| St. Michael's College Listowel | |
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| Motto | Quis ut Deus Latin for "Who is like God." |
| Location | Listowel, Co. Kerry |
| Principal | Mr. John Mulvihill |
| Trustee | Bishop of Kerry |
| Homepage | http://www.stmichaelscollege.ie |
St Michael's College Listowel, is an all-boys secondary school serving the town of Listowel, and the greater North Kerry catchment area. The school is situated on the banks of the River Feale, and can be found on the Cahirdown Road.
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The school was founded by the Catholic Bishop of Kerry in 1879. The college was originally located in a town house in The Square, Listowel, but moved to the former fever hospital on the edge of the town, when that became available. With a student body of seventy mostly fee paying students, the college teachers were presided over by a President, who was a cleric up until 1989. Since, all principals/presidents have been lay persons.[1] The school celebrated its centenary with great enthusiasm in 1979.
The school retains its original home, and the old building still holds classes, offices and laboratories. Two extension programs have taken place since 1983. The first included the addition of ten new classrooms, an assembly hall, offices, a new staffroom and science laboratories. More recently in 2003, An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern opened a new extension which contains a further five classrooms, woodwork and metalwork rooms and a chemistry demonstration room. Dressing rooms were added to the sports hall, and a new football pitch was inaugurated in 2009.[2]
The College values academic excellence and offers a curriculum which best meets the needs of the students within the context of available resources. The schools states that its aim is to "enable the release of the God-given talents and potential within each student". It follows a five year cycle, with Junior Certificate for three years, & Leaving Certificate and Leaving Vocational Programme for two. Transition Year was introduced as an optional subject in 2010.
The education offered includes development of confidence and healthy self-image; therefore, skills and competencies necessary for life are promoted and actively encouraged, as are sports, culture and leisure-time activities. As a Catholic school religious education has a central place in the life of St. Michael’s College.
There is a social dimension to the education offered by the College. The school seeks to develop in students an awareness of their Social responsibility as Christians, as expressed in positive action for justice and the poor in Irish society.
Participation in sport and cultural activities are strongly encouraged but apart from classes in Physical Education it is not compulsory. The traditional college sport is Gaelic football. There is also a provision for athletics, badminton, hurling, soccer, rugby, golf and swimming. Teams are entered for school competitions. Students are encouraged to enter and represent the College in Debating, Music, Bridge, All-Science Quiz, General Knowledge Quiz, Literary Competitions and Mathematic Competitions.
The school motto "Quis ut Deus" means literally "Who is like God" and is a literal translation of the name "Michael", the school's patron saint.