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Checking in on new students (Lorcan and Cathal January 25)

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Checking in on new students (Lorcan and Cathal January 25)

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Cosy Monday (20/1/25) - formally known as "Blue Monday"!

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Cosy Monday (20/1/25) - formally known as "Blue Monday"!

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We want to create a classroom with Ms. Bridget Donnelly and ask students to join it. We want to tell them why they should be and who can benefit from learning and speaking Lámh)

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New lunch club for Polish speaking students of SMC taking place on Tuesdays lunchtime in the Library.

All are welcome!!!

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We have some push buttons on the upper level of the school that say what the room is.

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We also have a lift for our wheelchair using students and anyone that may have crutches or injuries.

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The seonsory room is a secluded room for any special needs students or any other students who need a space for themselves.

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Welcome to our school!!! Students from different cultures presenting themselves and showing us all the different cultures and heritages that exist in our school at the minute!

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Welcome to our school!!! Students from different cultures presenting themselves and showing us all the different cultures and heritages that exist in our school at the minute!

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Here are our students as they prepare for this year's Multicultural and Heritage Day 2024!!!

We can't wait to see your stands!

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We would like to create an EAL policy like some of our champion schools, e.g. St. Nathy's in Co. Roscommon.

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This can help us with EAL needs

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Resource for teaching displaced children.

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Resource for teaching displaced children.

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SOSI recommends this resource for teaching. With the way that the world is at the minute, here at SMC, we think that this is an invaluable resource to have in our padlet and be able to access it.

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UNHCR Teaching About Refugees 2021 - Language Learning Guidebook | UNHCR

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SMC has an inclusion policy which is being updated at the minute (top one) and our new one will be ratified by the board of Management in December 2024 after it has been reviewed by the Parents Association and Student council for their feedback.

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Educational Provision of International Students

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Educational Provision of International Students

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Our school welcomes international students each year. We have a policy for this that informs our practice.

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Katie represented our school on Tuesday, April 23rd 2024

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Katie represented our school on Tuesday, April 23rd 2024

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Katie had to learn all about Belgium in order to take part - bravo Katie - you did us proud!

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certificat de participation au quiz sur la Belgique-1

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On November 30th 2024, Amelia will make her speech to the Soroptomists in Castlebar about peace.

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Our SoS team are at hand during lunchtimes to talk to any students that would like - look out for the sign on the door and the badges! We are there for you!

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Our SoS team are at hand during lunchtimes to talk to any students that would like - look out for the sign on the door and the badges! We are there for you!

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Наша команда SoS готова під час обідньої перерви, щоб поговорити з будь-якими студентами, які бажають - зверніть увагу на табличку на дверях і значки! Ми тут для вас!

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First place for Alex (2nd year 2023/2024)

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First place for Alex (2nd year 2023/2024)

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Our 1st, 2nd and 3rd years learned all about La Francophonie and submitted their posters...and then we knew that Alex was going to win!!! Well done Alex!!!

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Students created posters on Canva to spread the word

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Presentation in Mayo Education Centre March 2024.

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Presentation in Mayo Education Centre March 2024.

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Five schools across Mayo and one from Co. Roscommon are coming together to share about teaching and learning in the 21st Century (T&L 21). On our fourth meeting, Ms. Kennelly presented to all the schools on our journey to become a School of Sanctuary and the first Champion school of Sanctuary in Mayo.

St. Nathy's (in Co. Roscommon) also presented and shared their about their Champion status and work that they do. This was an extremely effective way of spreading the message in Mayo about the School of Sanctuary movement and we are really proud to be doing so!

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We created a presentation in the foyer for Human Rights day in the foyer and had a competition. Rather than have just posters, we decided that students who actively engaged with the presentation could enter answers using a QR code and would be entered into a competition for selection boxes.

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A total surprise for the SoS committee of 23/24 on Awards day in May when they won the prestigious CEIST award! It was a total surprise and unexpected! It was such a fantastic recognition of all the wonderful work and beautiful moments we had shared! We were humbled as the work that the committee do is so fulfilling to win an award on top of that is just the nicest icing on the cake!

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Molly wrote a fantastic piece for our yearbook telling all the community about their excellent work in SoS this year - thank you Molly and well done!

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Our SoS committee of 2024-2025 will endeavour to set up a booklet that we can give to new students telling them all about our school

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Our first SoS team made have a staff document that helps new students to integrate. We want to continue to update this annually, when our new committees start the work for their year in January.

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An excellent poem from one of our TY students

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Our Unity and Diversity wall is also up - April 2024!

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Our Unity and Diversity wall is also up - April 2024!

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A space for us to 'look in the mirror' and reflect on how we are all unique and different and there is something very special about that. This is one of our schools guiding principles in our strategic plan.

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When we have ideas...we will put them in this column/section and our SoS committee will know then what we have to do.

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When we have ideas...we will put them in this column/section and our SoS committee will know then what we have to do.

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When we brainstorm, we will write a post here. When we work on the ideas, we will put it into our Learn Action Share categories as appropriate.

The future is bright for us and Sanctuary in SMC!

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Mobile Refugee Support - A volunteer with refugees and asylum seekers will visit our school

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Mobile Refugee Support - A volunteer with refugees and asylum seekers will visit our school

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We look forward to welcoming Ms. Jenny Morice on November 27th to our school. Jenny will be just back from her latest two month stint in Calais where she helps displaced refugees and asylum seekers in the camps in the North of France. For the past three years, Jenny has dedicated half of her year to going out to France and helping refugees. She is an inspiration.

This year on our Multicultural and Heritage Day (November 27th), we will have a bake sale and small fundraising event for her organisation. Jenny will attend on the day and will be our "guest judge" for our Multicultural & Heritage stands! Thank you Jenny!

We hope that Jenny will visit us again to tell us about her experiences in the near future and we will present to her any contributions that will be raised on this day. By giving it directly to Jenny, we know that 100% of our donations will go to this great cause.

Thank you Jenny for allowing us to be a part of the wonderful work that you do.

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Mobile Refugee Support’s work in the field depends entirely on the hard work, time and dedication of our ever-growing family of volunteers.

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Students continue to learn about WorldWise Global Schools and SDGs - Sustainable Development goals - has became embedded in our Teaching and Learning #leavenoonebehind

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Instagram Roll - Conversations From Calais

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Posters from Calais in different languages

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Posters from Calais in different languages

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Here are practical ways that stories can be shared in the classroom.

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Conversations from Calais In Your City Thank you so much for wanting to participate in this project and paste up posters in your city! Below is a guide that explains how to paste up the posters and a series of documents with all of our posters in English and in different languages for you to print out.

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Dr. Moran (our principal) and Ms. Kennelly (our SoS coordinator) got to attend Galway Educate together's Monitoring day - It was EXCELLENT!

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Dr. Moran (our principal) and Ms. Kennelly (our SoS coordinator) got to attend Galway Educate together's Monitoring day - It was EXCELLENT!

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What an opportunity to see such a fabulous school and to be there as they were achieved Champion Sanctuary status - the first secondary school in Galway! Well done Galway ETSS - you really impressed and inspired us - thank you :)

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Important Dates to note in our Calendar!

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Important Dates to note in our Calendar!

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Once again this year, our TY religion class organised shoeboxes for the national Shoebox appeal - Well done - TYs coming up trumps again!

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TYs have been learning in social development across the board about refugees and migration.

Here is an example...

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This November, students of SMC have been honouring our loved ones who have passed away by adding their names to our school remembrance tree. 🍂🍁

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During the month of our November, SMC remembers our loved ones who have gone before us. "Ní imithe uainn atá siad ach imithe romhainn"

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 20Black 20Lives 20Matter 20CSPE 20project

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2nd year CSPE - Black lives matter (student work)

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2nd year CSPE - Black lives matter (student work)

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Our students have been researching about the Black Lives Matter movement. We are grateful, in Louisburgh, to have students who are so receptive to inclusivity.

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Our 2nd year students have been learning about the importance of justice and equality in our world

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CSPE 20Breaking 20the 20age 20label 20project

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Our 2nd year students have been gathering information about some of the world’s most inspiring older generations - truly inspiring reads.

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Our 2nd year students have been learning about some of the world’s most inspiring people and their incredible achievements

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This is the charter that we pledge to follow

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This is the charter that we pledge to follow

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It is really important that we strive and try to embed this charter into our school culture. If we fail sometimes, we will try and try again.

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Please sign our Pledge at reception if you too are happy to commit to being a part of our Sanctuary journey!

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Please sign our Pledge at reception if you too are happy to commit to being a part of our Sanctuary journey!

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We have been signing our pledge form since November 2023 - you can sign it too!

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This booklet shows you a guide as to how you can become a school of sanctuary.

It gives great ideas, suggestions and examples. This will show you how our padlet has been informed.

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This padlet showcases what we have done, are doing and plan to do on our Schools of Sanctuary journey.

On this link, you will see the Schools of Sanctuary Ireland website which will give you so much more information about the work of Schools of Sanctuary throughout Ireland and links to further ashore.

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Anti bullying poster - choose love not hate (2 of 2)

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Anti bullying poster - choose love not hate (2 of 2)

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A captivating poster created by one of our International students encouraging us to be kind and work together in our stance against bullying

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Anti bullying poster - choose love not hate (1 of 2)

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Anti bullying poster - choose love not hate (1 of 2)

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A captivating poster created by one of our International students

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Our 1 + 2 Year boys played a phenomenal match against Coláiste Phobail Acla and came out on top.

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PIP foundation Christmas clothing appeal

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PIP foundation Christmas clothing appeal

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Sancta Maria students who took part in the annual Christmas clothing appeal last year for the PIP foundation, established by a for’er student of Sancta Maria College, Padraic Rocliffe.

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Our U 16 Boys Basketball team had their first out coming match against Rice College.

Big well done to all!

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PIP foundation Christmas clothing appeal

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PIP foundation Christmas clothing appeal

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Prosperity in People - Prosperity in People

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Prosperity in People - Prosperity in People

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The Prosperity in People Foundation (PIP) is a charitable organisation focused on helping the most vulnerable in society achieve physical, mental and spiritual Prosperity.

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@smc_gaelbhratach on Instagram: "Tús le scéim Ghaelbhratach"

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Well done to the daltaí agus na múinteoirí who have enhanced our school by labelling na seomraí as Gaeilge. Maith sibh agus go n-eirí libh as you endeavour to achieve Gaelbhratach status for Sancta Maria.

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@smc_gaelbhratach on Instagram: "Tús le scéim Ghaelbhratach"

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9 likes, 0 comments - smc_gaelbhratach on November 15, 2024: "Tús le scéim Ghaelbhratach". 

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @smc_gaelbhratach

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Choose Respect - a poem by Sarah Mc Cluskey

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Choose Respect - a poem by Sarah Mc Cluskey

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A beautiful poem by one of our LCA students on love, friendship and respect.

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Our Strategic Plan - we endeavour to continue working on our inclusivity and diversity 

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Our Strategic Plan - we endeavour to continue working on our inclusivity and diversity 

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On pages Pp 63, 73, 81 of our strategic plan, we focus on inclusivity and diversity

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Focus Ireland sleep out 2024 - we raised €1,600!

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Focus Ireland sleep out 2024 - we raised €1,600!

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Our senior students and staff spent a night sleeping outside the school to help raise funds for Focus Ireland and heighten the awareness of the current homeless crisis. We exceeded our initial target by €600!

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First year surfing - Belonging and cooperating together!

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First year surfing - Belonging and cooperating together!

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The first years enjoy a day of surfing as part of our Belonging+  programme

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The first years enjoy a day of surfing as part of our Belonging+  programme

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First years do a getting to know you programme one of which is going out surfing. Thanks to their year head Mr. Tiernan for organising!

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Teachers can also utilize AI to create a separate set of questions that are more appropriate for the EAL student's level and tests areas of language that they need to practice.

Even foreign language classes can translate a text into simple English and ask the AI to include grammar based questions, giving the EAl student an opportunity to work on a separate language and be part of the class that way.

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Through the use of AI, teachers can adapt any text or resource for the English level of EAL students in their classes. They can follow the language profile for each student and adapt accordingly. This way, students can still take part but the texts are now more accessible for them.

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As well as the resources the NCCA provide, there are websites with lesson plans and teaching resources that EAL teachers from around the world have added to.

It helps tailor classes for EAL students, even if that's not your speciality, as well as highlighting the areas such students need focus on.

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Boost your teaching with Dave's ESL Cafe's Lesson Plans. Our rich repository of engaging and effective lesson plans helps educators inspire students. Whether you're a novice or seasoned teacher, discover new ways to make your ESL classes more exciting and impactful.

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Some of our students got to meet Zak Moradi at the launch of his autobiography in our community bookshop. In Geography, we learned about migration and watched the RTE documentary New Gaels which followed the lives of four GAA players who were born in other countries and embraced Gaelic Games when they moved to Ireland. We now have several copies of Zak's brilliant book in our library.

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You’re never going to get rid of racism in this world, you’re going to get it in every country in the world. You’re going to get that small minority and the problem is we can’t let the small minority ruin it for everyone else.

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We look at a variety of texts- novels, poetry, drama and film- across our six year groups which can teach us about really important topics and themes.

The Merchant of Venice(3rd year) offers a great insight into discrimination based on religion, Stone Cold (LCA) is written from the point of view of a homeless teenager, Of Mice and Men (2nd year) looks at different forms of prejudice and we can look at poems like 'Half- Caste' by John Agard which directly deal with racism.

Our library is also well stocked with a selection of texts from around the world.

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Our Arts departments are very busy places!

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Check out our notice board for a taste of what our students are offered and what is happening in SMC

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Anti-Bullying Week and Think Languages Week join forces from the 19th to the 22nd to raise awareness and support anti-bullying in SMC. We want to promote the message in as many languages as possible!

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Meet Leaving Certificate student, Sarah McCluskey who is in her second year of the LCA programme: 'Sancta Maria College brought LCA to the school last year, I picked this as I found the official Leaving Cert would have been challenging and it's just not for everyone. Now that I've picked the LCA I’m happy I've done it. It's a very practical leaving cert which suits me best. It has boosted my confidence especially doing interviews. I applied for a senior prefect role and I am now a sports prefect in the school and play a big role in promoting sport in our school.

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We look at different aspects of what it means to be European in our new TY European Studies Module. We look at the different cultures within Europe and how the EU works. We enjoyed a food tasting event which was good fun (and pushed some students out of their comfort zone!). We are lucky in this school that we have a long established culture of hosting international students- from Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland etc

Our students get to hear what it's like in other schools and countries and get to make new friends from cultures outside of their own.

We are also working to become a European Parliament Ambassador School!

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Sketching and Drawing club! open to all students in SMC.  

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Chill out, draw and enjoy your lunch break in the art room. This is a lovely space for students to get-together from all year groups and also for those who may not have art on their time table.

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Here is an A2 level reading test. EAL students generally range between the A1 and A2 levels. Once they are comfortably at the B1 level, it is generally understood they no longer need such direct support, to participate in a mainstream class.

It's my goal in an EAL capacity to help students achieve this level if at all possible, during their time in SMC.

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For new students with EAL needs, we test their language proficiency using the Common European Framework (as suggested by the NCCA). Their progress with be tracked with future tests. It assesses their listening, reading, speaking and writing skills. The results lets us alter class resources and homework to suit their specific language levels.

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Our student council gets active pupil voice 

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Our student council gets active pupil voice 

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Our Under 16 girls Gaelic team have had great success this year and are through to the quarter final next month.

They take part in WOW training each week.

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✨Our overriding principle is visible in the school ✨

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✨Our overriding principle is visible in the school ✨

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Our house system aims to bring everyone in our school across the years together

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Our house system aims to bring everyone in our school across the years together

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Themed week in March 2024

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A diverse group of students and staff came together to create a positive Christmas Message with the inclusion of members of our wider school community.