Stuff of nightmares for ASTI members
As Halloween approaches and the whiff of autumn (and the budget) fills the air, ASTI members have a new horror story to mull over. A leaked Government document from 2011 that laid out a menu of possible cuts available to the Department of Education made the following promise: "Current Government policy rules out redundancy as an exit mechanism to facilitate savings through a reduction in teacher numbers." As ASTI members rejected the Haddington Road agreement last week, the phrase "compulsory redundancy" is haunting industrial-relations discourse for the first time. Now that's chilling.

New skin for the old ceremony at TCD
There were rumblings of disquiet at Trinity College Dublin this week as provost Paddy Prendergast flagged a rebranding of the 400-year-old university. A staff consultation is planned to get ideas on the venture, but there are those on the cobbled ground who would rather see vacant positions filled and full library services restored ahead of new letterheads and logos. The top brass says that Trinity needs a more defined identity in national and international higher education, and a "brand partner" is due to be appointed shortly. At the chalk face they're
saying that, with unfilled vacancies in schools across the university, the money could be better spent.

Teenage classical music competition
Sixth-year students are tuning up for the 2013 Fr Frank Maher Music Awards. With a €2,000 bursary for the winner, it is Ireland's largest classical-music competition for postprimary students. Closing date for entries is October 14th. The awards, sponsored by Top Security, are open to sixth-year students of strings, woodwind, brass and piano. See topsecurity.ie.

Mental health initiative for schools
A new initiative to raise awareness of mental health among teenagers will use a "train the teacher" cascade model: teachers will be trained as lead facilitators to
deliver an awareness programme in out-of-school time for postprimary teachers at local education centres through a series of workshops. Contact Dr Eileen O'Connor of Drumcondra Education Centre at 01-8576400.

Tree Day
The Tree Council of Ireland, supported by Tetra Pak, launches Tree Day 2013 on Thursday week. Schools and families are invited to explore the important role trees play in our lives. The theme for this year is "Show a little Atreeciation for trees", or ''Bí mór le crann mór'. The official Tree Day website and primary school resource, treeday.ie, has been updated with new material to help teachers and parents bring Tree Day into the classroom and the home.

News or gossip from the education front? Email education@irishtimes.com