Student Support Team (SST)
Through implementing a continuum of support, our SST can support the educational, social, emotional, behavioural and learning needs of students to ensure their ongoing wellbeing.
Our school Guidance Plan sets out the components of this system which includes for example, the SPHE and RSE curriculum; the behaviour support system, the role of year heads and the various school policies that apply.
Our student support team is involved in promoting a whole school approach to wellbeing. Examples of some wholeschool approaches include: running an anti bullying and/or wellbeing week; organising a peer mentoring system; implementing universal social and emotional learning programmes.
Please see our parent and guardian handbook for details of our SST team which can be found by clicking here.
We support students throughout their journey with us, some examples included:
- 1st Year Transition Programme
- 1st Year Induction Programme
- Big Brother/Big Sister Programme
- Pastoral Care System
- Guidance & Counselling
- Learning Support
- Supervised Evening Study
- Study Skills
- Canteen Facilities
- Book Rental Scheme (Junior Cycle)
- Academic Tracking
- Clear Code of Behaviour and Anti Bullying Policies
Throughout the school we encourage students to follow the 5 steps improving mental wellbeing.
Other Useful Links:
Jigsaw Young People's Health in
Mind
Spunout
Pieta House
ChildLine
Belong To
Barnardos
Cari
More supports are available through the HSE
Guidance and Counselling
Our Guidance Counsellors, Mr Phelan and Mr Hurley, have a caring and supportive role in the school where students can get advice and support about a range of issues. From relationships to study skills and family difficulties to college advice and information, the Guidance Counsellors are on hand to meet with students in a confidential environment where they can be cared for and supported throughout their time in the school. Counselling helps pupils explore their thoughts and feelings and the choices open to them. It gives care and support to pupils learning to cope with the many aspects of growing up, school life and with their individual personal circumstances.
The Guidance Counsellors liaise with Year Heads, Learning Support Teachers, School Chaplain, Subject Teachers, Deputy Principals and Principal. They also have regular contact with parents, psychologists, employers, colleges, social services, counsellors, the Department of Education and other outside agencies.
The role of our Guidance Counsellors falls into three areas:
- Educational Guidance - providing support at key moments during the students’ time in school. The Guidance Counsellors are involved in helping with the transition from primary to secondary school and with helping with subject choices fifth year. The Guidance Counsellors also work with students on developing their study skills.
- Vocational Guidance - working closely with students in 4th, 5th and 6th year on career/ college choices.
- Counselling– the Guidance Counsellors are available to meet with students to talk about any issue that might be affecting them. The students may also have talks and workshops on stress management, making friends, mental health etc.
School Completion Programme
School Completion Programme (SCP) is a targeted programme which supports young people to attend school, to get involved in and connect with the school community and to get the most out of their education.
The SCP is one of three strands of Tusla Education Support Service (TESS). All three strands share the same national outcomes:
- Improved Attendance
- Improved Participation
- Improved Retention
What supports does the Athlone/Ballinasloe School Completion Programme provide in Coláiste Chiaráin?
We deliver two types of programmes- Universal and Targeted.
The Universal Programmes we deliver are the Transfer to Secondary School and the Big Brother Big Sister Mentoring Programme. We have also been selected to deliver the Botvin Lifeskills Training Programme as part of the pilot programme being assessed by Tusla Education Support Service.
The Targeted Programmes we provide are for those students who are identified through the SCP Intake Framework as requiring ongoing support. Evidence based programmes are delivered 1 to 1 or in a small group. These programmes include:
All About Me (Teen Programme)
MindOut
The Sleep Programme
The Resilience Programme
1 to 1 Mentoring and Check and Connect.
Digital Wellbeing
At Colaiste Chiarain, we strive to support and implement the government and D
ES policies on internet safety and digital wellbeing
Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice 2018–2023 Revised October 2019
In conjunction with the schools acceptable usage policy, we provide 1st Year students access to 400 hours of wellbeing in Junior Cert. More details on Wellbeing at Junior Cycle can be found HERE
Within the wellbeing programme, we examine the issues surrounding digital wellbeing. This encompasses areas such as ‘minding myself online’, internet safety, access to the school computer system and gmail as well as how to use our Google G-Suite of educational support software.
Our 1st year digital wellbeing classes use resources provided by webwise.ie, which is the Irish Internet Safety Awareness Centre, co-funded by the Department of Education and Skills and is co-financed by the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility. We encourage parents to have a look at the resources available on their website. The website also provides parents with resources to help students with their own digital wellbeing in the wider world. You can visit Webwise by clicking here
