On Tuesday November 5^th Moate Community School hosted a College & Career Fair for its senior students and 6^th years from local schools. The goal of this event is to provide an invaluable opportunity for students and their parents to interact with higher and further education, apprenticeship providers and the local businesses. We also hope that this event will help our students make informed decisions on their plans for the future.

The event was organised by the school Guidance Department, but its success is always a team effort including management, colleagues, ancillary staff and students. Our canteen staff Eleanor and Marie provided hot and cold refreshments which were served by members of the Transition Year Catering Team to the exhibitors, others assisted our school care-taker Brian Malynn in setting up the gym and in managing traffic through the school grounds.

Several talks were given during the event by Guy Flouch from Eunicas (study in Europe), Michael McCamley and Finnian King who represented Ulster University and MedEntry respectively. Jon Parry, principal of Gurteen Agricultural College also gave a talk to those interested in the environment, agriculture and sustainability. Our exhibitors travelled the length and breadth of the country to represent higher education universities. Moate Business College and Athlone Training Centre (LWETB) and LOETB (Clara) represented Further Education & Training sector. There was something for everyone at the event.

We were also very privileged to host public and private sector companies and services. Thanks so much to The Defence Forces, Westmeath Fire and Safety, An Garda Síochána, National Ambulance Service, Abbott, Ericsson, Irlequip, Medtronic, RBK, St. Brigid’s Credit Union, First Polymer Ireland, National Learning Network, Athlone and ESB for their willingness to participate in this successful undertaking. Some of our former students represented a few of the exhibitors on the night, it was a pleasure to welcome back our graduates- Andrew Niall, Frances Geoghegan, Fiona Boland and Peter Cunningham.