ffRo dolorem quo vit quid ut quam volorep NURTURING THE SEED The First Ten Years of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust Síol Newsletter Edmund Rice Schools Trust • Winter 2018 • Issue 16 By now I hope most of you will have first school in Waterford 216 years ago, represented with no less than 30 received our Celebration Book to mark our lit a flame that was, over time, to give languages being spoken on a daily basis. first 10 years as the Edmund Rice Schools opportunity to hundreds of thousands We know that there is a strong demand Trust. Also, I hope that you will agree of children living in Ireland and around for the broad range of schools within that it is a vibrant representation of just the world. Where there were no options, our Network. The Edmund Rice Schools some of the amazing activities that have he provided a solid choice which started Trust has opened a number of new taken place over the past decade across with a set of values enshrined in the schools over the past decade, based on our Network. Catholic faith. parental demand, and we look forward It is impossible to capture everything In 2008, the Christian Brothers to expanding and opening more over the that has happened. If we were to put generously handed on responsibility for coming years. together a book on sporting, artistic, their schools in Ireland to the Edmund While we know that it is impossible academic, and charitable contributions Rice Schools Trust, to hold the schools to predict the future, there is perhaps and achievements alone, we would need in trust, so that they would continue one thing that we feel will stay constant a library! We hope that it gives a little to provide Catholic education, in the into the future. We are confident that taste of what it means to be an Edmund Edmund Rice tradition. It is precisely the fundamental tenets of our unique Rice School, as a welcoming, caring because of this – and in the spirit of Charter will continue to reflect the values home for all. Edmund himself - that our schools are so of quality teaching and learning, care, Our schools are our lifeblood. open to everybody. equality, leadership and faith that are at The creativity, diversity, energy and Perhaps one of the most striking things the heart of Edmund Rice Education. innovation within our Network is simply about our schools over the past decade is Our aim, as the Patron/Trustee body amazing. As a Trust team we are here to the growing and flourishing diversity that for our dynamic Network, is to support do one thing, and that is to provide the distinguishes us. We are truly educating our schools to bring these values to framework that supports and facilitates together. Our students represent every life and to make them an integral and the teaching, learning, support and culture, every ability, every economic meaningful part of modern school life encouragement that is an integral part background. Edmund Rice Schools are and experience - in the classroom, on the of your school life. notable for our welcome for, and inclusion playing fields and in the community. For I want to reflect too on where we of, children whose families have recently now and for the future. have come from. Blessed Edmund Rice, arrived in Ireland. In one of our South the extraordinary man who founded his Dublin schools, there are 44 nationalities Gerry Bennett, Chief Executive Scoil Mhuire na mBráithre, Tralee Eigth Green Flag In 2018, Scoil Mhuire na mBráithre, Tralee were successful in achieving their 8th Green School Flag. The Green Schools Flag is designed to raise students’ awareness of environmental and sustainable development issues through classroom development. The Green Schools Committee, led by teacher Ms. Niamh O’Dowd, carried out various activities throughout the year, such as art projects using entirely recycled materials, organic composting and an annual spring clean to name but a few. Scoil Mhuire na mBráithre were also involved in W.O.W. initiative where each pupil made a special effort to walk to school on Wednesday during the National Walk to School Week. Angela Wall from An Taisce called to our school to help us celebrate their 10th anniversary of National Walk to ffThe Green School Committee doing the annual Spring Clean, Scoil School Week. Mhuire na mBráithre, Tralee. Scríobh Leabhar Second Class pupils from Scoil Mhuire The Second Class pupils had the enthusiastic about it” said Ms. Siobhán na mBráithre, Tralee took part in the opportunity to write about any topic Ryle, Second Class teacher. The children Scríobh Leabhar Project this year for the or theme that interested them. Once wrote and designed books about various first time. The Scríobh Leabhar Project the books were completed, they were topics, such as, Mé Féin, Spóirt and is run by various Education Centres swapped with another school so other Cluiche Ríomhaire. All pupils received in conjunction with Foras na Gaeilge. children get an opportunity to read a small prize for taking part and two The project aims to awaken children’s books written by children of a similar pupils; Milly and Krzys were selected to interests in the Irish language, by age group. receive a ‘Gradam Award’. encouraging them to design and write “It was our first time taking part in their own books as Gaeilge. the project and the children were very ffMilly receiving her ‘Gradam Award’, presented ffProud Pupils with their books completed for the Scríobh Leabhar Project. by Captain of the Ladies Irish Rugby team, Ciara Griffin. Síol Page 2 Scoil Mhuire na mBráithre, Tralee Arklow CBS National Walk to School Week in Scoil Mhuire na mBráithre, Tralee Mixing with Royalty On June 15th, 2018, Sixth Class pupils from Scoil Mhuire Arklow CBS na mBráithre got the opportunity of a lifetime to meet with The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall Gala Concert during the royal tour of the Republic of Ireland. Pupils from Sixth Class had to write a letter stating On Thursday 18th October the Parents’ Council of Arklow why they would like to meet Prince Charles and Camilla, C.B.S. held a gala concert and had the great privilege of the Duchess of Cornwall. “Pupils were very creative in both Garda band headlining the event. The concert was held in the their writing and presentation, some even used wax seal!” Arklow Bay Hotel and all those who attended were treated to a said Ms. Patricia Sharpe, a teacher at the school. fantastic and magical night of entertainment. Scoil Mhuire na mBráithre, Tralee, were honoured to Our school’s music teacher Ms. Jennifer Lee opened the be part of this historic day for the town of Tralee. Prince concert with our school choir who sang and played a variety of Charles and his wife, Camilla, shook hands with the songs and musical instruments. The audience were in awe of pupils and exchanged a few words with some pupils and the talent of our students, some of whom are only in first year. teachers. The children really enjoyed the experience and Following on from this were two more very talented students said it is one they will never forget. of C.B.S., brothers Ryan and Cian Harper. These multi award winning music students impressed the audience with their skills on the banjo and the concertina. The audience were then introduced to the members of the Garda Band who delighted the audience with a wide and varied program of music and instruments. Cor Na hAbhann, a local mixed voice choir, again under the excellent guidance of Ms. Jennifer Lee were a wonderful treat to follow the Garda Band. A past member of Arklow C.B.S., Stephen Walker, thrilled the audience by performing a number of outstanding solos. One of the highlights of the night was when four members of the school choir, Brian Fennell, Sean Molloy, Ryan Sheridan and Ryan Tolan, were invited back on stage to play their brass instruments. They gave a brilliant rendition of ‘Alleluia’. In summing up the night Mr. Peter Somers, Principal paid tribute to Mr. Fintan Fanning, Assistant Commissioner who organised the Garda Band, to Ms. Lee for her dedication, commitment and passion, to the hard working Parents’ ffExcited pupils from Scoil Mhuire na mBráithre as Council, who did an excellent job in organising the event and Prince Charles approaches. of course to all the singers and musicians involved who worked and rehearsed tirelessly to ensure the success of the night. Winter 2018 Page 3 CBS Carrick-On-Suir, Tipperary European Parliament Ambassador School Programme ffTY students attending EPAS Awards Ceremony in Bru Boru, Cashel on Friday 4th May 2018. This year for the first time, our school has been involved in delivering this E.U. Ambassador programme for Transition Year students. The main aims of the programme are to raise awareness of the origins of the E.U., how it functions at institutional level and how it influences our daily lives. The students get a sense of the genesis of the European project from the initial European Coal and Steel Community to the present- day expansion of twenty- eight member states. The introduction of the Euro, the Erasmus programme, the flag and anthem as well as policy areas and values are all explored through video clips, class discussion and a workbook. Raising awareness of the E.U. with the wider student cohort took the form of setting up an E.U. Information Point; holding an E.U. based quiz with last year’s First Years; producing brochures and hosting a European Breakfast Morning with last year’s T.Y.