Rath Dara CC and Donabate CC Awarded Schools of Sanctuary Status

Rath Dara CC and Donabate CC Awarded Schools of Sanctuary Status

Rath Dara Community College

Rath Dara Community College was thrilled to be awarded Champion School of Sanctuary status at a ceremony held at TU Dublin, Grangegorman, in February.

At the ceremony, nine students showcased a unique cultural fusion, blending performances of bodhrán, African drums, Irish dancing, and a group dance incorporating elements from five different countries. Additionally, 19 students contributed to a video that was featured during the ceremony.

A 3rd-year student captured a stunning aerial shot of the school with a drone, while 12 students greeted the audience by saying ‘hello’ in various languages and six students each recited a stanza from a Séamus Heaney poem in their native language.

This event was a true reflection of our ETB Core Values and the spirit of our school motto, ‘ní neart go cur le chéile’ (‘there is no strength without unity’). We are immensely proud of all the students and staff who contributed to this whole-school initiative.

Donabate Community College

On Tuesday February 11th the Donabate Community College School of Sanctuary club gathered with 9 other schools from around the country for a national award ceremony in T.U.D. Grangegorman, where all 10 schools officially received their “Champion School of Sanctuary” award.

DCC students presented a poem about sanctuary and how this is valued in our school. DCC student Nikolai Polnis-Borzyk spoke on behalf of Medina Salihovic, who could not be there on the day and talked about the lessons and values that inspired the posters which are on the corridor walls. One poster entitled ‘EVERYBODY IS WELCOME’ celebrates diversity and inclusion. It was inspired by Medina’s belief of creating a space where everybody is equal and valued. The second poster entitled ‘ANTI-RACISM’ highlights the importance of activism in the ongoing fight against racism. Medina is very passionate about this subject and sees her art as a way to showcase her message of inclusion.

We were presented with the award from the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain who gave a short speech on the values and importance of sanctuary in schools and the wider community. She stated that “These Champion Schools of Sanctuary are beacons of hope for the whole country, now and in the future. I commend the students and teachers for setting standards of excellence in their commitment to welcoming and including newcomers and minority groups, and I look forward to seeing more and more schools learning from their shining example.”

Another guest speaker was woman’s empowerment and health campaigner, Aishah Akorede. While the public might know her best for her appearance on Dancing with the Stars or her victory in Miss Universe Ireland 2023, In everyday life Aishah dedicates much of her time to her efforts to fight discrimination and promote diversity.

Alihah believes that the ceremony “is about recognising the impact that motivated students can have on creating school cultures that celebrate and champion inclusivity. It has been a real pleasure to get know some of these creative and empowered students and I look forward to celebrating their day with them”.

We had a wonderful day celebrating our Award and we were delighted to bring it back to Donabate CC and display it proudly for our school community.

By Nikolai Polnis-Borzyk (Student Donabate CC)

Cyberwise At Deansrath Community College

Success of Deansrath Community College TY students at the Adventures in Cyberland Awards at UCD

November 2024 was a hugely successful month for TY students Emily Pesak, George Hurst and Piotr Zawierta, who submitted their project “The Lost Soul: Revealing Hidden Depths in Cybersecurity” for the Adventures in Cyberland Awards, organised by Marelle Rice of Cyberwise under the leadership of Dr. Rachel Farrell.

Cyberwise, under the UCD Centre for Cyber Resilience Education, enhances cybersecurity education across Ireland. Over 300 students attended the awards at O’Reilly Hall, University College Dublin, on December 10, 2024. The event celebrated advancements in cybersecurity education, promoting inclusivity and challenging gender bias.

The students’ project showcased a brilliant, from-scratch animation and included a thoughtfully written piece exploring addiction to cyberspace and its profound impact on our mental well-being. For their fantastic work, they were awarded the Gold Medal of the prestigious UCD Centre for the Advancement of Wellbeing in Education Award and won the Best Presentation Award.

The event featured experts from Microsoft, the National Cyber Security Centre Ireland, and leading universities, giving students a chance to connect with their peers from other schools as well as with potential mentors and industry leaders.

Hear directly from the students:

What made you choose to explore the link between cybersecurity and mental health in your project?

Emily: Mental health is one of the most important topics of our current age and another one is the internet/cybersecurity. Both of these topics are massively debated and have many overlaps and relations that made it easy to explore as a topic. Because the internet is still quite new – and it’s not something we as a species were designed for – we are witnessing and studying the effects the internet has on the human psyche in real-time. What we have found is that the internet can bring addiction and grief to many. Addiction is a very misunderstood topic in my opinion, and we are seeing now more than ever (thanks to the addictiveness of the internet) that it’s a pitfall anybody can fall into. We felt that was a topic worth exploring – even briefly.

How did you work together as a team to create your project, and what part did each of you play?

Peter: It all began with brainstorming. Discussing stories, tales, recalling fables we were told as children. We wanted to raise awareness through these stories that we were so invested in, the ones that really resonated with us. We then discussed mythology, and we settled on the perfect choice, the Myth of Narcissus. And that’s where it really got up and running. We began creating storyboards, concept sketches of the characters while also figuring out how we will shape the story to fit our themes and topics we wanted to portray. We settled on roles; I worked on Narcissus, how to bring him to life and how to picture his health deteriorating as his addiction grew. George worked on the art of Psyche and how to illustrate her change in emotion. And Emily, who I believe worked the hardest as she was not only our background designer but also our animator! But I think the most important part of working together was communication, looking out for each other, giving each other help, suggestions, and support all throughout the process of bringing this project to life.

What do you hope other students and teachers will learn from your project about the effects of cyberspace on mental health?

George: We hope they learn that while having an escape from reality is perfectly okay, losing yourself in these escapes can become dangerous and lead to harm, either physically or mentally. This is illustrated in the perspective of Narcissus, as time passes, he deteriorates more and more until he’s nothing but a husk. Of course, this is exaggerated to fit the story, but the meaning is still present.

What advice would you give to teachers who want to encourage their students to participate in the Awards in the future?

Emily: I want teachers to encourage students to use their unique skillsets for their projects. We were very lucky that one, we were all artists and fans of animation and two, that our teacher was so supportive of these interests. Had we just written an essay or made a PowerPoint we would’ve been bored to death. Yeah, we would’ve still put the effort in, but the fact we were given the opportunity to use our own skills made it a more enjoyable experience and resulted in a more memorable project. Also, let the students explore their own ideas! Teachers should be allowed to pitch in and help point in the right direction, but students should pick their own themes and a topic they’re interested in. Again, it just makes for a more memorable project that had love and passion put into it, rather than a project that felt more like a mountainous task than anything else. Obviously, the student still must stay within the guidelines and themes of the competition, but you get what I mean. Let students express themselves and their interests.

Well done to Emily, George Hurst and Piotr for their hard work and dedication to the project.

DDLETB Community National Schools: Inclusive, Innovative, and Inspiring

March 21, 2025/in Community National Schools News, Corporate News, Front Page News /by Jennifer Farley

DDLETB CNS Three Students In Classroom

DDLETB is the proud patron of 9 Community National Schools (CNS) and 3 Community Special Schools (CSS), providing high-quality, inclusive, and student-centred education at primary level.

But what exactly is a Community National School, and what makes it unique?

Community National Schools are state-funded, co-educational, multi-denominational primary schools that welcome all children of all backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs. Established in 2008 to reflect modern Ireland’s diversity, CNS schools provide a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment, fostering a sense of belonging for every child.

They give equal opportunities to all children in the communities they serve and strive to provide high-quality education through respectful, positive, supportive and responsive learning environments. They were established in 2008 and are managed by the designated Education and Training Board in each area.

What is the CNS Ethos?

At the heart of every CNS are the 5 ETB core values of Community, Care, Excellence in Education, Respect and Equality. CNS are committed to:

✅ Inclusive Education – Recognising and celebrating the identity of every child.
✅ Respect for All – Fostering an environment where every belief and culture is valued.
✅ Excellence in Teaching and Learning – Providing high-quality education for all students.

✅ Community Focused – Working alongside the community and encouraging parental involvement in all aspects of school life as well as benefiting from the support and expertise of the wider community

✅ Democratic and Student-Centered environments – Encouraging student voice, well-being, and active citizenship.

The CNS Ethos ensures that all students are equally respected and included, regardless of their faith or non-religious backgrounds.

DDLETB CNS Two Students Garden

What is Goodness Me, Goodness You! (GMGY)?

A key feature of Community National Schools is the Goodness Me, Goodness You! (GMGY) curriculum. GMGY is a unique, ethical and multi-belief and values-led education programme, designed to:
📌 Support children’s moral and spiritual development
📌 Teach empathy, understanding, and respect for all beliefs and worldviews
📌 Encourage critical thinking and ethical decision-making

The programme was developed for Community National Schools in collaboration with children, parents and teachers of the schools, the local Education and Training Boards, the Education and Training Board of Ireland, the Department of Education and Skills and assisted by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. GMGY ensures that all children feel valued and represented, supporting their sense of identity while fostering a respectful, diverse, and inclusive school culture.

Why Choose a Community National School?

Parents choose CNS schools because they offer:
⭐ A welcoming and inclusive environment
⭐ Excellence in teaching and learning
⭐ A strong focus on well-being and student voice
⭐ Recognition and respect for all beliefs and cultures
⭐ A balanced and modern approach to education

As a proud patron, DDLETB is committed to the continuous growth and success of our CNS and Community Special Schools, ensuring all children receive the best possible start in life.

For more information, visit www.cns.ie.

For a list of DDLETB CNS and CSS visit our Primary Schools page.

DDLETB CNS Two Students Playing

Well done to Leinster Champions, Ardgillan College!

March 18, 2025/in Corporate News, Front Page News /by Jennifer Farley

The 7th February will be remembered as a historic day for Ardgillan College, marking a momentous victory for the Senior Boys GAA team. All roads led to Darver, where the Ardgillan squad faced off in an intense battle to claim the title of Leinster GAA champions. The team’s journey to this achievement was paved with dedication, resilience, and sheer determination under the guidance of their coaches, Mr. McBearty, Mr. Collins, and Mr. O’Shea.

DDLETB Ardgillan Community College Leinster Champions

In the highly anticipated Leinster Final, Ardgillan College went head-to-head with formidable opponents, Bush Post-Primary School. The Ardgillan team showcased their skill, teamwork, and unwavering commitment. Despite immense pressure from their rivals, the players remained resolute, demonstrating exceptional sportsmanship and a deep passion for the game. Every pass, tackle, and score reflected the countless hours of training and preparation invested by the squad.

The core value of Community was evident by the sheer number of Ardgillan supporters. Staff, parents/guardians, students, past-students and local GAA team members came out to cheer the lads on. Team captain Jack acknowledged how much this support meant on behalf of the whole team.

Following their hard-fought triumph, the team returned to Ardgillan College as champions, proudly presenting their well-earned trophy to Principal Ms. Ní Mhurchú as the latest edition to our trophy cabinet.

Congratulations to the entire team and coaching staff for bringing home this remarkable achievement—Leinster Champions 2025!

DDLETB Engages with Global EdTech Leaders at BETT 2025

March 11, 2025/in Corporate News, Front Page News /by Jennifer Farley

BETT 2025 Every Student Celebrated

Members of DDLETB schools, colleges and centres recently attended the annual BETT Conference in London, the world’s largest EdTech event, bringing together over 30,000 educators, policymakers, and industry changemakers from 130 countries. With more than 500 EdTech exhibitors and 300 expert speakers, BETT continues to be a game-changing event, highlighting the future of education through technology and innovation.

For Team DDLETB, BETT is always a unique opportunity to connect with global educators, explore cutting-edge educational technologies, and exchange ideas on best practices. The event showcased a vast array of advancements, from Literacy and Numeracy supports to SEN and STEM, E-Sports, Interactive Learning, and the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality in the classroom.

One of the key themes at this year’s conference was the role of AI in education, with thought-provoking discussions on how artificial intelligence can be leveraged to enhance learning experiences, provide personalised instruction, and support both students and teachers in efficient and meaningful ways. Similarly, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) were highlighted as powerful tools for immersive learning, allowing students to engage with content in ways never before possible—whether through virtual science experiments, historical recreations, or simulated real-world problem-solving.

BETT 2025

Another major focus was EdTech solutions for Special Educational Needs (SEN), with a growing number of technologies designed to support differentiated learning and accessibility. From assistive reading tools to adaptive learning platforms, the emphasis was on making education more inclusive and ensuring that all students, regardless of their learning needs, have access to high-quality education.

BETT 2025 also provided valuable insights into the increasing role of E-Sports in education, with discussions on how competitive gaming can foster teamwork, strategic thinking, and digital literacy and often improve participation. With many schools now integrating E-Sports into their curriculum and extra-curricular programmes, the conference explored ways to maximise its educational benefits while promoting student engagement and well-being.

In addition to exploring the latest advancements in technology, DDLETB representatives had the opportunity to network with global experts, attend interactive workshops, and discover best practices from leading education systems around the world. As education continues to evolve, the insights gained at BETT will help shape the future of learning within DDLETB, ensuring our schools remain at the forefront of innovation, accessibility, and excellence.

With so much inspiration and knowledge to take away, we look forward to seeing how these cutting-edge developments can be implemented within DDLETB schools, colleges and centres in the coming years.

2025 Local Youth Club Grant Scheme is now open for applications

March 3, 2025/in Corporate News, Front Page News /by Jennifer Farley

Reach Fund 2025 Now Accepting Applications

March 3, 2025/in Corporate News, Front Page News /by Jennifer Farley

Creativity Shines in Ballydowd Special Care School

February 20, 2025/in Corporate News, Front Page News /by Jennifer Farley

DDLETB Ballydowd Special School Mural

‘I am Whatever I Choose to Become’ was a Hip Hop, Rap and Street Art collaborative project by the talented students of Ballydowd Special Care School.

The project synergised the skills of NOISE Music and street artist Shane Ha with the students ‘creativity and unique perspectives. This exciting project culminated in an exhibition beside the school building within the Special Care campus.

The exhibition was centred around the unveiling of a graffiti wall mural which was revealed against the backdrop of a number of songs produced as part of the collaborative project (and a vibrant playlist carefully chosen by the students!).

“Thank you for inviting me to the BBQ on the 12th June in the run up to Cruinniú na nÓg

2024, it was great to see the artwork, to hear their music and the pride that the young

people had in having an audience to appreciate their hard work. Well done to all

involved, it was truly inspiring”.

– Eithne Swaine (Creative Communities Engagement Officer – South Dublin County Council)

“One of our main aims at NOISE Music is to provide hard-to-reach young people with

opportunities to participate in our song-writing, music production, and performance

programmes. Our project in Ballydowd School enabled us to introduce ourselves to 6

young people in the school, and to complete a song with a promising young rapper.

We are planning a second project with that young person over the summer, also

supported by the staff in Ballydowd, and will continue to offer opportunities to any

young person that comes into the school who has an interest in song writing and

music production.”
– Gerry Horan (Director of NOISE Music)

A message from Paul Sloan – School Principal Ballydowd Special School

It was truly rewarding to see the students enjoying their time working with a professional street artist. They learned to create their designs using spray paint on a large scale, which was an exciting experience for them. This kind of exposure can boost their confidence and potentially inspire them to pursue a career in the arts in the future.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our guests for contributing to the day’s success. A special thank you goes to our superb BBQ chef, Jojo, for cooking for everyone. We are also very grateful to Creative Ireland for providing the funding for this project and to artist Shane Ha and our own Art Teacher Olive Hanratty, who facilitated the weeklong project in typical Irish weather and were both fantastic.

Thank you!