COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT
In St. Michael's College Transition Year (TY), fostering students' Civic and Community Engagement is a cornerstone of our programme.
This dimension focuses on students becoming active participants who make a positive difference in their school, communities and society.
TYs learn to act on their responsibilities and exercise their rights as local, national and global citizens in ethical and sustainable ways.
Our TY programme provides numerous opportunities and structures for students to engage meaningfully with their community and the wider world.
By engaging in these varied experiences, students are supported in developing their capacity to respond to the needs of others, becoming more aware of social issues and actively contribute to their communities.
This dimension interlocks with the TY Progamme Student Dimensions of Personal Growth through the development of empathy and identity, and with Being a Learner by becoming more motivated through engaging with real-world issues.
The aim is for students to become informed and engaged citizens, making a positive difference locally, nationally and globally.
1
Living the Spiritan Value of "Option for the Poor"
Rooted in the core Spiritan tradition, this value calls for standing with and for those who are poor, marginalised or in need. In TY, students are actively encouraged to recognise the dignity of every person and consider how their time, energy and choices can be used in service of others.
The TY programme challenges students to reflect on how they use their freedom to help those most in need.
It is about understanding how "helping others, helps you" contribute to a more just world and deepen an awareness and sense of empathy, identity and belonging.
2
Volunteering and Community Service:
Regular engagement with charities such as the Christmas shoebox appeal, food and clothing for the homeless, SVP Committee and Fundraising, Green Schools and participating in humanitarian appeals.
Engagement with organisations supporting specific needs, such as the Hospice Coffee Morning, Trick or Treat for Holles Street Hospital, Linen Guild Collection, Blue Run, The Together Academy and Arch Club Participation.
3
Gaisce - The President's Award:
Participation in the Gaisce-Bronze Award strongly supports Civic and Community Engagement.
The Community Involvement challenge is about focusing on making a difference to other people’s lives and contributing to making the community a better place. Engaging in this helps TY learn to act on their responsibilities as local citizens.
Volunteering for initiatives such as the Homeless contact work or food collection also counts towards the Gaisce Community Participation section.
4
School and Local Community Involvement:
TYs are encouraged to contribute within the school and local community in many ways:
Activities like the School Musical or other extra curricular activities that involve teamwork and engagement with the school community.
Participation in Green Schools initiatives, Digital Mentors or supporting Junior Cycle students through roles like Junior Certificate Exam Assistants or mentoring programmes offer opportunities for personal growth and learning.
TYs will also engage with the Civic and Community Engagement dimension through dedicated learning opportunities within class and curriculum content. This includes learning around empathy, diversity and inclusion.
Specific modules, such as Law Week, explore civic responsibility and the Irish justice system, while, for example, the Digital Literacy module aims to develop informed citizens and understanding of algorithms' societal influence.
Education on sustainable development is also integrated into programme.
5
Global Citizenship and Cultural Exchange:
Activities such as the Tanzania Immersion Trip offer a powerful opportunity to engage meaningfully with communities connected to the Spiritan Mission fostering empathy, global awareness and a deeper understanding of social justice in action.
Cultural exchange programmes like the Boston Cultural Exchange and the South Africa Cultural Exchange promote transatlantic friendship, cultural understanding and academic exchange.
Visits like the Islamic Cultural Centre contribute to learning opportunities around diversity and inclusion.
The Model UN provides a platform for engaging with global issues.
6
Community Work Placements
Work placements are a standard and required component of Transition Year, providing students with dedicated time to experience real-world working environments.
These structured weeks offer an ideal opportunity for students to engage with the Civic and Community Engagement dimension by undertaking placements with charitable or not-for-profit organisations.
Such placements allow students to gain practical experience and develop skills while actively contributing to their community and living out the Spiritan value of the Option for the Poor.
Engaging in community placement directly supports TYs in making a positive difference in society and wanting to contribute to a more just world.
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