Foreword from the Acting PrincipalOur Ladys Secondary School has been to the fore of second level education in Erris since 1943. Over the years it has set out to provide as broad education as possible to the students in its care. We extend a very warm welcome to every parent and guardian who become part of our school community by enrolling their children at Our Ladys Secondary School. Our ever-expanding curriculum helps provide for a wider range of options for our students i.e. Transition Year (TY), Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA), Leaving Certificate vocational Programme (LCVP) and Post Leaving Certificate (PLC). Our school has maintained very high standards in education. While academic excellence is essential, the religious formation, pastoral care and happiness of our students is our priority. We are also in the fortunate position of having a chaplain, Counsellors and Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) available at the school. You can thus feel confident that they will be given every encouragement and opportunity to develop their potential not only academically but also socially and spiritually. We work to ensure that all pupils will receive every assistance to prepare them for life both in school and in the wider community. Pastoral care is the care and concern of the spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical well being of the whole community. This care permeates the whole life of the school including the curriculum and is promoted through the code of behaviour rooted in deep concern and respect for the uniqueness of each individual in the school. Our system involving teachers, tutors and year heads ensures that all aspects of your childs welfare are considered and cared for. On entering secondary school every student is assigned a mentor (TY student) whose role it is to offer support and encouragement to the new student.

Life in Our LadysWhat to expect: More friends New subjects More sports and games Canteen School tours Personal lockers School hoodie

School ProgrammesJunior CertificateIn addition to studying the core subjects of Irish, English, Mathematics, Geography, History, French, C.S.P.E., Physical Education, S.P.H.E., students will choose from the following list: Home Economics, Metalwork, Woodwork, Science, Music, Technical Graphics, Business Studies, Art.

Specialist Subjects

Leaving CertificateIn addition to studying the core subjects of Irish, English, Mathematics, R.E., & Physical Education, students choose four of the following range: French, Engineering, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Home Economics, Geography, Music, Accounting, Business Studies, Economics, Art, Design Communication Graphics, Construction Studies and Agricultural Science.

Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (L.C.V.P.)This enhanced Leaving Certificate is designed to address the changing needs of the workplace. Students undertaking this programme sit the traditional Leaving Certificate combined with an extra subject called Link Modules. These modules focus on two areas: Preparation for the World of Work and Enterprise Education. Students can count this subject as one of the six used for compiling their CAO points.

Metalwork

Leaving Certificate Applied (L.C.A.)Our school provides a well-established alternative Leaving Certificate programme. It enables students to develop career opportunities by giving them alternative subjects such as Work Placement and Information Technology. The Leaving Cert. Applied prepares students for working life and is an alternative route to Third-Level education. It may be attractive to students who prefer a less academic, more practical approach to learning, than the traditional Leaving Certificate.

Woodwork

Adult EducationOur Ladys Secondary School is delighted to continue its further education programme this year. The certificate in Nursing Study can be used to progress to Third Level degree courses in Nursing. In addition, all students study Communications, Computer Applications and IT skills, Work Experience and Safety and Health at Work.

Music

Specialist Subjects continuedArt

Technical Graphics

Science

Business

Home Economics

Academic AchievementsOur Ladys has a long tradition of excellent academic achievement. Through the years a high percentage of our students have progressed to and excelled in Third Level Education. We are also very proud of our past students, who have followed career paths such as trade apprenticeships and self-employment in their own business areas. It is our continued goal to help each student to achieve their full potential and the career path of their choice.

School Canteen

Entry to Third LevelIn November 2010, the Irish Independent published figures indicating the numbers of students progressing to third level education. 80% of students from Our Ladys Secondary School gained their college places and we are extremely proud of our position among the top feeder schools in Mayo.

School Supports Induction for all incoming First Year students Mentoring system for First Years Pastoral Care Fully qualified Special Educational Needs teachers Career Guidance Evening Study Easier Access to Third Level Education (H.E.A.R.) Rainbows (coping with loss) Students at Our Ladys can avail of a full canteen service. Hot meals for breakfast and lunch are provided on a daily basis. After school study groups are also catered for.

School Facilities School Chapel Library Gaelic and Soccer Pitches Basketball Courts Computer Room General Purpose Hall Handball Alley Careers Library

School Building ExtensionThe Department of Education has granted Our Ladys Secondary School a new extension with a total new floor area of 2,659m. Both staff and students are looking forward to availing of these new facilities.

Sport for AllOur Ladys Secondary School promotes sporting opportunities amongst all our students. We provide a range of sports for boys and girls including Gaelic Football, Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Handball, Indoor Hockey, Table tennis and Golf. Many of our students have won All Ireland and Provincial medals in Soccer and Gaelic and have progressed to play at higher levels. Girls Gaelic Football

Gaelic Junior Champions 2010

Gaelic Juvenile Connaught Champions 2010

Girls Gaelic FootballCross Country Jonathan Deane

Gaelic Senior Connaught Champions 2010

Soccer U-16 Connaught Champions

Soccer U-14 Connaught Champions 2010

Soccer U-18 Connaught Champions

Games Room

The MusicalSince 2003, Our Ladys has produced spectacular musical extravaganzas. Impressive shows such as Grease, All that Jazz, Mamma Mia, Some Like It Hot and Blood Brothers have continuously wowed audiences. To be a part of this tradition of high quality productions is a great life experience for our students. Every show has been a huge achievement, combining live music, song, dance, acting, costume, lighting, backdrops, professionalism and fun.

Transition Year (TY)Our Ladys has a long established T.Y. programme, which has recently been highly accredited by the Department of Education. Our broad T.Y. programme aims to promote personal, social and vocational education. A recent survey show students gain an average of 40 points or more in the Leaving Cert., thanks to taking T.Y. Apart from studying core subjects, plus a wide range of sample subjects, T.Y. students also take courses in Road Safety, Mini-Company, Film-Making and the Young Social Innovators Programme. Regular activities also include trips to Adventure Centres and to the Continent, as well as Driving Lessons, Debates, Personal Development Workshops, Excursions, Fitness-Self Defence courses, Shared Reading Programmes in Belmullet Junior school, Hip-Hop Dancing, to mention but a few. For many T.Y. students, the highlight has to be the Variety Concert at Christmas, and of course, our excellent Musicals

Extra Curricular ActivitiesIn Our Ladys Secondary School, students are given plenty of opportunities to shine as individuals within the life of the school. Students can take part in many educational activities that are not part of the formal curriculum and we organise frequent visits to theatres, museums, historical sites, and other places of cultural interest. Students also have the opportunity to travel abroad. At Our Ladys we put a great deal of emphasis on involvement in extra curricular activities. Such involvement helps students to feel part of the school community and allows them to develop skills other than the purely academic. Extra curricular activities are also a source of much enjoyment and often, when a student has represented the school, reached a particular goal or simply performed to the best of his/her ability, they can be a source of well-deserved pride. Apart from a wide range of sports, our school offers an extensive range of activities including Debating, Drama, Film Making, Choir, Musical, Student Council, Pioneers, Charitable Activities, Retreats, School Tours, Mini-Companies, Leadership, Personal Development, The Presidents Award (Gaisce), and Swimming.

Links With Our Local CommunityThe Home School Community Links scheme was established in Our Ladys in 1999. The purpose of the scheme is to establish and maintain strong links between the school, the students homes and the wider community. Our Ladys recognises the important role parents/guardians play in the education system, through a system of home visitation, by the HSCL co-ordinator bonds of trust are built between school and home. Our local community affords parent, teacher and student representatives an opportunity to work with Voluntary and Statutory agencies in our community. To date, agencies such as Local Development Partnership (LDP), Uadars, Muintearas Community Development Programme, Iorras le Chile, Adult Literacy (Mayo VEC), St. Vincent de Paul, Mayo Money Advisory and Budgeting Service (MABS), Neighbourhood Youth Project (NYP), Rainbow, Work Web West, Wheelchair Association, Mayo Mental Health Association, ISPCC, Early Childhood Services, Erris Lions Club, Garda, District Nurses, Mayo Co. Council, Road Safety Officer and the local Fire and Ambulance have co-operated with our school in delivering courses and programmes which greatly benefits our students.

Pastoral CareIn Our Ladys we believe that it is important to maintain a balance between preparing students for examinations and educating them for life. We have a well-established Pastoral Care system, which is concerned with the personal social and moral development of the student. We show special concern for students who are new to our school. We have a successful Mentoring System in operation for our First Years. Our Pastoral Care system creates a caring environment, which is also conducive to student learning.

Convent Chapel

Special Achievements

William Doherty, National Entrepreneurial Winner 2009 Bank of Ireland Awards

Robert Harrington JP McManus Scholarship

Connaught Titles

Scifest Best Communicator Award 2010

Staff1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. Ms. Josephine Moran Mrs. Eileen Whyte Mr. P.J. Collins Mr. Steve Fitzpatrick Mrs. Josephine Murphy Mrs. Maire O Callaghan Mrs. Kathleen Walshe Mr. Gerry Gaughan Mr. Jerome Chambers Mrs. Bernadette Chambers Ms. ine Connor Ms. Dolores Earley Mrs. Anne Kerrigan Ms. Gerardine Connor Ms. Eileen Nolan Mrs. Fiona Carroll Mr. Gerard McNally Ms. Clodhna Boyce 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. Mr. Edmund Holmes Mr. Harry Reilly Mr. John Coyle Mr. Michael Slater Ms. Hanoria Conway Ms. Maire Heffernan Mr. Robin Turner Mrs. Teresa Healy Ms. Helen Murphy Mr. Vincent Monaghan Mrs. Jacqueline Monaghan Ms. Lisa Carey Ms. Rosaleen Gaffney Ms. Sara ODonohue Mrs. Caroline Golden (School Secretary) Mr. Joe Mc Nulty (School Caretaker) Fr. Kevin Hegarty (School Chaplain)

Our Ladys Secondary School, Belmullet, Co. Mayo. Telephone: (097) 81157 Fax: (097) 81431 E-mail: ourladysbelmullet@gmail.com