Coláiste Éamann Rís

Coláiste Éamann Rís
Motto

Facere et Docere
(To Do and To Teach)

Nihil Alienum
(Nothing Is Impossible)
Established 1868
Type Christian Brothers Secondary School
Headmaster Mr Frank McKenna
Founder Edmund Ignatius Rice
Location Kilkenny Road
County Kilkenny
Republic of Ireland Ireland
Staff Approx. 25
Students Approx. 200
Gender Boys
Ages 12–18
Colours Red, Black          
Hurling, Handball
Website cbscallan.ie

Coláiste Éamann Rís (Edmund Rice College) is a Christian Brothers secondary school for boys located in Callan, County Kilkenny, in the South-East of Ireland.

The college is built in the hometown of Edmund Ignatius Rice, the founder of the Irish Christian Brothers, the Presentation Brothers and the Edmund Rice Family.

The motto of the school appears on the school coat of arms, incorporating the Latin 'Facere Et Docere' (To Do and To Teach). Also, just below on a scroll, appears the motto of the Christian Brothers, 'Nihil Alienum' (Nothing Is Impossible).

The Community of the Christian Brothers was established in Callan on 12 September 1868, however, the present school itself was not founded until one-hundred and fifteen years later, in 1983.

Edmund Rice Schools Trust

School Chapel

Coláiste Éamann Rís in partnership with the ERST is the Trust body that own the former Christian Brother Schools in the Republic of Ireland.

The main object of the Company is to ensure and foster the advancement of education and to further the aims and purposes of Catholic education in the Edmund Rice tradition in colleges, schools and other educational projects in Ireland owned or operated by the Company in accordance with the religious and education philosophy of the Company as stated in the Edmund Rice School Trust Charter.

The characteristic spirit of the Trust and of the schools is clearly set out in the Edmund Rice Schools Trust Charter. The Charter underpins and informs the work of the Trust office which is delivered in three interrelated areas: Ethos, Governance and Finance and Property.

The Edmund Rice Schools Trust gives everyone involved in running the ninety seven schools the opportunity to share ideas and pursue best practice together and so give practical expression to the Edmund Rice Schools Trust Charter.

The Five Key Elements of the Edmund Rice School

Mission Statement

Coláiste Éamann Rís, Callan is a Catholic school inspired by the vision of Blessed Edmund Rice. The central purpose of the school is the religious, moral, intellectual, physical and social education of the student in an atmosphere of Christian care and concern.

Academics

The school exerts a strong emphasis on academic performance. Every year, students from all years are granted achievement awards as a result of their performance both academically and athletically throughout the school year.

The school is also recognised for its academic well-being. Many students each year enrol at some of Ireland's top universities, such as Trinity College, University College Dublin, and University College Cork. The school's rural status naturally provokes enrolment to Ireland's largest Horticultural and Agricultural College, Kildalton College (Piltown).

During the school year, the school also offers a supervised study programme. Students have access to internet and office studies on computers in the School Library.

A recent development in the 2011-2012 school year saw the establishment of the School's first Debating Committee, with members from first to sixth year (inclusive), run by the Senior Council of Students (mainly Fifth and Sixth years.)

A strong number of students each year are awarded Junior Certificate Business Recognition Awards by the Business Studies Teachers' Association of Ireland in conjunction with Waterford Institute of Technology for the achievement of an 'A' level in Business Studies. In comparison to other larger schools in the Kilkenny district, the number of boys who attain this award is impressive, often with numbers surpassing those of larger schools in the city itself.

Curricular studies

Boys at Coláiste Éamann Rís will sit the Junior Certificate syllabus for their first three years at the school, and the Leaving Certificate syllabus for their final two. In between the first three years and the final two is an optional extra, Transition Year, affording students the opportunity to study subjects and topics not present on the immediate exam syllabi - self-defence and cookery, for example. Subjects studied include:

Junior Certificate

Leaving Certificate

Optional subjects (after school hours)

The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme is a voluntary programme run in the college.

Co-curricular studies

The college's many co-curricular facilities include the school's sports clubs, Debating Club and music classes, and the school has a long tradition of competing in school quizzes and various enterprise competitions across Ireland.

The school

Transition Year Programme

The Transition Year Programme is a voluntary outlet for students attending the college. The school always has high numbers in Transition Year. During this school period, students study self-defense, take individual cooking lessons, play a rugby league, take a work experience placement and engage in various other activities. Students are highly recommended to partake in the Gaisce - The President's Award programme. Boys represent the college in a local 'Build A Bank' competition, partake in a Peer education programme and join a motor safety course. Often, the transition year group travels abroad. At the end of the year, selected students are given awards for their Transition Year performances, including a Student of the Year award, Endeavour award, Maturity award and individual activity awards such as Cookery and Rugby.

Sports

The college is a renowned school for mastery of sportsmanship. It offers 11 acres of playing fields located in the school grounds, including two extensive grass pitches and the basketball and tennis court located adjacent to the main complex. The school itself invokes particular emphasis on rugby union and hurling, but also encourages sports including athletics, golf, handball, and equestrian. Many past pupils are famous for their performances in these sports, and the school is often one of the first to welcome the Liam McCarthy Cup back to Kilkenny when the team's performance excels in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. Some students often engage in other sporting activities out-of-hours such as athletics, badminton, soccer, swimming and horse riding. The college's many teams and clubs include the Hurling Team, the Rugby Team, the Equestrian Club, the Golf Club, the Handball Team, and the Football Team.

College Reputation

The school is known for its focus on promoting awareness. The college is recognised by Irish international charity, Bóthar, for its annual contribution to the organisation, usually connected with the work committed by students during the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, which is a highly emphasised and encouraged outlet in the college.[1]

The school often promotes drug awareness through talks by many authorities outlining general guidelines and procedures on how to avoid drug related problems.

The school has also recently had visits from local politicians as part of a Civic, Social and Political Education Oireachtas Education Programme. John J. McGuinness, T.D., Phil Hogan, T.D., Mary White (Green Party politician), T.D., Bobby Aylward, T.D. and Senator John Paul Phelan engaged in discussion and debate with the students on political and citizenship issues.[1]

An Adult Education programme is held in the school building.

The college's numbers are also rising, with the number of boys enrolling each year increasing in figures.

Building

Main Building of Coláiste Éamann Rís in Callan, Kilkenny

The extension and rebuilding of three classrooms was completed in early May 2011. The present art room was refurbished during the 2006-2007 school year and this room was dedicated to past pupil and famous Irish artist, Tony O'Malley.

Notable Alumni

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 , cbscallan.ie. Retrieved: 2010-10-18.

External links