The Arts, Religious Education and Physical Education
Rannóg responsibilities
Religious Education, Drama, Music, and Visual Arts Education, Physical Education as well as Electives and Religious Ethos.
Rannóg members
Head of Rannóg
Michael Flannery: Visual Arts Education
Lecturers
Annie Murphy : Drama Education
Máire Nuinseann: Music Education
Gerry O Connell: Religious Education
Clare Maloney: Religious Education
Part time lecturers
Niamh Synnott: Visual Arts Education
Clodagh Mac Donagh: Visual Arts Education
Coordinator of Electives
Michael Flannery
Our rannóg is a very vibrant and progressive unit which primarily concerns itself with the Arts, Physical and Religious Education. The range of subjects within this unit facilitates very exciting opportunities for integrated projects and events throughout the academic year. Our integrated calendar incorporates many arts, culture and education events, religious celebrations and retreats, sport fixtures and Health Education events. Extra curricular arts societies and classes and sporting clubs and teams further enhance or course in a very real way and enable our students to develop personal skills and positive dispositions towards culture, sport and spirituality.
Religious Education
Religious Education is built on a solid foundation which includes a wide-ranging programme of weekly lectures and workshops. Weekly lectures and workshops include time for both adult faith development ‘giving God room’ as well as for prayer, meditation and ritual. Central to each week’s work also is experiential journal-work. The programme offers students a variety of appropriate reading to be engaged with outside of lecture-time, and students are required to undertake in-depth research for their final assignment. As part of the programme, both long-term and short-term planning and teaching of Alive-O and Beo go Deo are integral to each of the supervised teaching practices. The Religious Education Programme is blessed by the extensive collaborative support between students, lecturers, library staff, campus staff, leadership and chaplain. Visibly this is often made manifest in collaborative events, activities and celebrations, such as the Student Retreat, Carol Service, Ecumenical Prayer Service, Lenten and Beginning and End of Year Eucharist. Equally important however, are the attitude of compassion-for-all and the constant availability of staff to students. That aspect of Coláiste Mhuire’s life underpins the ethos of the college.
>>Go to RE subject page
Arts Education
Arts Education is highly valued at Coláiste Mhuire. The Arts education programme incorporates discrete training in the planning, delivery and assessment for Drama, Music and Visual arts Education at primary level. The courses provide opportunities for students to experience meaningful integrated projects integral to primary education. Students engage in experiential and explorative workshops, whereby they immerse themselves in individual and or collaborative practical work addressing the arts elements. They attend and respond to lecture inputs concerning the arts theory, history, teaching and learning. Students experience different methodologies first hand and have opportunities to develop their own approaches during teaching practices. ICT features very much in arts education. Use of interactive whiteboards, access to virtual galleries on the internet and exploration of visual art drawing and music composition/ editing software, digital documentation of performances and portfolios prepare students for teaching and learning the arts in the digital age.
>> Visual Art page
>> Drama page
>> Music page
Physical Education
Students actively engage in the six strands of the 1999 Primary School Curriculum Physcial Education programme. The six strands include athletics, games, aquatics, dance, gymnastics and outdoor and adventure activities. Through exploring the strands of the Physical Education (PE) programme, students become aware of the centrality of PE to a healthy, physically active lifestyle.
Irrespective of personal fitness or ability, students come to appreciate the enjoyment associated with physical activity and are encouraged to adopt a positive attitude to the teaching of a broad and balanced PE programme. To enhance the PE programme, students are afforded the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular courses which develop their skills and knowledge base. During the academic year first-aid, volleyball, swimming lessons, soccer and Gaelic games are organised. External linkages with key associations and initiatives such as the Irish Primary PE Association (IPPEA), Active Schools Week and the Irish Heart Foundation are fostered. Healthy eating habits and other health related choices together with regular physical activity patterns are encouraged.
Religious Ethos
A number of core principles and traditions inform the work in Coláiste Mhuire. It is a Catholic college and its culture and ethos are reflective of the mission of Edmund Ignatius Rice. Our rannóg has a special responsibility to ensure our students experience a sense of belonging and self worth. We ensure ethos is not taken for granted but monitored and nurtured when ever and however possible in light of the six guiding principles and the mission statement of the Institute.