The annual Trainee and Probationary Teachers’ Seminar takes place at the Whitefield College of the Bible in the month of August each. The Seminar was originally commenced because of the ecumenism in the Stranmillis teacher training college where prospective teachers are required to join with the St Mary’s Roman Catholic teacher training college.
Trainee and probationary teachers are required to attend the Presbytery seminar for four years. During the course of the school year they are under the instruction and supervision of their respective School Principals.
Eleven Trainee and Probationary Teachers, from six of our Christian Schools, completed the week long Seminar in 2010:
Mr John Dane [Kilskeery];
Miss Anna Priestley [Bangor];
Miss Grace Haffey [Mourne]
Mr Andrew Gribben [Mourne];
Miss Caroline McCausland [Clogher Valley]
Mr Raymond Carscadden [Clogher Valley];
Miss Lisa Gratton [Portadown]
Miss Emma Watterson [Portadown];
Miss Stephanie Parkes, [Newtownabbey]
Miss Faith Monteith [Newtownabbey]
Miss Susan-Jane McCracken [Newtownabbey].
There are four days of lectures followed by a final day of tests. Lectures during the 2010 seminar included:
Bible Survey,
Methodology of Christian Education,
Philosophy of Christian Education,
History of Christian Education,
The Character God requires in a Christian Teacher,
Counselling Children,
The Teaching of Art, Science & Maths in Primary & Secondary School,
Introducing Reading and Numeracy.
These lectures were conducted by Rev John Woods, Rev Gregory McCammon, Rev Brian McClung, Mrs Pamela Foster, Miss Amanda Dane and Mrs Lois McClung.
Trainee & Probationary Teachers who attended the Seminar in August 2010
Eleven Trainee/Probationary Teachers from six of our Christian Schools completed the week long Seminar in 2009:
Mr John Dane [Kilskeery];
Miss Anna Priestley [Bangor];
Miss Grace Haffey [Mourne];
Mr Andrew Gribbon [Mourne];
Miss Caroline McCausland [Clogher Valley];
Mr Raymond Carscadden [Clogher Valley];
Miss Lisa Gratton [Portadown];
Miss Emma Watterson [Portadown];
Mrs Sharon Kirker [Newtownabbey]
Miss Stephanie Parks [Newtownabbey]
Miss Faith Monteith [Newtownabbey]
During the week long seminar there are four days of lectures followed by a final day of tests. Lectures during the week included:
Bible Survey,
Methodology of Christian Education,
Philosophy of Christian Education,
Child Protection,
Lessons from past experiences,
What convinced me about Christian Education,
Aims & Objectives of Christian Education,
The Teaching of History & Church History,Handicrafts, Home Economics, and Health, Safety & Citizenship.
These lectures were conducted by Rev Colin Mercer, Rev Kenneth Elliott, Rev William McDermott, Rev Ian Kenny, Rev Brian McClung, Mrs Pamela Foster, Mrs Bernice Dane and Mrs Lois McClung.
We thank all those who gave off their time to lecture at the Seminar. We trust that the Trainee/Probationary Teachers will have benefited from the Seminar.
We also thank the Whitefield College of the Bible, the Matron and other staff for facilitating the Seminar each year.
Trainee & Probationary Teachers who attended the Seminar in August 2009
Trainee & Probationary Teachers who attended the Seminar in August 2008
