Activities

Student Council

Every year the children from 3-6^th class get the opportunity to experience democracy in action through the school council. Following nominations and a campaign, including speeches, each class elect two representatives to the council. The children meet regularly to discuss issues of interest to students and bring their suggestions to school management. Their input has helped to make the school a more student friendly environment by the implementation of their suggestions and ensuring their voice is being heard.

THE DEN (Delivering Educational Nurture)

In September 2018 we were delighted to offer a new form of support in St. Senan’s in our DEN classrooms where a nurturing approach is adopted. This is a short term programme aimed at helping children who are finding the transition between home and school difficult. Our aim is to offer a range of opportunities for our children giving them the social and emotional skills to do well at school and with peers, develop their resilience and their capacity to deal more confidently with the trials and tribulations of life, for life. We assess the children’s learning and social and emotional needs and give whatever help is needed to remove the barriers to learning.

Children who attend THE DEN remain an active part of their main class group, spending an appropriate time within the nurture group according to their need. The DEN classroom is set up like a home. Each session in the group will incorporate sharing food together throughout which an emphasis is put on social interaction. The children are encouraged to work together through play and engage in group activities which include cooking, baking, art, games, sensory experiences and gardening. They learn social skills and are encouraged to analyse and monitor their own behaviour. The children explore different feelings they may have and are encouraged to think of the feelings of others. Time for meditation, story or relaxation exercises form an important part of each day.