Through the eyes of the student teacher by Stephen Banville.
In knowing one is coming to spend time in a school such as Coláiste Bríde there are certain images and ideas that spring to mind.
This school garners respect amongst other staff rooms and is spoken of as a place that would leave a student teacher in good standing having gained experience teaching her. One of the most diligent and knowledgeable teachers I have ever had the pleasure of meeting strongly advised that I should seek to gain experience in a school like Coláiste Bríde.
In preparation for arriving here I found myself searching for an insight or flavour of what Coláiste Bríde is about. The school website was of great help articulating the stated aims of the school strives to maintain a caring, stable environment where each student feels safe and secure.
This statement has a warm, strong sentiment, is well worded and well thought out. These words are impressive and progressive; however, one has not to trawl deeply online to find words that portray every possible ideal. Increasingly, we find that what we read is not in reality always what we experience. However, I was to discover quickly that in Coláiste Bríde words are lived up to.
In the words of Henrik Ibsen, the great Norwegian poet “a thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed”.
During my first week in the school I could hear rumblings from the Sports hall : music, laughter, tapping and general enthusiasm seemed to emanate from the area. This turned out to be in preparation for the Junk Kouture fashion show which I had heard much of previously but had never witnessed.
Walking through the corridors I should have known the level of creativity was on the towering side of high; I was blown away. This event was a fast-track ticket to the centre of what makes Coláiste Bríde an excellent environment for students and staff alike. The creativity, organisation, commitment and passion that was evident in this event was a credit to everyone involved; from the participants, to the organisers, to helpers and to the onlookers who could not have screamed louder had One Direction strolled out on stage.
I have been fortunate in that my short visit has allowed an insight into a wide range of activities across the spectrum here in Coláiste Bríde, from artistic to sporting and of course academic.
The First Year Debate provided a fantastic opportunity for all of the first year English classes. Nerves ran high and many Cold War tactics were adopted as each superpower selected their finest warriors and flexed their intellectual muscles. In the heat of battle, I hope that all of our participants and spectators gained an insight into the power of public speaking. From an onlooker’s viewpoint it was heartening to see people growing in confidence as they made their points and contemplated others. This is ultimately more important than winning.
Congratulations to all who participated and also to those students in first year classes who did not speak on the day but who were full of ideas, arguments and enthusiasm in preparation for the debate.
In a sporting context, it was a pleasure to be involved, albeit for a short time, with the first year camogie team. There are some very skilful players in first year and it would not surprise me to see future success for Coláiste Bríde again on the Camogie field. Reputation can work in many ways for school sports teams and Coláiste Bríde certainly has a reputation that’s worth living up to.
In closing it must be acknowledged that Coláiste Bríde, your school, is a fantastic environment for a student teacher; the staff are welcoming and lively, the students are courteous and diligent and ultimately a visitor quickly notices that both staff and students take pride in what they have here, nestled pleasantly below arguably Wexford’s most historic site.
To quote Oscar Wilde “Experience is one thing you can't get for nothing”; for the student teacher in Coláiste Bríde the price is that you must say goodbye! to edit.
This school garners respect amongst other staff rooms and is spoken of as a place that would leave a student teacher in good standing having gained experience teaching her. One of the most diligent and knowledgeable teachers I have ever had the pleasure of meeting strongly advised that I should seek to gain experience in a school like Coláiste Bríde.
In preparation for arriving here I found myself searching for an insight or flavour of what Coláiste Bríde is about. The school website was of great help articulating the stated aims of the school strives to maintain a caring, stable environment where each student feels safe and secure.
This statement has a warm, strong sentiment, is well worded and well thought out. These words are impressive and progressive; however, one has not to trawl deeply online to find words that portray every possible ideal. Increasingly, we find that what we read is not in reality always what we experience. However, I was to discover quickly that in Coláiste Bríde words are lived up to.
In the words of Henrik Ibsen, the great Norwegian poet “a thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed”.
During my first week in the school I could hear rumblings from the Sports hall : music, laughter, tapping and general enthusiasm seemed to emanate from the area. This turned out to be in preparation for the Junk Kouture fashion show which I had heard much of previously but had never witnessed.
Walking through the corridors I should have known the level of creativity was on the towering side of high; I was blown away. This event was a fast-track ticket to the centre of what makes Coláiste Bríde an excellent environment for students and staff alike. The creativity, organisation, commitment and passion that was evident in this event was a credit to everyone involved; from the participants, to the organisers, to helpers and to the onlookers who could not have screamed louder had One Direction strolled out on stage.
I have been fortunate in that my short visit has allowed an insight into a wide range of activities across the spectrum here in Coláiste Bríde, from artistic to sporting and of course academic.
The First Year Debate provided a fantastic opportunity for all of the first year English classes. Nerves ran high and many Cold War tactics were adopted as each superpower selected their finest warriors and flexed their intellectual muscles. In the heat of battle, I hope that all of our participants and spectators gained an insight into the power of public speaking. From an onlooker’s viewpoint it was heartening to see people growing in confidence as they made their points and contemplated others. This is ultimately more important than winning.
Congratulations to all who participated and also to those students in first year classes who did not speak on the day but who were full of ideas, arguments and enthusiasm in preparation for the debate.
In a sporting context, it was a pleasure to be involved, albeit for a short time, with the first year camogie team. There are some very skilful players in first year and it would not surprise me to see future success for Coláiste Bríde again on the Camogie field. Reputation can work in many ways for school sports teams and Coláiste Bríde certainly has a reputation that’s worth living up to.
In closing it must be acknowledged that Coláiste Bríde, your school, is a fantastic environment for a student teacher; the staff are welcoming and lively, the students are courteous and diligent and ultimately a visitor quickly notices that both staff and students take pride in what they have here, nestled pleasantly below arguably Wexford’s most historic site.
To quote Oscar Wilde “Experience is one thing you can't get for nothing”; for the student teacher in Coláiste Bríde the price is that you must say goodbye! to edit.