St Mary's College, Dundalk

A Catholic school in the Marist tradition: reflecting the Marist education and religious philosophy.
An educational community: developing and maintaining effective communication and mutual respect between trustees, management, staff, students and parents/guardians.
A responsive school: responding to and catering for the particular spiritual, personal, social, academic and vocational needs of its students and potential students.

Creation of a coping, supportive and caring ethos in St. Mary’s College

St Mary’s College aims to provide an environment of excellence and care for each member of its school community, based on Christian values.
We value an ethos of pastoral care whereby pupils feel that they can approach staff and that staff will respond to such pupils in a caring Christian manner. More than anything else we seek to nurture positive relationships as the core resource in developing a pastoral approach.
We demonstrate our valuing of each person through respect, truth, compassion and challenge.
We in St. Mary’s College have concern for the whole person throughout the life of the school. We strive to have a good network of relationships in the school.
We aim for a physically safe environment by having an evacuation plan, fire drills, fire exits and fire extinguishers and fire blankets.
We aim to enhance psychological safety and well being through the provision of SPHE, CSPE and RE programmes.
Dealing with sensitive issues such as sudden death or suicide requires careful consideration. This school’s Crisis Response Policy and Crisis Response Team address the pertinent issues.
We provide policies and structures that enhance psychological safety. These include pastoral care policy and structures, bullying policy, first year buddy system, school completion and rainbow/spectrum programmes.
Staff members are released for in-services relevant to psychological well being and safety.
Workshops and staff talks are provided on relevant topics.

Chaplaincy services

The chaplain assists in the co-ordination of religious education, faith development and the promotion of the Marist ethos in St. Mary’s College.
The chaplain works as a member of the religion team and the pastoral care team. In this role the chaplain liaises with all teachers, year heads, class tutors, other staff, the MEA, the diocesan advisor and local parishes in relation to faith formation.
With the Religion teachers, the chaplain helps organise and celebrate liturgical events in the school.
The chaplain is available to work with students, their parents/guardians and other members of the school community individually and in groups.
A chaplaincy team of students assist the chaplain with morning prayer, Chaplaincy Corner Newsletter, displays, liturgies and other faith development activities.

Buddy System

St. Mary’s College operates a sixth/first year ‘Buddy System’.

This involves a sixth year student caring for 4-5 new first year students. The purpose of this system is to help the new students settle into their new school. The system is one of mentoring where the senior student would link up with their allocated 1st years and help them in whatever way is necessary. The 6th years are trained for this role.

School Completion Continuation Programme

This involves in-school support to students. It involves withdrawing students for one class period a week. It is conducted by a qualified youth worker.

Rainbows/Spectrum Programmes

These programmes help young people deal with a significant change in their family due to death and separation. The school offers Spectrum Level 1,2 and 3 programmes.