Run for Life brings St Benildus community together

Run for Life is our annual charity event at St Benildus College. This year’s Run for Life was a huge success and showed how much effort students put in every year.

Each class chose a charity they cared about, and everyone got involved in raising money. Transition year students were out doing roadside collections for two days where over €20,000 was raised, while first to third years spent time getting sponsorships from family, neighbours, and friends. Fifth and sixth years organised their football competition, which added even more fun and gave people something to watch and talk about.

All the work was worth it in the end. The money raised is going to a mix of local and international charities that help with supporting families, providing medical care, and running community projects.

Stand up week

St. Benildus College celebrated Stand-Up Week from November 3rd to 7th with a range of meaningful and inclusive activities. Junior Cycle students took part in wellbeing classes focused on understanding respectful terminology and learning how to create safer spaces for everyone. Senior students were visited by members of an LGBTQ+ sports team, who shared their personal experiences growing up within the LGBTQ+ community.

GAA referee David Gough also addressed the entire student body, speaking powerfully about the importance of standing up against discrimination and supporting students in the LGBTQ+ community.

The week concluded with a vibrant non-uniform day, during which students and staff were encouraged to wear their most colourful clothes. Each person contributed €2, with all funds going directly to BelongTo, the national LGBTQ+ youth organisation.

November remembrance

In November we entered the season of remembrance. A prayer was read over the intercom to provide a moment of reflection to members of the school community who have lost someone. The festival was also discussed in all Religious Education classes.

The Religion department put a display up at the front of the school, and a book of remembrance was placed there for any member of our school community to write down the name of someone they want to remember this month. As we come into the latter half of the month, this book is full of names of loved ones who are dearly remembered.

The book will be blessed by our local priest at the end of November.