2 October 2020
Students’ Council
The Board of Management has established a Students’ Council in fulfilment of section 27 of the Education Act, 1998.
The Board acknowledges the valuable contribution that students can make to the effectiveness of their school and considers their meaningful involvement in the operation of the school to be a valuable part of their education process. A financial grant is made available to the Students’ Council by the BOM each year to help cover its expenses.
The general objectives of the Students’ Council are:
- To enhance communication between students, management, staff and parents
- To promote an environment conducive to educational and personal development
- To promote friendship and respect among students
- To support the management and staff in the development of the school
- To assist with policy development by its representation on the School Planning Group Sub-Committee
- To represent the views of students on matters of concern to them
Membership of the Students’ Council will be as follows:
- Two elected representatives from each year group in the school with 120 students
- Three elected representatives from each year group in the school with 150 students
- Head Girls (ex-officio member)
The Students’ Council operates in accordance with its constitution for conducting its meetings and business. This constitution is included in Appendix 5.
The Principal and/or Mr. Broderick will attend all meetings of the Students’ Council in a non-voting capacity.
Meetings of the Council will generally be held on a fortnightly basis at lunchtime.
The members of the Students’ Council for 2020/2021 are as follows:
| 1st year | Keeva Molony | Molly Donoghue | Robyn Wiggins |
| 2nd year | Jagoda Staszewska | Finna Donoghue | Katie Kehoe |
| 3rd year | Caitlin Hunt | Robyn Hayes | Charlotte Buckley |
| 4th year | Faye Gilmore | Maeve Hayes | Lucy Fitzgerald |
| 5th year | Maeve Buckley | Sinead Hegarty | |
| 6th year | Amy Barron | Ella Duggan | |
| Head Girls | Eileen Roe | Sinead Mythen | |
| Liaison Teacher | Mr. Broderick |
Annual Calendar of Events
| Month | Event |
| September | Election/appointment of new Students’ Council
Team-building activity Fortnightly meetings Meeting with Principal Representation on School Planning Committee Collection of news items/photos for school website Monthly report on school website |
| October | Fortnightly meetings
Attendance at Loreto schools training session for Students’ Councils Attendance at Comhairle na nOg Planning for Random Acts of Kindness Week Survey of students on lunchtime activities Assisting with parent-teacher meetings Representation on School Planning Committee Collection of news items/photos for school website Monthly report on school website |
| November | Fortnightly meetings
Random Acts of Kindness Week Assisting with school musical Assisting with parent-teacher meetings Meeting with Principal Representation on School Planning Committee Collection of news items/photos for school website Monthly report on school website |
| December | Fortnightly meetings
Assisting with parent-teacher meetings Meeting with another school’s Students’ Council Christmas lunch with Loreto Parents’ Council Representation on School Planning Committee Collection of news items/photos for school website Monthly report on school website |
| January | Fortnightly meetings
Assisting with parent-teacher meetings Meeting with Principal Representation on School Planning Committee Collection of news items/photos for school website Monthly report on school website |
| February | Fortnightly meetings
Assisting with parent-teacher meetings Representation on School Planning Committee Collection of news items/photos for school website Monthly report on school website |
| March | Fortnightly meetings
Assisting with parent-teacher meetings Sports Day Meeting with Principal Representation on School Planning Committee Collection of news items/photos for school website Monthly report on school website |
| April | Fortnightly meetings
Planning for annual school prize-giving Representation on School Planning Committee Collection of news items/photos for school website Monthly report on school website |
| May | Fortnightly meetings
Reflection/evaluation of year’s events Meeting with Principal Assisting with annual school prize-giving “Treat event” for Students’ Council Representation on School Planning Committee Collection of news items/photos for school website Monthly report on school website |
Notes
- The Students’ Council will be assisted throughout the year by a member of the school’s management team, Mr. Broderick.
- The above calendar of events is not exhaustive. Other events may be planned by the Council as it sees fit.
School News
- Each Transition Year class will undergo a two day course in First Aid. The first session will begin on Thursday, 8 October.
- The Parents’ AGM will be merged with the Autumn General Meeting of Parents. This meeting will be held via Zoom at 17.30 on Monday, 19 October. Full details will be issued nearer the time.
Admission into 1st year, September 2021
- The school will accept fully completed application forms in respect of girls in 6th class primary/national school (or its equivalent) for admission into our 1st year group (150 students) in September 2021 from 08.00 on Thursday, 1 October 2020 until 16.00 on Friday, 23 October 2020. Forms received before 1 October 2020 will be returned to sender.
- Application forms, as well as copies of the school’s admission policy, are available from the School Secretary and Receptionist during normal school hours (8.15 a.m. to 4.15 p.m., Monday to Friday) and may also be downloaded from the school’s website – loretowexford.com
Loreto Students Win Bursaries for the National Youth Film School – report by Ms. M. Jordan
Well done to Muirinn Carty in 6th year and Aoife Rees in 5th year who were two of eight young filmmakers chosen nationally for the National Youth Film School bursary from Screen Ireland.
Aoife and Muirinn took part in this summer programme during August where they met industry professionals and received mentorship to help develop their careers in film making.
Aoife is no stranger to film success. In March she made it through to Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year competition with a film about mental health. She was named as a Leinster finalist in the competition as part of the Fresh International Film Festival, which attracted a record 1,750 entries this year in junior, senior and international categories. Aoife also won a YouTube competition with the same film which awarded her a $1000 scholarship to make a film in a week-long Prodigy Camp in Seattle alongside directors and storytellers from Pixar.
Aoife’s short film ‘Dear Naomi’ is about a girl called Reeve who writes to her friend explaining how she feels as she tries to process her emotions. It features 5th year student Muireann O’ Gara and currently has 2200 views on YouTube. ‘Dear Naomi’ was also placed third in a mental health competition.
Aoife said she has grown as a person through her involvement in these competitions. ‘This film is especially close to my heart and deals with the timely topic of teen suicide prevention awareness’, she said. Aoife hopes to travel to Seattle next summer for her film camp.
Student Enterprise Awards 2019/2020
Congratulations to TY Mini company “The Scrap Shack” , who won the award for the most creative business idea at the 2019/2020 county final Student Enterprise Awards just before Lockdown. Well done Maeve Buckley, Megan Johnston, Laura Neville, Nel Bates and their Teacher Ms. Skelton.
