ffNagle Rice, Doneraile, School Choir Síol Newsletter Edmund Rice Schools Trust • Winter 2019 • Issue 18 Celebrating the joy, energy and power of young voices All around the world, we are seeing the the country, many of you are helping to provision centres with their families, or impact that young people are having on improve the lives of older people, people alone, without privacy, without room the important issues of our time. Together, in hospital, or people with disabilities, for to study, without money and too often, you are calling out the failures of many example – quietly and unassuming - by without a sense that their futures are previous generations in a new, bold and just visiting them, telling a few stories and going to be any different or easier. energetic way – particularly on issues like jokes, singing, taking the time to listen, In 2020, armed with our network wide climate action and climate justice. and by giving people the gift of your position paper, we are going to focus on At the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, we youth and your friendship. Very often, direct provision again. We are asking that celebrate and have great faith in this new it’s the little, quiet things that make the the direct provision system is reviewed youth movement of citizen awareness, biggest difference to people. so that people do not have to stay within advocacy and activism. It is something that But then, sometimes, you also have to it for longer than six months. In total, we is core to our Edmund Rice Charter. The speak out loudly on things. We are proud have outlined 10 things that we want to role of our schools is to nurture your full to say that we are the first network of advocate on for change. potential, as healthy and happy students schools to take on one of the burning issues We can only do that successfully if who are ready and supported to learn, but of our time – the indignity and unfairness we all work together – as a network of also as active citizens who are part of a of the current system of direct provision. 96 schools and as a cacophony of nearly wider community and a wider world. And the impetus to speak out about 40,000 young voices. We have recently As a network of schools you have this issue came from you – our students. sent the position paper to your schools already shown how you can rally together Over the past two years, those of you with a suggestion that it is something you to try to bring about change for people who have attended our Walk in Your might work on within your classes, or who find themselves without fundamental Shoes Advocacy events have heard from your peace and justice groups. rights and dignities. We saw the campaign our students who are living in direct This issue goes to the very heart of on homelessness, initiated by Ardscoil provision. You listened to the stories of the Edmund Rice ethos that asks us to na Mara students in Tramore and then danger and trauma that many had to stand in solidarity with those who are strengthened by the collaboration of go through just to get to Ireland in the marginalised and voiceless, and that asks schools throughout the network. first place. They have witnessed death, us to be advocates for justice and rights. You don’t have to collect signatures, destruction, torture, family separation. We look forward to working with you all. paint placards or take to the street to be Then, when they arrived in Ireland, they an activist. We also know that throughout found themselves living in crowded direct Gerry Bennett, Chief Executive Coláiste Phádraig CBS Lucan Open Night 2019 Coláiste Phádraig’s Open Night was held on Thursday 3rd different subject areas and made sure they felt welcomed and October 2019. Despite the looming threat of Storm Lorenzo, the valued. They answered a lot of questions about the school from school was packed with over 400 enthusiastic primary school parents and their children in a mature, positive and informed students and their parents all eager to see the excellent array of manner and helped them navigate the corridors and different modern facilities on offer in our school. Most of the classrooms classrooms on view. The parents were especially appreciative were open on the night so that the young students could see the of the guided tours they received from the students and they different subjects in action. They got to actively engage with were very complimentary about their friendliness, positivity and our own students and teachers, with the science experiments helpfulness on the night so well done to all who helped out on proving particularly popular on the night. the night The Classroom of the Future was also a big attraction on The 6th yr Prefects were also a tremendous help on the night the night. Opened in 2017 by Frances Fitzgerald, the room is as they took attendance rolls, distributed important brochures, divided into six computer pods and each one can cater for up guided parents and students around and helped clear up at the to four students. The front of the room is free standing which end of the night. Some of them were still in school at 10:00pm can be arranged into groups from two-twelve depending on putting chairs and tables back for the next morning so their the requirements of the teacher and students. The Classroom initiative, leadership and dedication were much appreciated by of the Future is ultimately designed for student led and student school management. centred learning and the unique design really facilitates project Principal Mr. Brady spoke to the assembled crowd about what work, peer mentoring and peer collaboration in ways that a Coláiste Phádraig has to offer prospective students. traditional classroom cannot. It is particularly useful for the 11 of the school’s departed 6th yr students, who attained over new Junior Cycle Programme, with its emphasis on project 500 points in their Leaving Cert, were presented with vouchers work, research, creativity, peer assessment and collaboration, in recognition of their fine achievements. currently being rolled out in schools. It is also useful for Leaving The Coláiste Phádraig Parents Association again were Cert History and Geography as they involve projects as part pivotal to the night’s success as they provided an abundance of their programmes. The school is currently fundraising for a of refreshments to complete a wonderful evening for all 2nd Classroom of the Future which will serve the needs of the in attendance. students in the school. The success of the night has been reflected in the large Many of our current students were in attendance and in number of enrolment application forms received in the following truth they were the biggest selling point on the night as they few days. demonstrated the calibre of student that attends the school. The school looks forward to welcoming the prospective new They spent time engaging the primary school students in the students to the school in the coming years. ffLocal primary school students sampling the fantastic woodwork projects of 3rd year students in Coláiste Phádraig. Síol Page 2 Coláiste Phádraig CBS Lucan Br Damien Brennan RIP Br Damien Brennan RIP Coláiste 1960—2019 Much has been spoken and written Phádraig of Br Damien since his passing on the 3rd September last. The Edmund Rice Schools Trust will always be deeply grateful for Talent Show Br Damien’s committed service to education in Callan both as Coláiste Phádraig’s Lucan’s Got Talent 2019 was held this Deputy Principal and as Principal year on Friday, October 11th. As always there was great in Coláiste Éamann Rís and excitement and a great atmosphere around the school on as Chairperson of the Board the day of the show as one of the most eagerly awaited of Management of Bunscoil school events of the year edged ever closer. Work got McAuley Rice. underway early on in the day with TY students helping to set up the venue, the sound system and mentor the Br Damien’s commitment to Gaelic Sport, especially hurling, was nervous acts who would later all take to the stage. Over a further mark of his unstinting commitment to young people 250 students reluctantly left their afternoon classes and their future. He will be greatly missed by all those who to attend this year’s Show. Fair play to them all for were privileged to have been involved in hurling in Kilkenny at sacrificing important academic work and homework in school and Minor inter county level where he served as coach order to be in attendance for 90mins of music, dance, and manager for many years, magic, fun and entertainment! As the students of Coláiste Éamann Rís enjoyed their The show was hosted by the very competent Sultan summer holidays in 2019, little did they realise that when school Mamaev and Alex Jaji. Fifteen acts competed in this year’s resumed in early September they would be without their much show. There were an impressive range of talents displayed loved and inspiring school Principal Br Damien. While school from singing, dancing, guitar and trombone playing to was closed for the three month summer break, Br Damien was rapping, origami story-telling, pronouncing impressively fighting a huge battle to which he finally succumbed on Tuesday, long words and magic. The range of talents and skills on September 3. show in the final was hugely impressive and the audience One of a family of 12 from Arles, Co Laois he was born into were extremely taken with a number of the acts in the GAA family, his father serving as Laois County Secretary for particular.