Ó Fiaich College in Dundalk presented with Wellread Award

Ó Fiaich College were presented this week, with their Wellread Award in City West Hotel and Convention Centre.

Students from Ó Fiaich College along with their teachers Ms. Everitt and Ms. Rennick joined twenty other schools from all corners of the country at this prestigious award ceremony hosted by the Profession Development Service for Teachers.

The ceremony began with an exhibition of all the Wellread portfolios from successful schools this year- during which Ó Fiaich College received a lot of attention and positive feedback from the awarding body and other schools alike.

Following the exhibition, there was an opening address and a reading of a selection of the winning poems by students who were successful in the PDST’s annual Write A Poem Competition.  

Ó Fiaich College students and teachers alike were astounded by the talented young poets’ work. After the poetry awards were bestowed, it was time for the Wellread Schools to receive their awards, which Ó Fiaich College students were delighted to receive.

Ó Fiaich College succeeded in their campaign for this award through a number of initiatives centred on the promotion of reading.

The Wellread national award will foster and nurture a reading culture in our school and aims to bring about an overall improvement in students’ literacy skills in a fun and engaging way. 

Some such activities last year included a teacher swap box for books, themed displays in their newly refurbished library, a

Book in the Bag campaign, a visit to the local library, parents swap box at parent teacher meetings, a week devoted to reading in school, staff Buns n’Books morning, constant updates of their library collection, a Christmas tree of books, World Book Day celebration, students made and hung little libraries and a reading challenge with a local primary school.

This year, the college aims to build on their success by continuing the promotion of reading throughout the school community.  

They have already enjoyed another delivery of updated titles in their library, a visit from award winning Irish author Kevin Mc Dermott and an interview on Dundalk FM to share their success and inspire others.

Ó Fiaich College believes that reading for pleasure is a vital aspect of our school community for a number of reasons. There is strong evidence linking reading for fun and educational outcomes. Reading for pleasure can result in increased empathy, improved relationships with others and improved wellbeing.

In addition to the educational and health benefits, reading for pleasure has social benefits and can improve our sense of connectedness to the wider community.

Reading increases our understanding of our own identity, improves empathy and gives us an insight into the world view of others. All of which are upheld in Ó Fiaich College as being fundamental to young people.  Follow their Wellread journey on their Facebook page and with the #ofiaichisreading.