ffPupils from Francis Street CBS, Primary School receiving their “bucket filling awards”. Left to right: Pietro Belo, James McNevin, David Narkunas, Reece O’Connell, Conor Mulcahy and Jake Langley

Síol Newsletter Edmund Rice Schools Trust • Spring 2017 • Issue 13

Flying the Flag for Development and Diversity

On Friday May 5th – shortly after you return from your Easter Our diversity was reflected in the many entries that we break - we will celebrate Edmund Rice Day. On that day, all the received for our flag competition. The colour, individuality, schools in our ever-growing and developing network will unfurl creativity, imagination and strong social justice messages the new Edmund Rice Flag. that were conveyed on the flag designs submitted are a This new Edmund Rice Schools’ Flag results from the fitting testament to the dynamism that exists everyday across ‘Design our Flag’ competition, which attracted hundreds of our schools. entries from our schools all over the country. Congratulations I want you to celebrate your special role and your school’s to all the entrants and winners in each age group. The overall role as part of our diverse network, upholding and contributing winner and designer of our flag is Elizabeth Butler. Elizabeth to our unique living history since Blessed Edmund Rice opened attends Edmund Rice College Carrigaline, Co. Cork – one of his first school in Waterford 215 years ago. our newest network schools which welcomed its first class only last September. Well done Elizabeth! Mental Health On Edmund Rice Day, I ask you to reflect on and celebrate Another theme that came across strongly in the flags submitted the diversity of our vibrant network. Our 37,000 pupils come was that of wellbeing and happiness. Our happiness, how we from a huge variety of backgrounds, cultures and religions. In view our world, the work we have to do, our self-confidence one of our primary schools, our students come from no less than and our ability to be our best is intrinsically linked to our 44 different nationalities. mental health. Diversity is wonderful. It fuels dynamism and creativity. It In Edmund Rice schools, we care about our mental health fosters tolerance and understanding. Its very existence means as much as our physical health and wellbeing. We don’t that we can learn about, and importantly learn to respect, the separate them. So many articles and reports in this edition of different traditions, ideals, viewpoints and beliefs that make up Síol showcase the fantastic work that is being done across our the world – starting right here in our own school yards. schools on promoting positive mental health.

ffContinued overleaf ffContinued from cover page CBS The Green, Tralee CBS All Weather Pitch Fundraiser

As our Charter says, under Reaches Fruition Excelling in Teaching and Learning, The Green has a renowned sporting “The school nurtures the full potential tradition which dates back to our early of students, so that they may be years. Throughout our history we have healthy both in mind and body.” championed sports participation and That’s why the theme of many of our physical education and we are proud activities both this year and next year that sport continues to form a significant is supporting and fostering the mental part of The Green experience for a great health and well-being of everyone in many students. The Green has always our school community. strived to achieve the highest level in sport and has produced some of the finest Hoist the Flag! sports people to represent their county, So, this Edmund Rice Day, hoist that province and country over the years. Past flag. Celebrate the unique heritage students have represented their county at and diversity within our network. And all levels in Gaelic Football and Hurling. remember that diversity exists because The school has educated and is home each one of us is unique, is different. to many All Ireland medal holders and Take time to look around and celebrate is proud of this tradition. Past students your unique friends and colleagues have represented their country in rugby and commit to looking out for one at underage level and many have secured another, particularly if you think that places on provincial squads. Students also somebody may be feeling unhappy, boast national and international medals stressed or anxious. in Athletics. Most of all, give yourselves a big Beginning in November 2014 we round of applause for the role you play embarked on a fundraising initiative every day in contributing positively in order to develop an all-weather to your school, your community and pitch on the grounds of our school so our network. that we can maintain this tradition in extremely excited to use the facility and The vision of Edmund Rice – a sporting excellence and continue to are hugely impressed with the quality vision that was founded on love, develop our physical education and of the pitch. The facility will be used for charity, well-being and respect - is sports programmes. Physical Education classes and for team truly shining bright still. Last year we held a fundraising event training in Athletics, Football, Soccer, called The Kube which received fantastic Hurling and Rugby. Blessings to you all for our special day support and which provided us with A project of this scale would not on May 5th. the opportunity to begin developing the have been possible without the huge project in September 2016. contribution from Businesses in Every good wish, The pitch was constructed by PST Tralee, the support of parents and the Sports to the highest quality. It has a general public. Gerry Bennett 3G Stem Grass 60mm artificial carpet. The Board of Management, Staff and Chief Executive The pitch was opened to the students in Students of CBS The Green are grateful to February of this year. All students were and wish to thank all concerned.

Woodbrook College, Bray Christmas Hamper Appeal for St. Vincent de Paul As part of our caring approach to the community, the school students and their parents contribute items of non-perishable food which were formed into Christmas food hampers and donated to our local branch of the St. Vincent de Paul. A team of students and teachers organised the project and arranged for the hampers to be decorated brightly and filled with all the necessary and luxury food items for Christmas. The hampers were distributed to needy families in the Bray and Shankill area.

Síol Page 2 Edmund Rice College, Carrigaline Links with Fellow ERST Schools

Students of Edmund Rice College, had raised to a representative from the Carrigaline, Co. Cork joined students local Simon Community in Cork. from fellow ERST schools CBS Minister Coveney listened to the Midleton and Ardscoil na Mara, students and was impressed with their Tramore on 9th January, to welcome work, stating that he personally found it the High Hopes Choir to Carrigaline. unacceptable that people were homeless, The choir members either have, or are, but that he and the government were experiencing homelessness and they working on the issue and that real and came to Carrigaline to lend their voice to meaningful progress would be made on a campaign involving the students from the issue. Addressing the members of the the three schools. High Hopes Choir (whom he then joined The students are part of the for singing one of their songs) Minister One Campaign for Change (www. Coveney invited them back to Carrigaline onecampaignforchange.weebly. next year to meet with him again and to com) which aims to tackle the issue review the progress that he says will be of homelessness in Ireland and they made in the meantime. He also invited presented a petition containing more the students involved from the three than 10,000 signatures to Minister schools to meet him again next January for Housing, Planning and Local so that they too might see what difference Government, Simon Coveney TD. The their actions on behalf of the homeless petition calls on the government to tackle will have had on the issue. in their new school building, to report the issue of homelessness, which the Ms Adele Flynn, principal of ERC on progress. She praised the students for young people find unacceptable. Students Carrigaline, said she would be delighted their initiative and their caring and said it from Edmund Rice College, Carrigaline to have all the students, the choir and was very much in keeping with the ethos also presented the proceeds of funds they Minister Coveney visit again next January of the new school.

Christmas Spirit in Carrigaline

The run-up to Christmas was busy for lots of people and the same was true for the students of Edmund Rice College, Carrigaline, Co. Cork. In keeping with our ethos of care and forging links with the community, our first-year students undertook several initiatives to highlight the need to reach out to others at Christmas. They undertook a non-uniform day which raised €200 for the services provided by Pieta House in Cork and were delighted to have Mr Pat Duffy from the service visit the school and raise awareness about the work that Pieta House is involved in. The school has a very active Leo Club (a Leo Club is an off-shoot of a local Lions Club and Leo stands for leadership, experience, opportunity) and its members brought in a number The first ever term of Edmund to welcome some of the service-users of food items to make hampers which Rice College ended with a prayer and of the local Enable Ireland group to they presented to the local Lions Club carol service in which students had a the school to hear the students sing President, Roy Jolly and Honorary chance to reflect on the real meaning their carols and it really made the Secretary Kieran McNamee, for of Christmas. School principal, Ms final day of term a fun filled day to distribution in the community. Adele Flynn, was delighted to be able be remembered.

Spring 2017 Page 3 Coláiste Phádraig CBS Lucan Calvin Davis Science Olympiad

Science Olympiad: Well done to 5th yr student Calvin Davis who won a gold medal at the Irish round of the International Junior Science Olympiad 2016 held in DCU on 1st November. 126 of the brightest students in the country were invited to take part in the Olympiad on the basis of academic excellence attained in science in the Junior Cert 2016 but only 6 would be selected after a gruelling two and a half hour physics, chemistry and biology exam. While most of his classmates were outside lighting bonfires, Calvin was in a hall full of Ireland’s brightest students undergoing the most demanding exam he has ever faced. After a tense 1 hr wait, the results were announced and Calvin had finished among the top 3 in the competition so he won a gold medal for his efforts as well as a place in the International Junior Science Olympiad in beautiful Denpasar, Bali just before Christmas. Calvin spent 9 days in Indonesia along with 5 others from Ireland and hundreds of other students from across the globe, all taking part in this internationally renowned and prestigious competition. Every student there had come through rigorous and intense testing in their respective country so it was exceptionally competitive throughout. After a gruelling 16 hour flight from Amsterdam, the Irish contingent arrived in Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bail on Dec 2nd. The group stayed in a fine 4 star 70-meter-high cliff protruding above the his fellow competitors deserved after hotel that was to be their home for 9 Indonesian Ocean. 10 hours of intensive exams! Calvin days in sunny Bali. The temperature The next day was another gruelling tried to practice his surfing skills but was an average of 35 degrees every day 3 hour theory exam followed by a success eluded him for the most part! so it wasn’t exactly study weather! The visit to a local school where the group The final trip was to the gigantic Garuda opening ceremony was held the following learned about Balinese Culture and Wisnu Kencana National Park which day at the 5 star Grand Hyatt Hotel, set traditional games and customs. The depicts Bali’s Hindi Culture in several right on a gorgeous, sun kissed beach. In following day took the group to the enormous statues. a dazzling display of lights and music, the ancient and spectacular Bajra Sandhi The final day was the day every rich history and purpose of the Olympiad Monument which depicts much of Bali’s competitor was waiting for: results day! were explained. rich history. Afterwards they visited Calvin did himself proud but he just The next day was an exam day which Panglipuran Village, one of Bali’s most missed out on a bronze medal by 1 point. involved a strenuous and challenging 3 popular attractions. The overall winner scored 99% in the ½ hr multiple choice test. The students The following day was the final exam toughest set of exams possible so it was finally got some free time afterwards, day where the students sat the Practical an incredibly high standard competition. while later in the evening the Irish Exam lasting 3 hours. This involved Well done to Calvin on being such a contingent spent time rehearsing for a working in groups of 3 (from their own wonderful ambassador for the school and traditional Irish dance to be performed country) so teamwork was important. A his country throughout. on Culture Night the following week. relaxing and well deserved trip to the The group then visited two important gorgeous Pandawa Beach situated in Hindu temples (accompanied by a police Bali’s southern Bukit Peninsula followed. escort no less!) on opposite sides of The spotless white sand and emerald the island. Uluwata Temple sits on a blue water were just what Calvin and

Síol Page 4 Double Celebration

Dáire Byrne almost made it a remarkable double celebration Tráth na gCeist: Many congratulations to Dáire Byrne, for the school in the Irish round of the EU Junior Science Calvin Davis, Abhiram Ajith and Gordon Duffy who won the Olympiad which was held in DCU on 5th November. Students Dublin regional round of the Feachtas Tráth na gCeist that had to select a science subject and then sit a two and a half was held in Scoil Chaitríona on Mobhí Road on Tuesday 18th hour exam in that particular subject. Dáire chose physics October. The team answered 57 questions out of 60 which along with 135 others and performed exceptionally well to was the highest score this year in the regional rounds. The finish in 5th place. Unfortunately only the top 4 qualified questions were all through Irish and the vast majority of for the EU final to be held in Copenhagen in December. Well them were very challenging so the team performed brilliantly done to Dáire on coming so close to making it a magnificent to advance to the National Tráth na gCeist final to be held few days for the school and he can take great pride in in March 2017. Two members of the team, Dáire and Calvin, performing so well to get so far in the competition. were part of the team that won the National Feachtas Tráth na gCeist in 2015, mar sin tá siad diongbháilte é a bhuachaint in athuair i mbliana! Well done also to our second team Alex Pierce, Ahmed Kalee, Mark Daly and Michael Connolly who also qualified as they finished in 2nd place on the night with an impressive score of 48 correct answers. As only two teams advance from each region, Coláiste Phádraig will be the only Dublin school represented at the National Final in March 2017. All 8 students are to be commended on speaking Irish for the duration of the journey to and from Scoil Chaitríona so they spoke Irish among themselves and at the competition for almost 6 hours non-stop. “Beatha teanga í a labhairt” (A language lives through being spoken). Comhghairdeas mór leo. Táimid go léir sa scoil an-bhródúil astu.

ffDáire Byrne with the principal Mr. Brady. Dáire attained a perfect 10 As in his Junior Cert 2016. Dáire is a very talented student but one of the things teachers most comment on is his ferocious work rate. He never takes it for granted that he will perform well in exams and he appreciates just how much hard work is required to attain such high grades. He is also highly involved in many extra-curricular activities in the school such as Young Scientists, Ciorcal Cómhra, Tráth na gCeist, Young Entrepreneurs, Debating (as Gaeilge agus as Bearla) among others, which goes to show how important it is to achieve a balance between the academic and the social aspect of school. Dáire is a wonderful ambassador for the school.

ffTop picture – Ahmed Kalee, Mark Daly, Alex Pierce, and Michael Connolly ffBottom picture – Gordon Duffy, Abhiram Ajith, Calvin Davis and Dáire Byrne

Spring 2017 Page 5 Doon CBS Art Winner Art Exhibition World Book Day Congratulations to Emmett Roche who The pupils at the CBS Primary On Thursday March 2nd the pupils was selected as a winner in the Limerick school have been very busy creating dressed up as their favourite character City and County Council Art Competition masterpieces for their upcoming from a book they have read. on the theme of Limerick’s Heritage. Art Exhibition which was held at the Emmett has won a trip for his class, a school on Tuesday March 28th from tour of Lough Gur and afternoon session 6.30p.m. to 8.30p.m. in the Hunt Museum with a workshop in Early Cave Art. This is a fantastic achievement for Emmett.

Spikeball Team Spikeball Team that participated in the County finals in Villiers in Limerick during February.

Síol Page 6 Doon CBS St Joseph’s Drogheda Class 1S Baking Club Seachtain Baking Club started on the 20th of January, 2017. It is run after school for two hours by teachers Ms Redmond and Ms Bass. There are 14 boys from 1S taking part. na Gaeilge I joined the Club to try and improve my bad cooking skills. So far we have baked Ar an gcúigiú lá déag de mhí Márta cookies and Rocky Road. I didn’t like the cookies but liked the Rocky Road, I brought bhí Maidin Tae sa bhunscoil chun none home as I ate it all before I got home. In our next class we will be making pizza Seachtain na Gaeilige a cheiliúradh. and brownies. I’m looking forward to this as pizza is my favourite food. Thosaigh sé ar a deich a chlog. Bhi fáilte roimh chách. Bhí an scoil dubh le daoine. Chuir na daltaí ó gach rang dráma ghearr ar siúl. Thaitin sé go mór leis an lucht féachanna. Tar éis sin bhí damhsa gaelach agus Tráth na gCeist. Lá stairiúil a bhí ann sa scoil agus ní dhéanfaidh na daltaí dearmad air go deo.

ffBrandon Kennedy, Gregy George and Alex Lipscomb. Fundraiser for ERST school in Nairobi, Kenya The first year students undertook to sell pens in the lead up to Christmas for Br Tommy Mc Donnell in order to raise funds for the new ERST school in Nairobi, Kenya. The Deputy Principal Mr Savage organised a competition among the six First Year Classes and the class to sell the most number of pens was promised a free trip to the cinema ffMúinteoirí ag baint taitneamh during the last week of term before Christmas. The competition was taken very as cupán tae seriously by both the students and their form teachers. The result was that €1,000 was raised. The winning class was 1R and their form tutor is Ms Hackett. All six first year classes were brought to the cinema with 1R students enjoying free admission.

ffChuir Ewan agus Caoimhín fáilte chuig na tuismitheoirí

ffMike Holmes agus Mary Blacmore tuimitheoirí ffFirst year students Joshua Nulty, Keane Kavanagh-Smith, David Gadja, Joshua Sheerin and Theo Ugwuja presenting a cheque for €1,000 to Br Tommy McDonnell.

Spring 2017 Page 7 St Kevin’s College, Ballygall The Transition Year Students In St. Kevin’s College Support The Hope Foundation

In 2015 the Transition year students This message resounded with the Mr. Byrne, to support their project. were visited by a representative Transition students and some were Times, days, financial controllers, product from the Hope Foundation, Jayanne immediately interested in getting ordering, delivery, storage and other Maher. She gave a talk on the work involved in the Hope Foundation. such issues were discussed by the three the Foundation carries out in India. Three students, Daniel Tetis, Jason students and they set about the task of The Hope Foundation was set up by Bermingham and Cillian O’Brien getting the project underway. Maureen Forrester in 1989. approached their R.E. teacher and Another very important aspect of the Jayanne described Kolkata and expressed an interest in helping the project was discussing the area of help the lives of thousands of vulnerable Foundation during school time. the students would concentrate on. The children who are living alone on the It was decided that selling the Hope Education programme was viewed as streets, working long hours, day after bars in the school would be the way being a really rewarding aspect of the day simply to survive. It really is a forward and the students set about fundraising campaign as they could truly miserable existence for many. seeking permission from the principal sponsor the education of an Indian boy or girl for a year on the strength of selling the Hope bars. €250 would feed and educate one child for a complete year. The boys felt this could be achieved and so started selling the bars during lunchtimes. In 2015 the boys raised €1,280. €326.40 euros went to Butlers and they raised €953.60 euros for the Hope Foundation. This was amazing and the Transition year students felt confident that they could sponsor not one but two Indian children of school going years. Two Indian children Tany Khatoon aged 15 and Md. Tauhid Ansari aged 13 were chosen by the Hope Foundation. Their education is being sponsored by the selling of the Hope bars in St. Kevin’s College by Transition Year students. Fast forward another year. 2016 - St. Kevin’s College brought in a healthy eating policy which did not deter the next set of Transition Year students from continuing with the project. Permission was given to sell the bars only at Friday lunchtimes. The project is thriving and has two great students Robyn Fitzpatrick and Lorcan Gorman who are driving the project onwards. In 2016 the boys raised €1,204.80. €244.80 going to Butlers and €715.20 going to the Hope Foundation.

Síol Page 8 St Kevin’s College, Ballygall

Since 2015/ 2016 St. Kevin’s Transition Year students have raised in total €1,668.80 for the Hope Foundation and continue to sponsor the education of the two Indian students Tanuid and Tahid. They are waiting to receive the annual Christmas card and letter the students sent last year, telling the boys how they are doing in their studies and wishing them a very Happy Christmas. The Transition Year students will be writing back to them in the New Year as they want to build on the link they have with the Education Project run by Hope. On Thursday the 13th October 2016, Transition year students made their way into the city centre for the Day for Coláiste Rís, Dún Dealgan Hope, to sell bars in the city centre. By raising much needed funds through the Day of HOPE campaign, the boys helped A Proud Tradition For Education by giving vulnerable street children Since its foundation in 1869 Coláiste ‘Black and White Day’ where students the opportunity to go to school, receive Rís, Dún Dealgan, or Scoil na were encouraged to dress themselves healthcare and nutritious meals and mBráithre as it was, has been firmly in the colours of the town’s famous fund HOPE’s 12 residential homes which rooted in its local community. Even soccer team. The aim was to raise provide a safe place to live to hundreds of though the Brothers left the town in funds for two of Dundalk’s charities, former street children. 1988 the school is still referred to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and It was one of the wettest days in as the Christians’ by the people of the St. Patrick’s Soup Kitchen. The October but this did not deter the boys. Dundalk. And little wonder. The school students succeeded in raising over Wet and miserable, they all turned up to has always had a proud tradition for €3,000. A number of the Second Year support the foundation and Jayanne was education through the medium of students collected warm clothing for delighted. Bars were sold and the sun did Irish. It showcases Corn Na Dála, the the Soup Kitchen to be distributed come out even if only for a short spell. award presented on three consecutive to the town’s most vulnerable in Overall the boys enjoyed their years in the late Twenties by Rialtas na the weeks coming up to Christmas. experience in the city centre, interacting hÉireann for the most accomplished Other students work on a continual with different characters and encouraging all-Irish school in Ireland. The school basis with the Dundalk Lions’ Club others to buy the bars for such a worthy still has an all-Irish stream at Junior in helping to raise funds to provide foundation. Certificate level, which is much in learning equipment for children with The day was a success and the demand from parents of school’s autism. Recent activities in awareness Transition Year students threw incoming first years. The school has the raising included students attending themselves into the task at hand and reputation of being one of the strongest in a demonstration in the town to raised thousands of euros for the schools at national level in Irish heighten awareness of domestic children which Hope work with. debating, having won the All-Ireland violence, organised by Women’s Aid. title on more than nine occasions in Over the years the school developed recent years, an achievement often a strong tradition for staging musicals. recognised by the people of Dundalk. Under the direction of the late Roy Likewise the school’s reputation on Magee shows such as Bugsy Malone, the football field has given many of its The Sound of Music, West Side Story past pupils a place on the Louth Senior and Séadna delighted audiences in the football team. local town hall. All this appeared to There is a very strong social die but in recent years the tradition consciousness among the staff has been revived under the direction and students of Coláiste Rís. The of Science teacher Evan Markey. In students of Coláiste Rís actively recent years the students have staged participate in projects that benefit musicals such as Grease and The the local community, especially the Little Shop of Horrors. This year the underprivileged. In recent months the Transition Year students are preparing Transition Year students, under the to stage The Wedding Singer and the direction of teachers Breege Marie show is due to be staged in early April. Dorrian and Paula Lavin organised a

Spring 2017 Page 9 Drimnagh Castle Primary Drimnagh Castle Primary win at Cumann na mBunscol Awards On Friday the 10th of March, Cumann na mBunscol Naisiunta held their flagship annual awards night sponsored by Cornmarket in the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen in Co. Fermanagh. This event recognises the contributions made by teachers from the entire island of Ireland to the Promotion of Gaelic Games. Schools of all types are recognised, large and small, urban and rural. Awards are given out for lifetime achievement, Publication of the Year, organisation of the year etc. This year, Drimnagh Castle decided to enter the category for Large School of the Year for Promoting G.A.A. and Culture. As the school has a proud tradition of GAA and a lot of work is carried out in the school regarding promoting G.A.A. and Culture, it was a matter of putting all our work and pictures together in a presentation and entering it in to be judged. Every class was given a task to do. Some work included writing acrostic poems, researching important people in G.A.A., drawing timelines, art work etc. Everyone put a huge effort in. This went hand in hand in hand with our continued work with Hurling, Gaelic Football, Athletics and this year the addition of Handball to our skillset. In January it was announced we were shortlisted in the out. We were presented with ‘the School of the Year Award’ top three schools in all of Ireland. A number of the staff beating off stiff competition from Kilcoole NS from Wicklow and went to represent the school at the awards and it was a great Scoil Iosef from Limerick. It is wonderful accolade for the School opportunity to see the wonderful work that is going on all over and we couldn’t be prouder of all our students and staff who the country. When the time came to announce the awards there contributed to this award. was no Oscars style mix up and the correct envelope was read Congratulations and well done to all in Drimnagh Castle.

Síol Page 10 Drimnagh Castle Primary CBS Clonmel Clonmel High School Students Decorate The Church At Christmas Last Christmas, students involved in the Pope John Paul II Award in the High School Clonmel, decorated the Churches in the parish and raised over €1,300 towards the Church Building Fundraiser. The students in November, invited parishioners and visitors to donate €10 to have a poinsettia plant placed around the altars and cribs for Christmas in both St Peter & Paul’s and the Church of the Resurrection. The parishioners wrote a card in memory of loved ones or for the intentions of family and friends away at Christmas. Initially, the students had hoped for around 70 plants – they ended up with over 250! In the days before Digital School Christmas, the students got busy unpacking, watering, and placing each plant with the intentions card which of Distinction formed part of the decorations around the Church for At the start of February, Drimnagh Castle Primary School got the Christmas season. It was a bigger task than originally the good news that we had won a “Digital School of Distinction” planned, thanks to the overwhelming response of so many award. To become a Digital School of Distinction, schools must who wished to be part of the project. As well as adding display that they have a whole-school ICT policy that outlines a to the decorating of the church, they also raised money vision and strategy and conveys a positive attitude towards the towards the building fund in the church. use of ICT. It must also be integrated across the curriculum. The Many people commented on how well both Churches Award has come as a result of the school’s implementation of looked for Christmas and the plants really added to the a detailed e-Learning plan, which committed to improving the warmth and welcome to parishioners and visitors alike. use of ICT throughout the school under the following headings; Canon Brendan Crowley, parish priest, and Fr Michael Leadership and Vision, ICT integration in the Curriculum, Toomey, thanked the students of the High School for School ICT Culture, Continuing Professional Development and their wonderful initiative and the work they have been Resources and Infrastructure. doing since the Pope John Paul II award was launched in The school received a visit from a digital school validator, Clonmel this academic year. Neil O Sullivan. He was given a tour of the school to showcase our use of ICT to enhance the education of our pupils. The pupils were more than willing to share their experiences as we went from class to class. Mr O Connor’s class spoke about using Twitter in the classroom. Ms Martin’s’ class talked about using Skype to learn about a school in Wales. Other classes talked about subjects including the use of iPads in class, contributing to the school website, the school blog, coding on Khan Academy, Class Dojo and Scratch. The welcoming atmosphere created by the pupils in the school contributed to the success of the visit, with Mr. O’Sullivan commenting that he would have loved to stay longer to experience the excellent use of technology throughout the school. On reporting about his visit, the Validator commented “Drimnagh Castle Primary School is living evidence of what is being achieved daily, in the effective and innovative integration of ICT and Digital Technologies in a 21st century school… (and) the expertise, proficiency and consideration displayed and demonstrated by all involved in their use of technologies was outstanding”. High praise indeed! Well done to all of our pupils who represented themselves brilliantly on the day. ffStudents of Clonmel High School Present Fr Michael Toomey €1,345 from the funds raised after decorating the Church of SS Peter & Paul’s Clonmel with Christmas poinsettias.

Spring 2017 Page 11 O’Connell Secondary School 2017 One Book One Community Launched in O’Connell Secondary School

O’Connell Secondary School was pleased grade and he is not the only one changed b) The book must appeal equally to boys to host and launch this year’s ONE BOOK by the experience -- something we learn and girls ONE COMMUNITY PROJECT for 16 about first-hand through the narratives schools in Dublin’s North-Inner City in of those who orbit his world. August’s c) The book must have friendship as a January. One Book One Community is internal dialogue and interactions with central theme a community reading project based on students and family ring true, and though the successful One City One Book Project remarkably courageous he comes across d) The topic matter of the book must be that takes place every year in Dublin as a sweet, funny boy who wants the of relevance to the lives of the pupils and in cities across the world. As part of same things others want: friendship, reading the book the project, primary and post-primary understanding, and the freedom to be school-children and their families himself. “It is only with one’s heart that e) The topic matter must be suitable for are encouraged to read and discuss a one can see clearly. What is essential is the age group of pupils. particular book, along with supporting invisible to the eye.” activities held in schools, libraries and in The Home School Community Scheme The project gets people reading. Every the wider community. (HSCL) is part of the DEIS programme child who got a copy of the book will be Here at O’Connell School, we’re which is targeted at schools which are allowed to keep it when the project is proud to support the 2017 One Book designated disadvantaged. One of the aims finished. Children are encouraged to take One Community Project across the of the scheme includes fostering positive the book home and see if anyone at home North Inner City. Organised by the relations between the home and school, and wanted to read it. The project also creates Dublin North Inner City Cluster of Home between the community and the school. a buzz around the school. They say it School Community Liaison Teachers, Other aims include promoting parental takes 5 years to create a tradition – the this year the chosen book is ‘Wonder’ involvement in their child’s education and home school liaison teachers would hope by R. J. Palacio. This book is a rare gem promoting literacy in the home. that One Book One Community would of a novel -- beautifully written and Deciding on the book each year is a become a tradition in the schools, that populated by characters who linger in long and thought-out process. it would get to a stage whereby teachers your memory and heart. August Pullman and pupils would be approaching the is a 10-year-old boy who likes Star Wars a) The reading level must be suitable HSCL teacher and asking “What book are and X-box, ordinary except for his facial for 6th class pupils, 1st year we doing this year?” anomalies. Home-schooled all his life, students and parents who may have August heads to public school for fifth reading difficulties

Síol Page 12 Cork CBC CBC Cork All Ireland Team Maths Finalists CBC in All Ireland Team Maths – second year in a row. The Team included Conor Cudden, Conor Sheehan, Alex Pope and Desmond Doran who are pictured with their teachers Miss Ann Barry-Murphy and Mr Donal O’Mahony.

CBC are All Ireland Applied Maths Finalists – Students are Alex Burke, Conor McCarthy and Conor O’Driscoll.

ffFirst Year Students recently paid a visit to Edmund Rice Heritage Centre, Mount Sion, Waterford.

Primary Principals’ Seminar in Hotel Keadeen, Newbridge Twenty-One Primary Principals attended the Primary Principals’ Seminar on 24th March, 2017. Three Principals gave presentations on best practice in their own schools. The sessions dealt with current developments in the Trust, the distinctiveness of Edmund Rice education, sharing what a caring school means in action and planning on developing the ERST Primary Principals’ network for the future.

Spring 2017 Page 13 ERST Design a Flag Art Competition

ffOverall Winner. Elizabeth Butler, 1st Year Student, Edmund Rice College, Carrigaline. There will be a version of the flag “as Gaelige” for all our Gaelscoilenna. The individual crest for each our schools will feature on the flag for that school, as reflected above where you can see the ERC Carrigaline Crest.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS POST-PRIMARY SCHOOLS Category A Category C Junior Infants – 2nd Class inclusive 1st – 3rd Year Inclusive 1st – Cian Hanrahan, Christian Brothers Primary School, Doon 1st – Klaudia Chodera, Waterpark College, Waterford 2nd – Eddie Daly, Scoil Mhuire CBS Primary, 2nd – Adam Elder, Coláiste Choilm, Swords Griffith Avenue, Dublin 3rd – John Foley, Waterpark College, Waterford 3rd – Igor Kocan, Scoil Íosagáin, Sexton Street Category D Category B 4th – 6th Year Inclusive 3rd Class – 6th Class inclusive 1st – Karl Brent Ypon, St. Vincent’s C.B.S., Glasnevin 1st – Áine Dowling, Bunscoil McAuley Rice, Callan 2nd – Patrick Darcy, C.B.S. Secondary School Kilkenny 2nd – Tomás Ó Conchúir, Scoil Íognaid Rís, An Daingean 3rd – Aries Miguel, St. Vincent’s C.B.S., Glasnevin 3rd – Henry Guinane, Scoil Mhuire CBS Primary, Griffith Avenue, Dublin

ffCategory A Winner. Cian Hanrahan, Christian Brothers Primary School, Doon ffCategory C Winner. Klaudia Chodera, Waterpark College, Waterford

Síol Page 14 CBS Kilkenny Secondary School

Bridge Success for New Bialann (dining CBS Kilkenny area) at CBS Kilkenny In February 2017, the Junior International Youth Bridge CBS Kilkenny recently opened its new extension, and competition was held in Dublin. Ireland, England, part of the new build is an impressive new dining hall, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland competed for the the Bialann. The SchoolFood Company is operating Peggy Bayer and Junior Camrose trophies - a three day an excellent dining service which strongly supports and event at City North Hotel. implements our Healthy Eating Policy. Healthy, tasty Overall nine teams took part, involving 54 young snacks and lunches are available at break time and lunch bridge players including Mark Reade and James Higgins time, and are competitively priced. It has proved to be a from CBS Kilkenny who were placed second in the Peggy very popular addition. Bayer competition. Mark and James have since enjoyed further success representing Ireland.

Music Success for Nore Valley Chick CBS Kilkenny Incubator Project In March, CBS Kilkenny took part in several competitions Just before Christmas, Nore Valley made a very special in the Prestigious Kilkenny Music Festival. Under the delivery to the Science Classes in CBS Kilkenny. They tutelage of Ms Dowling, the students gave superb came with an egg incubator and seven fertilised, performances and were rewarded for all their hard work unhatched eggs. After giving the students guidelines and and practice. instructions on how to care for the eggs, the Nore Valley The senior choir won the Rena Brett Memorial Cup, representatives handed over responsibility and left. After performing “Softly as I leave you”, while the Chamber three very exciting weeks, we had a yield of six chicks! Choir was awarded first place for their acapella rendition Sadly one was too inquisitive and worked his way out of “The Longest Time”. of the incubator and perished. The students were very sorry to have to hand the brood back to Nore Valley, but thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Spring 2017 Page 15 PositivePositive Mental Health —Mental Edmund Rice Schools Health Trust

Ardscoil Na Mara, Waterford Ardscoil Getting Active na Mara’s The students were given plenty of opportunity to get active that week and to try out some new activities. Exercise classes were put on every morning from 8-8:45. Wellness Week There was a slow uptake on the Monday but the classes grew as each day passed. January, 2017 saw the launch of Ardscoil There was also a Fun Run organised for first years on the Thursday at lunch na Mara’s Wellness Week. It was a busy time and a walk to school initiative on Wednesday and Friday. All these events week focusing on getting students active, were Blue Ticket events which helped encourage students to take part. getting them to look at what they were This year, our Sky Sports Living for Sport mentor is All Ireland winning eating and drinking and addressing what Tipperary hurler, Noel McGrath. On Thursday of Wellness Week, he spoke to TYs it means to “mind your mind”. and LCAs about the importance of exercise, balance and nutrition. Some of the Activities were organised for every students tried to get a few Tipperary secrets out of him but were left in awe at day of the week and a competitive edge the gruelling schedule that an Inter county hurler has. He followed his talk with was added as students were rewarded a skills session with our senior hurlers and camogie players. They paid tribute for taking part in the voluntary events to their friend and relative, Katie Murphy, by wearing odd socks for the session, by receiving blue tickets. At the end of with the aim of promoting road safety awareness. the week those who accumulated the Every PE class took part in a cooper 12 minute run before the start of their PE most tickets were given €50 vouchers class. The idea is to run as far as you can in 12 minutes. Some people ran, some for Splashworld in Tramore. Other spot jogged while others walked but everyone was moving for at least 12 minutes prizes were donated by Azzurri and Mark before their PE class even began. White fitness.

Síol Page 16 Ardscoil Na Mara, Waterford “Mind Your Mind” Many of the week’s activities focused on promoting positive mental health and how to promote, protect and restore it. On Monday the 16th of January Finbarr Walsh the father of the late Donal Walsh came to Ardscoil Na Mara to speak to students and that night to parents. Finbarr went through Donal’s battle with cancer and Donal’s anti suicide message. Students found this talk informative and worthwhile. He also gave a very moving and inspiring talk to parents in the evening which was well attended. On Wednesday Stefan Greene spoke to 6th years on the area of dealing with stress and anxiety. This was well received by the year group. On Thursday, Tony Bates clinical psychologist visited the school and spoke to the 2nd years, He helped them examine what it meant to say “minding your mental health” He spoke of how important it is to learn to cope with the ups and downs of life as it is guaranteed we will all have them. He stayed through lunch and delivered a very enjoyable session to teachers around the area of Self Care and Mindfulness. Friday was “Happy Friday” and students arrived to music and were greeted at the door with a little bag of jellies containing a positive message in each. This was organised by the Amber Flag Team who work at promoting positive mental health in the school all year around. There was plenty of laughter and fun in the hall also as over 300 2nd Year and TY students took part in a group dance to promote positive physical and mental health, and to raise funds for the local branch of the Samaritans. The dance was taught to the students by the talented and energetic Pat Grant, who put a great deal of time into making this project a success. The students had a ball showing off their moves to ‘Greased Lightning’ from the musical ‘Grease’, which included a signature move added by Pat which he called the ‘Ardscoil na Mara Haka’! We raised €500 for the Samaritans. Song School was also run as part of the Wellness week and the TY programme. Two mentors worked side by side with students throughout the day as they brainstormed, wrote, composed and even performed their own musical pieces. Students were divided up into bands ranging from 5-7 members and had the whole day to work together. The outcome - hysterical laughter all around. Many students were surprised at the results and quickly came to realise that a song can be about just about anything: from school life to the zoo, breakfast and even Making Good jaffa cakes; it all had a place of relevance at Song School. From singing, to playing guitar, piano and even the triangle, everyone had a place and everyone had a Food Choices ball. Songs were sung and laughs were had and the finished pieces were songs that they all were proud of writing. All realised the benefits of music in raising Over the week students were encouraged people’s spirits. to examine what they were eating and Overall the week was a great success and it is hoped that the lessons learned drinking. TY students made some very will stay with all and we will build on them throughout the year. informative posters outlining the actual amount of sugar present in different types of drinks by showing the sugar content in bags beside each drink. The student council got involved in designing a great display based on the new food who wanted to attend the presentation available every day by labelling them blue pyramid. Students could see how the which was mainly on the importance to encourage students to make the healthy pyramid had changed and how many of good diet and lifestyle choices. The choice. Healthy breakfast options were also portions of each type of food that they presentation really highlighted the available for staff as they arrived to school. should be consuming. problems associated with a diet too high in Chia Bia also came on board with the On Tuesday, the 5th and 6th year sugar; it also heightened awareness about week and donated a staggering 1,200 Home Economics students were visited by all the foods that contain added sugar. It boxes of Chia Bia products to the school. Nutritionist Helen Byrne of Help2Health was most enjoyable and informative. “One for everyone in the audience” It Nutrition - she was also available at The Olive Canteen also got involved in contained the delicious Chia Bia bars, lunchtime for anyone else in the school the week highlighting the healthy options seeds and omega 3 tablets.

Spring 2017 Page 17 Positive Mental Health — Edmund Rice Schools Trust

Clonkeen College Promoting Positive Mental Health at Clonkeen College The importance of promoting positive mental health is undeniable. Here, at Clonkeen College, we embrace the challenge of equipping our students with the skills needed to maintain both good mental and physical health. Mental wellbeing and physical wellbeing are fundamentally linked. From the moment our 1st Year students join us they are welcomed into the school community and given every support needed to make the transition from primary and to assimilate into life at Clonkeen. For us, a key practice in this process is the pairing of each 1st Year with a Transition Year buddy. Over several sessions in September and October, the 1st and TY students got to know each other better by participating in a number of team-building activity sessions. Having a friendly and knowledgeable TY student to rely on, during the early days of secondary school, has a clear positive impact on each 1st Year student. Considering Online Activities This year the Health Promotions team has introduced a new initiative for 1st Years that sees merits awarded for positive behaviour. The merits recognise effort, in-class participation and homework. During class, teachers can place coloured stickers in students’ journals to indicate the awarding of a merit. The Harmony Program At the end of term the student in each class who has achieved On January 31st and February 1st, Mr Roger Mehta, from The the most merits will receive a reward from Mr Melly. Harmony Program, visited the school to speak with Transition The rise in cyberbullying and an increased awareness Year students about drug and alcohol misuse and addiction. of the impact of online activity on mental health, led to the During the workshop Mr Mehta, engaged the students through organisation of an Internet Safety Workshop for 1st Years. Ms the use of music, facilitating discussion and appreciation of Ursula Frawley from Zeeko visited the school on 30th January the subject. In particular, students focused on the connection to deliver the workshop. The workshop encouraged students to between mental health and substance misuse, the impact examine their online activities and to consider their personal of these substances on the developing teenage brain and safety with regard to this. They explored the question of understanding the underlying cases that lead to the misuse of appropriate Internet usage and reflected on their legal and alcohol and drugs. In the latter part of the workshop Mr Mehta social responsibilities as users of the Internet. As the session taught techniques to combat peer pressure in the area of drug drew to a close, the importance of maintaining a clean digital and alcohol use. Students also considered the actions they can footprint was brought home to the students, before Ms Frawley take in their own lives to promote positive wellbeing. It was an spoke about the negative impact that blue light and excessive extremely worthwhile experience for all students involved. screen time can have on both mental and physical health. It was Our 2nd Year students, with their tutors, Ms Brougham, Mr an excellent opportunity for our 1st Years to become prudent, McBride and Mr O’Brien, are currently taking part in a positive informed users of digital media. wellbeing initiative. The aim of the initiative, put in place by Ms Our Transition Year students also considered their online Healy, is to foster an environment of positivity at the beginning activities as part of their Health Promotions class. During this of each day. class, students crafted masquerade masks, which they then Students and their tutors take part in activities that wore to highlight how people often fabricate an online persona. promote mindfulness, self-appreciation, finding inner calm, They reflected on how people transform themselves online so understanding emotion and managing our response to negative as to appear more fun, more mysterious or more threatening. stimuli. Throughout the initiative students are encouraged Students examined the effect of cyberbullying on its victims to look outwards and consider how they can make a positive and explored ways to tackle the issue. As the final part of impact on the environment around them. It is hoped at least one this element of their class students took on the role of advice aspect of the programme will resonate with each student and columnists, responding to letters from victims of cyberbullying. have a lasting positive impact.

Síol Page 18 Clonkeen College Make a Positive Impact The activities being undertaken by our 2nd Years include responding to Positive Reflections, Art Therapy and Mood Cards. In the Positive Reflections phase of the initiative students are asked to respond to questions such as ‘In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. That means we have 1,440 daily opportunities to make a positive impact.’ What positive thing will you do today? During the Art Therapy phase, that it provides lowers the activity of the mood into a positive one. This does not students are asked to take three minutes amygdala, a part of our brain involved mean ignoring their emotions or feelings, out of their day, to colour their way in controlling emotion that is affected but rather allowing themselves to to peace and calm. When colouring by stress. experience grief, sadness, disappointment we activate different areas of our two Finally, the Mood Cards are used to or anger whilst maintaining perspective cerebral hemispheres. The action involves help students increase awareness of how and continuing with life with a sense of both logic, by which we colour intricate, they are feeling and to remind them that hope and positivity. sophisticated patterns, and creativity they have the power to change a negative when selecting colours. The relaxation

Roscommon CBS CBS Goes Orange On Friday 17th February, CBS Roscommon took part in the nationwide #SchoolsGoOrange twitter campaign. The aim of the event was to promote the mental health awareness message “It’s OK not to feel OK – but it’s absolutely OK to ask for help” in association with the Cycle Against Suicide campaign. In addition to covering the school from head to toe in beautiful orange artwork and wearing some extremely bright orange items of clothing as part of a non-uniform day to raise awareness, students also participated in a photoshoot forming a large smiley face for posting on the @CASuicide twitter page. As you can see from the photographs the event was a huge smiley success!

Spring 2017 Page 19 Positive Mental Health — Edmund Rice Schools Trust

CBS Kilkenny Secondary School Pastoral Care Cairdeas In CBS Kilkenny our class tutors and year heads are integral to our pastoral care structures. Class tutors seek at all times to help and support in any areas where students may struggle. and Positive Tutors work closely with year heads to flag any situations where either may have a concern for the welfare of a student. Year Transitioning of heads meet weekly with the Principal to allow for discussion of such concerns and to determine how students may best be helped and cared for. Our Guidance Counsellor plays a pivotal first years role in helping to meet the mental health needs of the students The transitions we all make are probably the most and we also have a visiting counsellor on site two to three days stressful and most significant features of our lives. This is each week. As a school community we are very grateful to our no different for young twelve year old boys as they begin chaplain Fr Jim Murphy who is an ever available support to their secondary school lives. In CBS Kilkenny there is a students and staff. very significant investment in making this transition as positive and as successful as possible. Our fifth year peer mentors called the Cairdeas group Professional work hard to ensure that the wellbeing of these young boys is protected and that they have role models to look Development up to, which is very important to maintain the fabric of a In CBS Kilkenny we are very keen to stay abreast of any health promoting school. initiatives which help maintain and support student mental The Cairdeas group engage with the first year students health. A number of teachers recently trained in the on their first day in the school when they arrive for their Headstrong and NEPs led One Good Adult programme to help induction day. in understanding and responding to the early signs of student ff It is the Cairdeas group who go through the timetable, distress. One Good Adult takes an upstream approach to minding get their diaries, assist with the allocation of lockers, mental health and reminds us that, knowingly or unknowingly, show them around the school and go through the basic we may be that One Good Adult that makes a crucial difference rules of the school. in a child’s life. The core approaches of the programme have ff Cairdeas organise lunch time activities for first been shared with all staff and are summarised for easy year students for the first nine weeks. This allows reference in our staff handbook. friendships to develop through fun at bingo, soccer, Staff have also trained in and delivered the Friends board games and chess. programme, an initiative which helps to develop resilience in ff A soccer blitz develops a healthy bonding culture the student and to teach him effective strategies to cope with with the mentors who can become very passionate and manage emotional distress. Exploration of feelings and about the performance of their charges. The first year problem-solving skills are to the core of the Friends programme. Bennettsbridge walk over 8-10km has the same impact. As a school community we embrace all approaches which help Care is always taken to have an all-inclusive activity to develop resilience in our students as we see this quality as which is adjusted depending on the abilities of our first being at the very core of good mental health. year cohort. As a staff we understand that we cannot fully meet student One Cairdeas student reported “We must have had a needs unless we ourselves mind our mental health. To this positive impact because these little boys keep saluting us end, staff workshops have been facilitated so that teachers in town on Saturday” have an awareness of self-care and stress-management. Most A first year student said “It was great to know that recently we have enjoyed and benefited from presentations older boys were there to go to – it is easier than going delivered by Jolanta Burke (Positive Psychology) and to a teacher”. Shane Martin (Moodwatchers). During the first week of September 2015 we had an incidental inspection on the topic of transitioning of first years. The inspector interviewed both first year students and the Cairdeas group and was very impressed with the Curriculum contentment of the younger students and the work already While we seek to have an awareness of mental health across undertaken by the Cairdeas group. The Irish sean fhocail all areas of the curriculum, in junior cycle we strive especially says “Tús maith, leath na hoibre” and we in CBS Kilkenny to teach mental wellness within the context of SPHE. In are committed to ensuring that our first year students Transition Year and Senior Cycle all students study dedicated have a stress free start. mental health modules. Nurturing resilience is a core tenet of our mental health modules. Examining how we have overcome past disappointments helps us to recognise and trust our core strengths. Mental health education is very much about focusing on what is right with us as well as coping with what may need some attention.

Síol Page 20 CBS Kilkenny Secondary School Specific Initiatives Positive Mental Health Week in CBS Kilkenny The aim of Positive Mental Health Week is to foster a positive attitude towards looking after students’ mental health. It is about helping students to realise the value in taking note of ways to deal with life’s everyday ups and downs. Each year the school chooses a theme and guest speakers and activities are planned with that theme in mind. Outside agencies such as Goal, Samaritans, Aware and local youth services engage students in workshop-style presentations which provide information and Cycle Against Suicide: event and did a “spin” over 3-4 hours skills to equip students to deal with In 2014 CBS Kilkenny received an email to raise awareness of the importance of the many challenges which they to enquire if we would be an Anchor looking after our wellbeing and mental may encounter. Other activities School for the Cycle Against Suicide when health. Our Sports Leadership team and include bright colours day, student- it came through Kilkenny. Thus began TY students cycled in the school yard on teacher games, be active cycle our journey with CAS and a new aspect static bikes. The whole school community and classroom based lessons to our already diligent efforts to promote supported this event by providing turbo across Junior SPHE and Senior well-being and the positive mental health trainers and bikes following a text Cycle Religion and Mental Health of our student population. request. modules. Our most recent speaker Our noticeboards carry the posters The Sports Leadership group are in March 2017 was John O’Shea, with the message “It’s OK not to feel OK also involved in running “Wellness former CEO of Goal who spoke and its absolutely OK to ask for help”. We Wednesday”. about social entrepreneurship and attend Cycle Against Suicide’s annual First year students are brought to the how we can develop our potential congress every January but 2017 was Castle Park where we walk approx. 5km to help others. really special because our 2016 6th to promote the benefits of exercise and its year student Craig Byrne was a Student link to well-being Motivation Week Ambassador for CAS and our current Together we can share the journey Early in each year the Student students were delighted to give a shout- and ensure that young people know Council helps to run a Motivation out to Craig at every opportunity. The that it’s OK not to feel OK and it’s Week during which each student is value of great role models for our young absolutely OK to ask for help. encouraged to strive for excellence men cannot be underestimated. In 2017 in himself. We aim to inspire each we engaged in the Schools Go Orange boy to be the very best that he can be. During Motivation Week students participate in workshops, welcome visiting speakers and participate in activities which help them to define their own motivations. Activities such as photograph competitions, inspirational leaders’ board and inspirational quotes competition help foster a mood of positivity and enthusiasm for learning that is student led. We aim to stimulate an ambition towards achieving one’s best while practising a balanced, healthy lifestyle.

Spring 2017 Page 21 Positive Mental Health — Edmund Rice Schools Trust

Coláiste Éanna Bunscoil McAuley, Callan Mindfulness Art It’s OK not to feel OK – 5th Class have been working on creating Positive Mental Health in their classroom. They incorporated Mindfulness but it’s absolutely OK into their art by designing positive, colourful thought to ask for help. bubbles using the curriculum strand of Print. Coláiste Éanna became involved in the Cycle Against Suicide campaign last year and this year we began our engagement with CAS by marking and celebrating ‘School go Orange Day’ on the 17th February 2017. We decided to have ‘a wear something orange with your uniform day’ rather than just a non- uniform day or a colours day. Experience teaches us that when we have a colours day most students resort to wearing grey, the colour of choice for tracksuit apparel. We also decided to attempt to have the entire school community gather on the school pitch and spell out the words of the Cycle Against Suicide slogan and to capture this in a photograph using a drone. And so it was that 612 boys and 55 staff gathered and the photograph was taken. The whole endeavour took place during a single class period and we are pleased that we achieved this difficult organisational venture. Much more importantly however is that teachers and The Crocus Project students are now enabled and empowered to discuss 6th Class planted crocus flowers in the shape of the Star suicide. Teachers have been very cautious about talking of David as part of a European project “The Crocus Project” about suicide in the past fearing that they may be putting which is a memorial for the 6 million Jews, and in particular ideas into young minds. That the impossible might be the 1.5 million Jewish children and thousands of other made possible. Because of this teachers were inadvertently children, who died in the Holocaust. adding to the taboo and shame of suicide. That our school would gather on the school pitch on that day in February means that discussion on depression and mental health is allowed to move out of the shadows.

Síol Page 22 Edmund Rice College, Carrigaline Positive Mental Health Initiative at ERC In Carrigaline’s newest school, Edmund Rice College, the week before February mid-term saw an emphasis on promoting positive mental health and friendship in the school. Guidance counsellor, Mariel Twomey, and other staff members organised a number of initiatives in the school which included laughter breaks, random acts of kindness, mindfulness with chocolate, positive quotes, a workshop with fitness instructor Laura Dorgan on the importance of exercise for wellbeing, a coffee morning for parents, mindfulness colouring, a friendship walk and an afternoon of board games. The week was in keeping with the school’s recognition that not only is it important to have an emphasis on the academic but also on the care of its students and teaching them ways in which they can look after their wellbeing. School principal, Ms Adele Flynn, said that the events during the week were just one example of the way in which Edmund Rice College knows that having a positive school atmosphere for the students is one of the key ways to ensure that students learn and excel in their academic work.

Spring 2017 Page 23 Positive Mental Health — Edmund Rice Schools Trust

Coláiste Mhichíl, Limerick Cycle Against Suicide ambassador school

The entire community of Coláiste our Mary Ryan centre and is now a point Mhichíl joined together in a project of reference for all students, providing to promote wellness in 2016. As a information on support available in result of our efforts, Coláiste Mhichíl school and in the wider community. gained the Amber Flag and also Phone numbers and contact details are became an ambassador school for Cycle posted on the board and can be accessed Against Suicide. by all students if the need arises. Promoting Positive Mental Health Our awareness raising campaign became the focus for students and staff. has brought openness and a sense of As the year unfolded the many activities understanding to students that in the undertaken provided an opportunity for past may have been reluctant or unable to students to become aware of their own seek support. mental health, how they can improve Our wellness week created a great sense and maintain it and in particular be able of community where students worked to access vital support and assistance together enthusiastically. The school now when required. has a gratitude wall, an art exhibition This culminated in the unveiling of the and a slide show always on display in our C.B.S., Sexton Street Help Board and a social areas and this constantly reminds visit from John Lonergan (ex. Governor of the students that they are never alone and Mountjoy Prison). that a helping hand and a listening ear are The Help Board is presently located in easily within their reach. ffLeejay Lynch of Limerick FC assists former Principal Tom Prendergast in raising the Amber Flag.

ffStudents with great pride and achievement hold the Amber Flag. ffTeenline Ireland Talk

ffC.B.S. students fundraise €2000 in a sponsored walk in aid of TeenLine Ireland. ffOur Smiley Wall on display which promotes the power of the smile.

Síol Page 24 Coláiste Mhichíl, Limerick Woodbrook College Cycle Against Suicide ambassador school Amber Flag Fun Fridays The Amber Flag group in the school aims to promote good mental health among TeenLine Ireland received a warm the students. Apart from regular meetings of the Amber Flag group, the team welcome in May when they visited organise Fun Friday activities each week. There is a different theme for each our school. Students, staff, parents all Friday and so far these have included Happiness, Worry and Bouncebackability. united together to participate in a 10k The activities are designed to look after our students’ mental health and have walk which raised 2,000 euro. TeenLine created a great buzz at lunchtime on Fridays. The group also organise the annual Ireland was exceedingly grateful and school “Spirit Week”. appreciative of our efforts. Promoting wellness remains a priority in Coláiste Mhichíl as we continue to create a supportive and caring environment in our school. “Cur scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.” Miss Gina O’ Keeffe, Wellness Co- ordinator wishes to extend her thanks to everyone for their support and assistance with this on-going project. An informative talk outlining all tasks that were undertaken in the promotion of positive mental health.

The “Time-Out” room is staffed Time-Out by volunteers from the teaching staff (coaches) and offers a number of Programme services including: In 2016 we opened a specialist room ff Alone moments (for seniors only) called ‘Time Out’ in response to a ff Meet and chat growing number of students who are ff Workshops – Mindfulness, Play requesting a place/time where they Therapy and themed activities. ffOur new Help Board in the Mary Ryan Centre. For Coláiste Mhichíl students who may need can collect their thoughts and process ff Chaplaincy/Or faith questions a little support. emotions or challenges which they are Resources for assisting with various experiencing. Theses may be issues of issues are kept in the ‘Time Out’ room. grief, anxiety, relationship problems, The resources consist of six simple gender and sexuality matters, strategies which students can take depression, mindfulness, resilience, home or complete within the session. examinations, schooling, stress as well The coach communicates to the parents as dealing with worries, body image, via the school journal that the student financial, substance abuse and peer has taken part in this activity. If the pressure. The main aims of the “Time- coach determines the student needs Out” programme are to: additional support or that the situation requires professional intervention, ff Provide a safe and caring they will write a Pastoral Care Referral environment for students to share form. All coaches are aware that their worries with somebody they are not qualified counselling ff Promote positive mental health professionals and that there are clear ff Reduce school refusal limits to their role. They are simply a ff Build a stronger bond between caring teacher who is volunteering to students and the school community listen to the student’s concerns. ffJohn Lonergan’s visit: “Every achievement, big or small in this world, began with a seed, where a person simply said ‘I’ll give it a go!”.

Spring 2017 Page 25 Positive Mental Health — Edmund Rice Schools Trust

St Kevins Ballygall Annual Bag Packing Event For St. Kevin’s College Transition Year Students 2016.

On Thursday, the 20th October and Friday the 21st October, 2016, the Transition Year students in St. Kevin’s College took part in the annual bag packing event for Aware, in Tesco Clearwater, Fingal’s. Aware is a voluntary organisation founded in 1989 and supports people whose lives are affected by depression, a debilitating and often hidden illness affecting 450,000 Irish people every year. Transition Year students in St. Kevin’s College have been supporting Aware for over fifteen years. Their support helps Aware continue to provide its support service supportmail@aware. ie, a LoCall Support line 1890 303 302, support groups nationwide and education services Beat the Blues secondary schools education programme and free Life Skills programme. ffBag packing at Tesco clearwater 2016 was an exceptional year for the students in terms of their fundraising boys were and eager to raise as much as basic coping skills so they can deal with effort for Aware. They took part in the they could for the organisation. When life’s challenges. The benefit to students fundraising event for two days. All the boxes were counted in the coming receiving the programme is that they students helped on the Thursday and days, the Transition Year boys raised over will be better equipped to deal with Friday. They gave of their time willingly €1370.01 for the organisation. anxiety, stress and depression. Ultimately, and many contributed with smiling faces The Transition Year students have it is through information, education way beyond their allocated time. The been covering Mental Health topics as and support that Aware aims to reduce feedback from the organisers was very part of their R.E. programme. They teenage suicide in Ireland. positive and Gerry O’Brien from Aware are waiting to take part in the “Beat called into the store in the afternoons. the Blues” schools programme which He commented as to how competitive the highlights and provides students with

Doon CBS Máirt Meabhrach

On Máirt Meabhrach (Mindful Activities include: ff Play a musical instrument Tuesday), the children have a ff Family play a board game together ff Listen to music homework free night! Instead of doing ff Family walk ff Gardening homework, we encourage each child ff Cycling ff Write a letter ad their family to engage in an activity ff Baking/cooking together Each child has a very small exercise that promotes positive mental health. ff Family sit down to have dinner to complete which will explain which together activity they did for Mindful Tuesday. ff Take your pet for a walk It is working extremely well in our ff Art/ Knitting/Sewing school and the parents enjoy it as much ff Play a sport together as the pupils. ff Do a family project on a topic of interest

Síol Page 26 Francis Street, CBS Why Mindfulness Works In Francis St. C.B.S. we are committed which is having a huge impact on the others, giving sincere compliments etc. to promoting Positive Mental Health and mindfulness practice in our school. and in turn realised how their own resilience in our pupils. Over the past We have a Positive Mental Health bucket was being filled. It was amazing few years we have developed our own month each year in January but the to observe the pupils discussing how they Positive Mental Health curriculum which ‘Bucket filling’ initiative we introduced feel more confident, secure, calm, patient involves initiatives such as mindfulness, this year is so successful that we have and friendly as a result. yoga, developing emotional literacy, decided to continue it until Easter. Our school feels passionate about the worry boxes and peace circles. This year ‘Bucket filling’ is a simple concept that continued development and promotion we are teaching the children the neuro- involves developed awareness of mental of our positive mental health initiatives science behind why mindfulness works health in ourselves and others. We all and see the impact that they have on our in calming our minds and bodies using have a ‘bucket’ which is our mental and students and their education. We have the MindUp model created by the Golden emotional self and we can fill our bucket seen how an improved sense of self and Foundation. We have also extended our and other people’s buckets by completing a calmer overall school environment mindfulness practice to involve taking actions or using words to show someone has filtered through all areas of school three “brain breaks” for three minutes you care about them. All pupils worked life and as resulted in more productive each day. All teachers in our school on ‘filling buckets’ by saying or doing teaching and learning. were trained in this program and are something kind, being respectful, helping implementing the MindUp curriculum

Kilkenny CBS Primary Friends for life “Friends for life” is a very CBS Kilkenny Choose successful positive mental health programme. It is a school based a Healthy Lifestyle programme and is the only one of The pupils and staff of CBS Primary Kilkenny are choosing a healthy lifestyle! This its kind recognised by the World includes incentives like “Healthy Lunch Box, Boy of the Month” from each class and Health Organisation. It is designed “Healthy Lunch Box, Class of the Month”. Pupils are acknowledged for their best efforts specifically for working with each month at Assembly. children and adolescents. We are also taking part in the Super Troopers Programme which promotes and It teaches children how to be encourages us to engage in more physical activity and healthy eating, to drink an mentally strong and resilient, how adequate amount of water and to get lots of sleep at night. There is also an emphasis to relax, how to think positively, on mental wellbeing – “Tell Someone How You Feel”. how to form good friendships, how Each pupil gets his own Super Trooper Homework Journal so that he can record to be confident and how to cope his progress each night for homework, which also helps to keep him on track and stick with anxiety. with the programme. It also promotes self-esteem and teaches children to respect and appreciate their environment and the natural world around them. We are therefore delighted to report that we are currently running the “Friends for life” programme with two groups of boys this year, a junior group and a senior group. The programme involves one group session a week for approximately one hour. The programme is proving to be very successful and enjoyable for all involved and is facilitated by Ms. Caroline Boyle and Mrs. Ann Grace.

Spring 2017 Page 27 Positive Mental Health — Edmund Rice Schools Trust

O’Connell Secondary John Kavanagh visits O’Connell Secondary School in aid of Pieta House Fundraiser

Rumours had been circulating for a few tales about life with ‘The Notorious’ in suicidal ideation, people who have weeks since Christmas that O’Connell the States were both entertaining and attempted suicide and people who are School had landed a major celebrity thought-provoking. His message was engaging in self-harm. A doctor’s referral to launch its annual fundraiser for quite clear: or a psychiatric report is not required. Pieta House on January 20th, 2017. At Anybody can achieve anything once From its humble beginnings, Pieta House one stage the name of Donald Trump they set their mind to it - attitude, has grown to almost 180 therapists and was even mentioned! There was great temperament and determination are the administration staff, and the demand for excitement in the school when our School key ingredients for success. their services hasn’t let up. To that end, Principal Mr Duffy introduced Coach Pieta House, the Centre for the in 2016 alone, in excess of 5,000 people Kavanagh, also known as John Kavanagh, Prevention of Self-harm or Suicide, came through their doors suffering from to launch the event and speak to the provides a free, therapeutic approach suicidal ideation or engaging in self-harm. senior pupils. John is an entrepreneur, to people who are in suicidal distress John stayed for over an hour, fielding gym owner, author, personal trainer and those who engage in self-harm. many varied questions from the pupils and coach with the Straight Blast Gym, Established over a decade ago in Lucan, and he gladly posed for numerous known simply as SBG. This is a mixed County Dublin, Pieta House has seen and selfies and photographs with his adoring martial arts academy and professional helped over 20,000 people in suicidal young fans. He was delighted to learn team based in Dublin and is part of distress or engaging in self-harm, and that the funds raised for his appearance Straight Blast Gym International. The established eight subsequent centres, (pupils were charged €2 each) were to team has produced several Ultimate three in the greater Dublin area - be donated to Pieta House as the school Fighting Championship (UFC) fighters, Ballyfermot, Tallaght and Finglas and began its annual drive in promoting including UFC Lightweight champion five further centres to cater for the rest of positive mental health throughout the Conor McGregor. the country in Limerick, Cork, Tipperary, school community. Our senior pupils were eager to Galway and Kerry. All services at Pieta PS. Many thanks to our French learn about John’s personal story and House are free of charge and all staff Teacher, Ms Heffernan for using her how he has achieved so much to date members are fully qualified and provide contacts to get Coach Kavanagh. Respect! as a member of SBG. John recounted a professional one-to-one therapeutic stories about his formative years and his service for people who are experiencing

Published at Áras Éamainn Rís Meadow Vale Blackrock Tel: 01 289 7511 Co. Dublin Fax: 01 289 7540 A94 YN96 e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01 289 7511 web: www.erst.ie

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