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Sadly it was time to say goodbye to our incredible monitors. This day will forever be engraved in our hearts. 💕

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'You are now a champion school of sanctuary'

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The time we all had been waiting for. Karen announcing that we are now a champion school of sanctuary. 🥳🥳🥳

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Music piece from members of the school band after lunch.

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Aine Schaefer, one of our parents, setting up the balloons arch.

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It was time now to eat and celebrate diversity in our school: featuring 14 countries, food and music. What a day.

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Past pupil Elizabeth Zion gave a moving and powerful speech about her life experiences, her time in our school and how it has contributed to her achievements.

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Presentations from Sanctuary club members:

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Presentations from Sanctuary club members:

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Beautiful music piece from the school band

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Beautiful music piece from the school band

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Our Vice Principal Mr Doyle giving the welcome speech.

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Our Vice Principal Mr Doyle giving the welcome speech.

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Paul sticking up flags in the assembly hall.

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It was an exciting day on the 21st of November, day before our monitoring day with preparations under way for our monitoring day.

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Campaigning for organisations which promote migrants' rights.

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Playing lovely genres for diverse nationalities.

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Our very first meeting.

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Flags in the 6th year corridor.

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As we established the Sanctuary club and ethos of celebrating diversity in our school became more visible, many other students and staff wanted to sign the pledge....and loads more.....and more and more....

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The committee held a car wash to raise money for Jigsaw. Many parents and teachers arrived to have their cars washed. Teachers left with squeaky clean clean cars, students left soaked and tired, but most of all, they raised a wonderful 220 Euro which is being given to a helpful and worthwhile charity.

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The committee attended the Cycle against suicide student congress in the RDS where the learnt more about preventing suicide. Such a fantastic way of bringing awareness about suicide and mental health to young people.

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The committee hosts an annual 'Go orange day'. This is a day to raise awareness and break the stigma surrounding mental health. Students and staff are encouraged to wear orrange to school on the day and to donate 2 Euro for Pieta House.

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Donabate Community College are delighted to aspire to be a champion school of Sanctuary.

We are a community college based in North Dublin and it is critical that as the community we serve diversifies so we must respond accordingly. This support translates and permeates our day-to-day operations.

In real terms it ensures support for EAL students in every aspect of their school day and also ensures that our school is a physical place of sanctuary. The presence of visual representations promotes a sense of inclusion and welcome to all students irrespective of their background.

When creating School policies, the Sanctuary ethos is present. We model and celebrate intercultural diversity with events and campaigns. By engaging with students and parents we attempt to listen to the experience of our new students and make the correct adjustments to ensure that they can avail of the welcome we have for them and subsequently engage in our school in a meaningful way.

As principal I greatly appreciate the efforts made by staff and students to date and will continue to support them on our sanctuary journey.

Best Regards,

Anthony Creevey

Principal - Donabate Community College.

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A huge thank you to our principal Mr Creevey for having these beautiful badges made for all members of our club. We wear them with pride.

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The Sanctuary Club's work in a nutshell....

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The Sanctuary Club's work in a nutshell....

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Headstrong and Sanctuary committees having a talk with Ashling from Team Hope North Dublin...

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Collaborating with the Sanctuary Club to promote Shoe box appeal 2023.

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Collaborating with the Sanctuary Club to promote Shoe box appeal 2023.

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The headstrong committee invited a speaker from Team Hope North Dublin to have a talk about the shoe box appeal.

They are collaborating with the Sanctuary Committee to collect as many shoe boxes as possible. This time to send them to vulnerable children overseas. It is a wonderful thing to work together for a just cause ❤️.

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Mental health awareness and wellbeing is crucial for everyone despite where they come from. It is indeed the most vulnerable who need this and our headstrong committee have a the responsibility to promote this in our school. This is very important as everyone in our school is encouraged look after their mental health.

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Mental health awareness and wellbeing is crucial for everyone despite where they come from. It is indeed the most vulnerable who need this and our headstrong committee have a the responsibility to promote this in our school. This is very important as everyone in our school is encouraged look after their mental health.

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We attended the human rights webinar 'The refugee journey' as a whole school in the main hall. It was a brilliant way of learning about refugees and migrants together.

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Because we had an overwhelming number of students and staff who wanted to sign the pledge and we could not fit in all their signatures, we decided it was time to design a pledge for the whole school.

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Delivering the presents with our principal.

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Come Christmas time, we engaged organised our own shoe box appeal for DCC. We collected the lovely boxes and gave the gifts to Ukranian refugees living in our community.

It is indeed the little things which make a difference in other people's lives.

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Our beloved parents organised a clothes donation for Focus Ireland.

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Our Green Schools committee organised a bake sale for people affected by the earthquake in Syria. More than 700 euro was raised for this cause..

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Fundraising for Immigrant Council of Ireland through Wear Red Day.

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Fundraising for Immigrant Council of Ireland through Wear Red Day.

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On Wear Red Day, we raised 370 Euro for Immigrant Council of Ireland to help them fight racism. Some few days after, we invited Kensika and Valeria from the organisation to DCC to get the cheque.

We were lucky enough to get to meet the people who help fight racism in our country. and we were lucky enough to have Karen from Schools of Sanctuary visit us on the same day.

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Virtual exchange with a school in Germany.

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Ms Kearns' students studying  German had a virtual exchange with our partner school in German (Gymnasium Gammertinger)

Our students introduced themselves. spoke about where they live and about their hobbies in German.

Our partners spoke about the same topics in English to us. What a great way to learn.

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Ms Drysdale's Spanish classes created a beautiful display in honour of Dia de los Muertos, a Mexican celebration of family and memory.

These Calaveres de azucar or Sugar Skulls are highly decorated sweets usually marked  with the name of a departed family member and left as an offering on a family ofrenda.

The holiday is an opportunity to come together as a family, both living and beyond to eat and share memories. It happens every 1st and 2nd November.

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Presentations on our journey on the second visit.

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Having a talk with Karen on the second visit.