*Aoife Garrahy (Teacher), Jack Casey (6th class Toonagh NS), Norma Foley, Gearóid Roughan (Principal) and Ellie Carroll (6th class Toonagh NS).
TOONAGH NS was one of eighteen schools in the country chosen to outline the initiatives they have in place to promote pupil wellbeing and to prevent bullying.
Cineáltas is the Irish word for kindness and this initiative in schools aims to celebrate the positive work that schools are doing to promote wellbeing, inclusiveness and prevent bullying.
Minister for Education Norma Foley TD (FF) hosted the inaugural Cineáltas showcase and best practice event at Croke Park recently to recognise best practice school community initiatives to combat bullying.
Pupils from representative schools across the country highlighted the work they have done to help ensure that no child or young person has to experience bullying and endure the impacts of bullying, which can be life-changing and lasting.
At the showcase event, Toonagh NS was one of eighteen schools selected to give a presentation on the excellent initiatives that the school has in place to promote pupil wellbeing and prevent bullying.
Wellbeing initiatives in the school as such as walking and talking each morning, monthly kindness awards presented to pupils, buddy with a junior and their buddy bench designed by the student council were highly commended.
Sixth class students Jack Casey and Ellie Carroll represented the school along with teachers Aoife Garrahy and Gearóid Roughan.
Both Jack and Ellie are members of the Student Council, Jack featured in an interview on RTÉ’s News2Day and Ellie appeared on the panel with Minister for Education to discuss how Toonagh NS promotes wellbeing.
Minister Foley presented the representatives from Toonagh NS with a special Cineáltas Certificate to acknowledge their work to prevent bullying and to promote equality, inclusion, diversity and wellbeing within the school community.
Principal; Gearóid Roughan told The Clare Echo, “We all work together in Toonagh NS to make sure everyone feels, happy, valued and content. By creating a culture of kindness in the school we are helping to promote pupil wellbeing and prevent bullying. Our motto is ‘Throw Kindness around like Confetti’. At our monthly assemblies, pupils who have shown great kindness receive an award. Their names are displayed on our ‘‘Throw Kindness around like Confetti’ notice board. We believe this helps create a caring atmosphere in our school’
“Another very positive initiative is walking and talking every morning before school starts. When the children arrive they drop in their bags and go walking and talking around our Active School trail. Children chat to whoever is beside them, it could be a pupil in infants today, someone from third class tomorrow or even the teacher doing morning supervision. It’s a very nice beginning to the school day, fosters positive relationships and sends the children into class ready to learn,” he added.
Members of the Student Council designed and painted the buddy bench, Mr Roughan explained. “The slogan on the bench is ‘The best way to make a friend is to be one’. The buddy bench is in our school yard and if a student feels sad for any reason at all, they can go and sit on the buddy bench. Then another child will go and talk to them so no one is ever left alone in our school yard”.
He acknowledged the great efforts made by the school staff through many different initiatives for creating a culture of kindness, respect and inclusion, a culture he said which helps to promote wellbeing and prevent bullying behaviour in Toonagh NS.
Meanwhile, Toonagh NS is hosting an open night on Wednesday October 23rd from 7 to 8pm, at this information night parents can tour the facilities, find out about the school and see what Toonagh NS can offer their child. Refreshments will be served.
