I feel extremely honoured and privileged to have been given the opportunity to lead this wonderful school community. We are a Catholic Voluntary Secondary School under the trusteeship of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST) and welcome students from every background and faith community. As an ERST school we belong to a rich network of schools extending across Ireland and the world and are proud to be part of a successful Immersion Programme with Brother Beausang School in Nairobi, Kenya. The tradition and ethos which we share with this network serve only to enrich the experience we offer as we seek to develop young people who are willing and able to make a valuable contribution to a rapidly changing world. Our philosophy is focussed on supporting and encouraging students in every aspect of their lives, nurturing them into well rounded young adults who will go forward and embrace life with confidence, enthusiasm and a sense of justice.
We have a unique atmosphere here in St. David’s and have a long tradition of assisting students to reach their full potential. The hard work and commitment of our staff together with the invaluable support from our Board of Management and the active cooperation of our parents and students allow us to provide a ‘Quality Education for Each Student’. We strive to motivate and support every student to reach their full potential as a person. Our inspirational teachers continually strive for excellence in their teaching and learning. This in turn raises the expectations and standards of our pupils.
Fostering self-esteem and promoting mutual respect are central to our philosophy of education and we take pride in creating an atmosphere that is both nurturing and stimulating. In today’s world, we all face challenges that life will present from time to time. We are powerful advocates of mindfulness and positive well-being. We are a telling school and have embraced a culture where we always have someone to talk to, somebody to confide in. As a result, we all become more trusting and understand that it is perfectly normal to have worries and concerns. By talking to each other, we learn how to cope with life’s pressures and to become more resilient.
While we have a heavy emphasis on academic achievement, we also set out to provide an all-round education for our students. St. David’s College will provide your child with the broadest array of opportunities possible, both within and outside the classroom. We strive to educate the whole person: spiritually, emotionally, physically and intellectually. To this end I would encourage all students to get involved in extracurricular activities, whether it be GAA, soccer, rugby, athletics, music, green schools, choir, climbing, debating etc.
The success of our students is dependent on the exceptionally strong link between parents, students and teachers. I thank each of our parents for entrusting your child to us for the next five or six years of their education. We will do everything possible to ensure that your child is safe, happy, respected, fulfilled and encouraged to reach his full potential.
As you browse through our website, either as a past-pupil, a present day member of the school community, a prospective student or as a visitor I hope that you will enjoy reading about our school and the unique St. David’s experience that we offer.
Please do not hesitate to contact the school should you require further details.
Michael Nally,
Principal