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 .