childhood obesity. Has specific interests in and published over 100 peer reviewed publications on obesity, thyroid eye disease, gut endocrine tumours and gender identity disorder. Has supervised a number of clinicians to completion of their PhD’ s. We extend our thanks to the Headmaster, Mr. Jonathan Graham, for facilitating this Meeting.