New facility opens at Limerick school

A WEST LIMERICK secondary school has opened a classroom focused on the teaching of classes using English as an additional language.

Staff and students at Colaiste Ide Agus Iosef in Abbeyfeale came together to deliver the room, and the ribbon was cut at a special intercultural Day.

Teachers Donna Mulcahy and Sam Kaghazchi teamed up with students from Transition Year and those studying for English as an Additional Language to deliver the facility.

On the day, the parents of students who are taking English as an additional language came in to officially launch the room in the presence of principal Liam Murphy.

English as an additional language involves the teaching of the curriculum in English to learners whose first language is not English.

As well as the opening of the room, Colaiste Ide Agus Iosef’s intercultural day saw a number of other activities.

Transition Year students organised the day with the motto: “Colaiste Ide Agus Iosef: Many cultures, one community.”

There are a number of pupils in the school who can trace their ancestry back to different cultures in the school.

To reflect this, a special brunch was held to highlight the link between cuisine and culture.

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On the menu was food from France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Ukraine, USA, and Afghanistan.

Intercultural Day came as part of an overall welbeing week.

Once again, its aim was to highlight the need for everyone - students and staff - to make time for their own mental health and physical wellbeing.

It was led by teacher Karen Meade along with a dedicated committee.

Between them, they ran a number of events at break and lunchtime.

Activities included well being walks, to yoga, boxercise and FIFA computer game soccer competitions.