ffIyaaz Allybuxsh; Mrs Higgins; President Higgins; Daniel Marzec; Locklen Sallinger; Mihai Sabo Síol Newsletter Newsletter Edmund Rice Schools Trust • Summer 2018 • Issue 15 Issue Síol Newsletter Edmund Rice Schools Trust • Summer 2018 • Issue 15 priorities of those involved in Edmund (EREBB) schools providing Edmund Rice Deich Bliain ag Fás Rice education. It is a document which education worldwide. distilled the wisdom of almost 100 Boards Every one of our schools is brimming On September 1st, 2008, the Edmund Rice of Management, staffs, student councils with ideas and enthusiasm from which Schools Trust formally took responsibility and parent councils. It is not a top down our Charter emerged 10 years ago. Today for trusteeship of the schools founded by Charter – its values came from our similar sharing of ideas and expertise Edmund Rice and his successors in the school communities. makes our network unique, nationally and Republic of Ireland. Today the Charter expresses the internationally. This issue of Siol highlights This was the culmination of a process tradition, heritage, core characteristics some of the achievements of our schools. which began with the appointment of the and values which of each school seeks to Recently an independent education fi rst Boards of Management in our primary uphold. It is a challenge to every school. expert stated, “I work with and know many schools in the 1970s and in our secondary It is aspirational. It is the norm against Trust bodies and I see in ERST a great schools in the 1980s. The process which each school community measures its ‘can do’ attitude”. I think he was talking continued with the appointment of the fi rst mission, performance and priorities. about our schools! As we approach our lay principals in secondary schools in the In meeting this challenge each school 10th anniversary, we in the Trust celebrate 1980s and in primary schools in the 1990s. is not alone. We are a growing network the achievements of our diverse schools The move to Edmund Rice trusteeship of schools. Since our foundation we in making the Charter a living reality. As was carefully planned. Members of school have added further schools to the the Edmund Rice Prayer says: “Grant us communities in the early 2000s will Edmund Rice Family, including ERC the courage and compassion of Blessed remember the consultation process which Carrigaline and ERC Carpenterstown/ Edmund as we seek to live lives of love and invited each school community to refl ect Castleknock. Our growing network places service”, we open our doors to the students on the values which led Edmund Rice to a caring, child-centred approach at the that other schools cannot or will not place. fi nd his fi rst school in Waterford. Schools heart of our existence. our network & community – 96 were asked how those values are evident Our schools form one large schools, 37,000 students, from all today, with questions such as: “What is it community. Operating and acting under socio-economic areas that makes your school special?”; “What the guidance of our unique Charter we our values & social conscience – we do you value in your school?”; “What’s learn from one another and support each provide an education that is steeped in important to you in this school?”. other. We are a Catholic school network a value system that promotes inclusion, The result of this consultation is the that welcomes everybody, all races, acceptance, a caring conscience and a Edmund Rice Schools Trust Charter, religions and backgrounds. Our network sense of social justice. a document which expresses the hope provides the gateway to almost 300 and commitment, the values and Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders Gerry Bennett, Chief Executive Francis Street C.B.S. President Michael D. Higgins opens the new library in Francis Street CBS Our new library is up and running and was offi cially opened by President Micheal D. Higgins! It was a wonderful occasion and the boys recited poems as Gaeilge and sang some songs for the President. Dr Berry CBC, Mr Mooney Glanmore Foods, Bros Hendrick and Sassi were among the attendees. President Higgins’ speech and acknowledgement of the work of teachers and boys was outstanding - a great occasion on the 200th Anniversary of the school. ffSean O Connor, father of Joe and Sinead, is a past proud pupil and frequent visitor to the school. His son Joseph read the chapter ‘Franner’ from his father’s book which he presented to the President. Síol Page 2 Summer 2018 Page 3 Francis Street C.B.S. More from Francis St Congratulations to our school football team on a winning start to the season. The boys beat Scoil Una Naofa 4-3 in a thrilling encounter with lots of skill on display from both sides. Our hurling team has also been in action and were narrowly beaten by Ringsend in our opening fixture. However, our coach David was very impressed by the attitude of the boys on the day. Our school chess competition has reached its completion and Daniel from 6th class emerged victorious. Boys from 3rd class to 6th class participated in the tournament. 6th class have also been teaching chess to our second class boys. Big thanks to Brendan for organising the competition. Some boys from 4th class represented our school at the Our 5th class have just completed the Cycle Right robotics competition in Cork. We are the first primary school program. Lots of fun was had and some valuable lessons were in Dublin to participate in this event. learned. 5th class are also participating in the Dragon’s Den Second class and third class have participated in the program run by the Solas Project. A group of boys have been Creativity in the Classroom Project. As a result there are some selected to represent our school at the community final. incredible displays of artwork on the corridors of our school! Coláiste Íosagáin Comórtas Náisiúnta Díospóireachta Fraincise buaite ag Coláiste Íosagáin National French Language Debating Competition won by Coláiste Íosagáin Bhí bua mór ar an 16 Márta 2018 ag foireann ó Choláiste Íosagáin, meánscoil lánGhaeilge i ndeisceart Bhaile Átha Cliath, sa chomórtas náisiúnta díospóireachta a eagraíonn an Alliance Francaise do mheánscoileanna na tíre gach bliain. Is comórtas dúshlánach atá ann ina mbíonn ar na daltaí labhairt ar mhórcheisteanna na linne, bréagnú a dhéanamh ar argóintí an fhreasúra agus pointí eolais a fhreagairt ón bhfreasúra ar a gcosa agus é sin ar fad a dhéanamh trí mheán na Fraincise. D’éirigh thar ffFrom left, Iseult Ní Cheallacháin, Sadhbh Ní Ghráda, Ciadhla Ní Mhaolmhuaidh, Niamh Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh barr leis an bhfoireann sna babhtaí éagsúla i mbliana ach bhí ardchaighdeán i gceist i ngach babhta agus ba léir go raibh dianullmhúchán déanta ag gach debating competition organised annually the competition but the standard in all the foireann agus ag a múinteoirí freisin. by the Alliance Francaise and open to all debates was very high and showed a huge Comhghairdeas mór le foireann Choláiste secondary schools in the country. It is a amount of preparation by all the teams Íosagáín, Iseult Ní Cheallacháin, Niamh very challenging competition in which and their teachers. Congratulations to the Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh, Sadhbh Ní Ghráda students are asked to grapple with the winning Coláiste Íosagáin team, Iseult Ní agus Ciadhla Ní Mhaolmhuaidh agus lena major issues of our times, to refute the Cheallacháin, Niamh Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh, múinteoir, Róisín Ní Earcáin. arguments of the opposition and to answer Sadhbh Ní Ghráda agus Ciadhla Ní Coláiste Íosagáin, an Irish medium points of information from the opposition Mhaolmhuaidh and to their teacher, Róisín secondary school in south county Dublin, while on their feet and all of this through Ní Earcáin. had a great win on the 16th of March the medium of French. The Coláiste 2018 in the final of the French language Íosagáin team were excellent throughout Síol Page 4 St. Kevin’s College, Ballygall Camino De Santiago 20 boys, 4 teachers, 120 kilometres and 1 unforgettable week of the Easter Holidays. I present to you the Camino De Santiago or The Way of St. James. Our 24 strong group from St Kevin’s in Ballygall hiked, stumbled and hobbled our way through the pathways of hilly northern Spain. It all started some time ago when our school signed up to a competition. After a hard-fought battle and lots of whole community support – we won! Our prize, a trip to Spain to complete the final stage of a pilgrimage. We walked the end of the French way which brought us from a town called Sarria as far as the city of Santiago where St. James can be found (allegedly). Each person was fuelled by their own purpose, some ecclesiastical, some for craic and some for personal reasons. Together we pushed ourselves to new physical and mental limits. We were determined. Throughout this journey, after talking and walking with other pilgrims – from far flung places, and even from Finglas, we realised that every pilgrim has their own reason for taking this journey. Beginning our trek in the wasteland the locals call Sarria, walking up and down… and up and down… and up and down. The rolling hills of northern Spain were no match for our calves as we made pace through the stunning countryside. Each day was by no means easy but soon enough it was flying in. Hitting the town of Portomarin, you are stopped in your tracks by the beautiful town resting on the hill. Think traditional, idyllic Spain. No matter where we were you could look up or down to capture picturesque vistas. That night was one to remember, there was a festival, singing, shouting, chanting.