Salesian College Celbridge

Infobox Irish school
name = Salesian College Celbridge



irish_name = An Coláiste Sailéaiseach, Cill Droichead
motto =
established = 1981
location = Celbridge, County Kildare,
Republic of Ireland
students = 700
keyprole = Principal
keypname = Fr Daniel Carroll
free_label = Staff
free = 60 teachers
homepage = http://www.salesianscelbridge.com/

Salesian College Celbridge is a secondary school catering for male students aged 12-19 around the County Kildare village of Celbridge. It's yearbook compiled and edited by the student editorial team is the Salesian College Annual Magazine or SCAM.

Academic

Salesians offers Junior Certificate, Transition Year, Leaving Certificate Applied and Leaving Certificate courses, as well as a unit for autistic youths. The school caters for all abilities and classes have been mixed since 2004.

port

Salesians is well-known for success in a wide variety of sports, including soccer, athletics (track and field), hurling, Rugby, badminton, orienteering and Gaelic football.

Road Race

The annual Road Race, held each October, is a 4 km (2.25 miles) road race participated in by around 450 students. The Fr. Archer Cup, named after the late Fr. Charles Archer, a former teacher, is awarded to the winner.

The Salesians' senior association football team advanced to the Senior Soccer All-Ireland final in 2008 in Buckley's Park in Kilkenny, but ultimately lost 2-1 to CBS of Sexton Street in Limerick.

ports Day

There is a Sports Day ran annually in the school, and is normally run during the month of May.

taff

The school is ostensibly run by priests of the Salesian order. The principal is Fr. Dan Carroll and the vice principal is Mr. Dominic McEvoy. There are over 50 teachers in the school in total.

Each year in the school is given a 'Year Head' who is responsible for that year. It varies from year to year but the 'Year Head' of Transition Year is permanent.

Ethos

Salesian College follows a very strong Ethos. Salesian College, Celbridge, is an all-boys Catholic Secondary School under the Trusteeship of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

St. John Bosco, the founder of the Salesian order, who lived in Italy during the 19th century, developed a particular approach to education, which he called the Preventive System. The Preventive System, ("preventive" coming from the Latin words prea and venire; meaning go before, or to anticipate the needs of another) takes as its aim the formation of honest citizens and good Christians. In this approach, reason, religion and kindness are core values.

Reasonableness and fairness guide the student and teacher as they work together to build and environment that encourages personal responsibility and promotes learning.

St. John Bosco emphasised the quality of the relationship between students and educator. He encouraged an attitude of loving-kindness where a relationship of trust, openness and understanding could develop between the educator and the student both inside and outside the classroom.

Why is it called Salesians?

John Bosco had a great admiration for St Francis de Sales (1567-1622). Francis, who was born near Geneva, 21 August 1567, was patron saint of Piedmont and Savoy and much loved by John Bosco. He admired his joyful, optimistic spirituality and because of the gentleness of his approach, he chose him as patron of the Congregation. He wished his followers to be filled with the spirit of Francis de Sales - a kindness that was all-embracing, a gentleness that was strong, a love that was humble and a faith that was steadfast.

For Francis there was no 'religious elite'; holiness was possi­ble for everybody no matter their position, stage or career in life. Francis used a simple metaphor to sum up his work when he said: 'you catch more flies with a spoonful of honey than a barrel full of vinegar'. In other words: Love is stronger than violence or force of any kind. John Bosco fully agreed and he named his Congregation after Francis de Sales, hence the name 'Sales-ians'.

ubjects

There are a broad range of subjects available to the students of Salesian College, Celbridge. In The Leaving Certificate cycle, courses in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics can be pursued. The Junior-cycle subject broadly defined as "Business Studies" is devolved into separate courses Accounting, Business and Economics. Students so inclined may pursue courses in Art, Construction, Technical Drawing or Engineering. The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, which aims to provide a more voacation-oriented education can also be taken by students of the College. The school is equipped with extensive IT facilities. Students of the college at all levels, in accordance with Irish educational standards, must take courses in the subjects of English, Irish and Mathematics.

Parents' Association

A Parents' Association was established focusing on Salesian College in 1994. It continues to work with Principal, Staff and Board of Management to work for the school's future. The Parents' Association is the structure through which parents can work together in partnership with the school, with the aim of providing the best possible education for the students in the College. The Association is involved with producing a newsletter, in pastoral and remedial requirements.

Famous alumni

* Damien Rice, world-renowned indie music and former member of the band Juniper.
* All four members of soft rock band Bell X1
* George McMahon, star of "Custer's Last Stand-Up" (as Custer) and "Fair City" (as Mondo).
* Devon Murray, actor in "Angela's Ashes" (as Malachy McCourt) and the Harry Potter films (as Séamus Finnegan).
* Karl Bermingham, striker for Derry City FC, has represented Ireland at Schoolboy and U-21 levels.
* Robbie Creevy has played for Ireland at schoolboy level.
* Andy Bubbleworth, successful concert pianist.
* Dermot Coulston, athlete supremo and all round ladies man. Irish, European and Olympic 400m hurdle record holder. He is also a close friend of Michael Wright.
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