De La Salle High School has always prided itself on its child-centred pastoral system. In recognition of our endeavours UNICEF approached us with the concept of making De La Salle High School the first UNICEF approved catholic maintained school in Northern Ireland.
The award is called the “Rights Respecting School Award” and it is a charter mark for schools who put the rights and responsibilities of pupils at the centre of their school vision. De La Salle High School in conjunction with UNICEF, evaluated our position in relation to UNICEF criteria for achieving such an award. We then raised a whole school awareness of children’s rights and responsibilities as laid out by the United Nations Children’s Commission and in January 2011 the Minister for Education presented us with the award.
We work closely with our student council giving pupils a voice on issues which concern them within the school.
The pastoral dimension of De La Salle is based upon the school’s vision for its pupils and involves all teachers and every pupil. The school has a strong Pastoral Care system lead by our Pastoral head who meets regularly with his pastoral team of Year Heads, Form Teachers and Councillor. The team concerns itself with five main areas of need: physical, social, moral, academic and career development. Within this framework our pupils are enabled to grow by meeting them where they are, teaching them to cope with what is now and preparing them for any age in life.
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Take Care, Show Care, Teach Care, Evoke Care