Ethos

Our vision
& ethos

Bringing out the best in all students

Le Chéile Secondary School Ballincollig is a part of Le Chéile Schools Trust, composed of 15 Congregations and 74 schools: primary, voluntary secondary and community schools – OPEN TO ALL.

The values underpinning the educational philosophy of our schools lead to a wide curriculum, co-curriculum and extra-curricular provision ensuring that all students can flourish and reach their full potential.

We embrace particularly four principles of Catholic Education: Inclusion, care for the most vulnerable, promotion of the unique gifts of each student and the integration of faith and culture.

Fostering self-esteem and promoting mutual respect are central to our philosophy of education and we take pride in creating a positive, happy atmosphere that is both nurturing and stimulating. Within our school, we have created a great sense of community and a common purpose.

Our values.

  • Inclusivity

    Le Chéile Schools are places of welcome. This welcome is expressed through inclusive curricula, excellence in pedagogy, and strong anti-bullying policies.

  • Truth

    Le Chéile Schools promote good judgement and decision making among our students. In our schools research skills are honed, debate is encouraged, and experience is reflected on.

  • Forgiveness

    At the heart of the message of Jesus is forgiveness and the ability to start again with those who hurt you. We seek to be kind and forgiving to each other, knowing that this will make each of us more hopeful, optimistic, compassionate..

  • Service

    Members of Le Chéile School communities serve one another. Our leadership is one of giving a hand up.
    Love always trumps ego in our schools.

  • Concern

    Care is at the heart of what we do in Le Chéile Schools. We are concerned for the wellbeing of all members of our school community. Christian concern is empowering and enabling.

  • Spirituality

    Le Chéile Schools are faith friendly spaces. We encourage young people to explore the concepts of belief and unbelief, we trust them in their exploration. Students are exposed to a variety of ways to pray and to reflect, including - but not exclusively - Catholic practices.

  • Teaching & Learning

    In Le Chéile Schools we all teach and we all learn. We push the boundaries of excellence in pedagogy, learning environment, assessment and progression to 3rd level.

Admissions

  • Welcome

    Our welcome recognises the unique dignity and worth of each person building on the Catholic tradition of being inclusive.

  • Widsom

    Our pursuit of wisdom and knowledge enables our students to achieve an academic excellence that supports them in understanding the world and seeking to improve it.

  • Witness

    Le Chéile Schools witness to the Gospel values of Inclusivity, Truth, Forgiveness, Service, Concern, Spirituality, Teaching and Learning on a daily basis. We recognise that every person is made in the image and likeness of God.

Le Chéile Ballincollig Crest

The Le Chéile Secondary School crest was devised by our sister school Le Chéile Secondary School, Tyrrelstown which was the first Le Chéile Secondary School opened in 2014 and the first Catholic school to be opened in Ireland for 30 years. 

As we were the second ever Le Chéile Secondary School to be opened by the Le Chéile Schools Trust, it was decided that we would adopt this crest as a symbol of the closeness and great connection that the Le Chéile family have.

At the centre of the school crest is the triquetra symbol. This is one of the oldest spiritual symbols in the world. It reminds us that our school is a 'faith friendly' place regardless of your religious belief or non-belief. This symbol was later Christianised as a way of representing the Blessed Trinity and is most associated with Ireland.

Our school is a Catholic School and part of an Irish Catholic Schools Trust - Le Chéile Schools Trust. For those of us who are Catholic the symbol reminds us that our school is a community formed in the image of the relationship that exists between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The three interlinking loops remind us of our love and commitment to one another we have within our school.

The second symbol in our crest is the connected but individual people who dance around the Trinitarian symbol. We are all individuals in our school but we acknowledge all our students as made in the image and likeness of God. There is a joy in our connectedness and our differences which we celebrate in Le Chéile Secondary School, Ballincollig.

The third symbol is the strong gold band that protects our school community and our connection to the Divine. The colour Gold is associated with Wisdom and Enlightenment. It inspires knowledge, spirituality and a deeper understanding of our souls.

Gold is associated with the values of generosity, giving, compassion and loving. The gold ring represents the school's commitment to education and the holistic development of our students. 

The Gold band contains the school Motto: Welcome • Wisdom • Witness.