Social, Personal and Health Education
The aim of Pastoral Care is holistic education with a particular recognition of and respect for the individual who is in the process of becoming adult (Collins 1993)
There is a growing recognition that the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) offered to our young people is as important as any other area of the curriculum. Indeed, Personal and Social development is a pre-requisite for successful learning: a young person who has a high degree of self worth, a sense of security and a positive self image will be more predisposed to school life and to the variety of learning situations it offers.
Aims of SPHE:
- To enable the students to develop personal and social skills.
- To promote self-esteem and self confidence.
- To enable the students to develop a framework for responsible decision making.
- To provide opportunities for reflection and discussion.
- To promote physical, mental and emotional health and well being.
Drug Awareness Week
November 24th 2006- Humorfit.Garda Liam Ruttle visited all class groups and gave a talk on the dangers of drugs. To mark drug awareness week in the school a series of events were organized. The week concluded with a visit from Mike O’ Sullivan director of Humorfit Theatre Company in Limerick. Mike presented a play titled Hooked, the life and times of Alan Ray to all Junior Cert and T.Y. students. The play tells the storey of a typical 14 year old student. Bored, bright and curious. His friends meet every Friday night at a place called ‘The Wreck’ which is a disused railway station. Their stories are of booze and drugs. They want Alan to come along and share their experiences. It’s a world where Alan feels he belongs. Our students gave Mike a very positive response and stated that they had learned a very valuable lesson.
