Here in Coláiste Muire, we recognise that the social and developmental aspects of school are the foundation stones for building resilience skills for life. A dedicated Wellbeing programme in Junior Cycle aims to ensure that all students engage in important learning about Wellbeing through key curriculum areas. The Wellbeing programme consists of
- Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE)
- Civic, Social and Political Education (CSPE)
- Physical Education (PE)
- Guidance Education
400 hours of time-tabled learning for all students, is designed to meet the identified needs of students and supported by a range of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.
Senior Cycle Wellbeing focuses on supporting learners to make informed choices for life. We focus on developing mindfulness practices, improving communication skills, learning stress reduction techniques and building on the foundations of Wellbeing formed in the Junior Cycle programme.
In addition to Wellbeing within the curriculum, students at Coláiste Muire are encouraged to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. This is done through participation in Physical Education classes and by a diverse range of extra-curricular opportunities that the school offers through sport and field trips. Events such as the annual 5K run, yoga in TY, walks to the waterfall in the local woods, and Sports Day serve to remind us that keeping physically healthy is a key part of our wellbeing.
Recognition and acceptance of each-others’ differences, while celebrating each-other’s strengths, is part of our philosophy. The spiritual needs of the students are supported by regular visits from our local Parish Priest and through organised retreats, events such as Mental Health Week and our Cineáltas initiative. The Meitheal program in operation is where Senior students volunteer and are trained to help younger students adjust to the secondary school environment.
The Meitheal programme helps in fostering responsible, civic-minded confident students who are things that the school staff value, while also encouraging everyone to achieve academically. Study skills and reflective techniques are taught specifically in subject classes and through Social, Personal and Health Education, at an age-appropriate level.