Inclusivity explored during Coláiste Eoin week
Pupils from Coláiste Eoin Hacketstown celebrated their Inclusion Week with a series of activities and events incorporating the entire student body.
On Monday, February 19, Inclusion Week kicked off at the school with an art competition entitled: Diversity, a fact that inclusion is an action. Or Dream, Believe, Achieve - together we can achieve.
The winners of the competition were Sean Ormond in first place, Lily Henry in second and Julie Ann Dolan in third.
An international lunch was held on Tuesday where students brought in food from their different cultures and discovered that there are 18 different nationalities among students and staff.
On Wednesday, first-year students enjoyed a nutritious breakfast, with all students eating breakfast together during their first class of the morning. Staff members cooked breakfast to encourage them to eat a healthy breakfast every morning and explore some healthy options that they may enjoy.
The whole school got involved on Thursday when Rory O’Connor of ‘Rory’s Stories’ fame delivered an impactful talk about his experiences being a student in primary and secondary school, with Rory speaking openly about the challenges he faced in school, being dyslexic, ADHD and trying to cope with anxiety.
“He also discussed his own personal experiences of dealing with a gambling and alcohol addiction,” a school spokesperson said.
“He was hugely inspiring to all students familiar with him on his social media platforms. It was clear from the interaction between himself and the students that they gained a lot from hearing how he overcame his difficulties and went on to achieve success writing several highly successful books and enjoying great success as a social media influencer.
“This was an hour well spent; students interacted and shared their thoughts with him.”
Students and staff were organised in their year groups and base classes to create the letters of the words ‘We Belong’. Eight groups of students worked together by standing in their letters to form the words, with a drone overhead capturing the aerial view of the human formation of the words.
Eugene Canna, parent of Eoin and Aoife Canna, kindly gave his time and used his drone to capture the moment.
On Friday, Coláiste Eoin celebrated Grandparents/Special Persons Day, with the Ethos team working hard to create a variety of activities for the special guests.
“It was a heart-warming and unforgettable event, with students gathering to honour and appreciate the significant role that grandparents and other special individuals play in their lives,” the spokesperson continued.
“Through this event, we celebrated the love and support of grandparents and special individuals, acknowledging their unique role in our students’ lives. In addition, we aimed to promote intergenerational links and emphasize the values of family and community that define our school.
“Students in the school’s Grúpa Ceoil performed traditional music for their special individual T/Y’s together with students from other classes jived to music under the direction and guidance of music teacher Ms Leeann Cummins. Grandparents and special persons enjoyed refreshments of tea and cakes.
“Principal, Mr Alan Costello, at the end, praised the inclusive and supportive atmosphere that sets Coláiste Eoin apart. It was a pleasant, lively week full of activities.”