By Michelle Crean

It was a busy week for one school last week as not only were they awarded the Yellow Flag for their work in promoting diversity, inclusion and equality - but they also welcomed in the Education Minister and a Kerry TD.

YELLOW FLAG AWARD: Education Minister Norma Foley with the Yellow Flag committee: Shauna Myers and Elizabeth O'Shea pictured at the front and Mehek Asghar Jasmine Shehabali Myassar Saleh and Daria Pokojska.

St Brigid's Presentation Killarney gave a warm welcome to Minister Norma Foley and TD Danny Healy-Rae on Friday morning last. There they met with members of the Student Council and members of the Yellow Flag committee.

The school is only one of five schools nationally to attain the Yellow Flag for their work in promoting diversity, inclusion and equality for all in St Brigid's.

Minister Foley chatted with many students and staff, visited the ASD class where Zoomer the school's therapy dog was delighted to meet with the Minister. Minister Foley's final stop on her visit was the green field site where St Brigid's future new school will be located.

"It is great to see an alumni of a Pres and CEIST school currently in the role of Minister for Education. We are delighted she was able to visit and chat with the students," school PRO, Sheree Murphy, said.

YELLOW FLAG AWARD

The ‘Yellow Flag Programme’ - made up of all kinds of people, those with different hopes, dreams, languages, cultures, beliefs and ways of life - was established in St Brigid's in 2020.

Some of the initiatives carried out by the active Yellow Flag committee include a Culture Day promoting the many cultures and ethnicities.

"We also ran a school wide diversity code competition where we asked our students to lend us their voices to design a diversity code for us to live by," teacher Cliona Hallissy said.

"There was a huge response with students displaying their creative talents through exceptional pieces of artwork and eloquent pieces of writing. We were thrilled when the Irish Traveller Movement informed us that the school had received a Yellow Flag in recognition of the work carried out to promote diversity and inclusion."

A virtual ceremony took place on Thursday last which was hosted via Zoom by RTÉ presenter Emer O’Neill. All 20 members of the Yellow Flag committee attended and enjoyed a wonderful celebration of their work.

Sixth Year Daria Pokojska gave a student perspective on what the programme meant to her and Miss Hallissy spoke from a teacher’s perspective about the importance of the ‘Yellow Flag Programme’ to the school community.

On Friday Minister Foley celebrated the students’ achievement. The national co-ordinator of the Yellow Flag Programme, Molly Brady-Martin, was also in attendance."The enthusiastic committee all received certificates recognising their participation. Students received a letter from the President Michael D. Higgins congratulating them on their commitment to a truly inclusive education."