Niamh graduated with a Business degree from Cork Institute of Technology, followed by a level 8 Professional Diploma in Education (Business) from the University of Limerick. Recently she has gained an Honours Masters degree in Guidance and Counselling from Dublin City University.
Niamh has several years experience in teaching and in guidance counselling. Her educational experience across a wide range of student abilities, cultures and conditions was gained in a variety of schools and colleges across the globe. Some years in the Middle East, mainly in Bahrain. Followed by responsibility in Melbourne for the education of displaced teenage immigrants into Australia. Her most recent work, as a Business teacher and a Guidance Counsellor was in the Catholic University School for the past 4 years. Niamh believes that the exceptional standards in the classroom must also be reflected in the Career Guidance services provided. She takes time with her students and has a genuine interest in them. They are encouraged to be ambitious and to focus on becoming the best they can be. Niamh provides invaluable pastoral guidance, care and counselling to the students as they seek to balance academic progress and personal development. She has excellent rapport with the school teaching and support staff and that collaboration ensures a comprehensive awareness of the needs of each student. She sees her role as meeting each student where they are at and supporting each one to move forward to their chosen goals. |
Dear visitor, thank you for stopping to consider the role of the chaplain in St Tiernan’s Community School.
My name is Sarah Redmond and I am currently the chaplain in St Tiernan’s. In my work I take as my inspiration examples from the life of Jesus. Christ sat with Mary, the sister of Martha (Luke 10: 39), and they spoke. It is my role to sit with students, staff and all connected to the school and respond to their needs. In the account of the meeting with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well (Jn4:10) Jesus offered her ‘Living Water’. As school chaplain, I have accepted the responsibility to provide spiritual support and pastoral care to all in our community. I recognise in every person in our community the unique giftedness of the individual and the divine presence in their lives. I am grateful each day to have the privilege of reflecting with members of our community on their daily experiences and their relationship with God, and I endeavour to always do so with love. Sarah Redmond, Chaplain When I hear the word ‘chaplain’ I think of a faith friend whose responsibility it is to provide spiritual and pastoral support to the whole school community, no matter the persons background or faith. There are numerous facets to the chaplain’s role in the school, these include;
The chaplain provides a bereavement support service to students, parents and teachers, through individual accompaniment & support and referral to bereavement supports e.g. Rainbows. The Student Support Team The chaplain works closely with the Principal and Deputy Principal, Guidance Counsellor, Home School Liaison Teacher, School Completion Officer, Year Heads, SEN Teachers, Class Tutors, all of whom complete the Pastoral Care system within the school. The Student Support Team, of which the chaplain is part, meets on a weekly basis to coordinate the work of the team, support one another and to decide how best to facilitate the pastoral care of each person in the school community. The chaplain also works in collaboration with school management to promote a harmonious school environment. Regular meetings take place with the Principal and Deputy Principal. Social Justice Outreach: The chaplain promotes a spirit of concern for others within and beyond the school community. He/she promotes an understanding of and appreciation or Irish involvement in projects in the Developing World such as Trócaire, Concern and the annual Christmas Shoebox Appeal. He/she coordinates special fundraising days and works with the Year Heads and Tutors to organise fundraising activities for the SVP society at Christmas. Discipline: The chaplain, while not in a formal disciplinarian role, at all times supports and promotes the discipline policies in the school. The chaplain is available to help in pastorally addressing the underlying cause of a pupil’s undisciplined behaviour. The chaplain is called to respond to the unexpected, the unpredictable, the unplanned and the unstructured. |