An Introduction to Ember Leadership (By John Dunleavy & Sam Delahunty)

What is Ember Leadership?

Ember is a faith leadership programme with an aim to improve school communities around Ireland. The training is offered to secondary level students in the Dublin Diocese and gives them the skills necessary to become leaders in their schools. The programme is coordinated by the Archdiocese of Dublin Education Secretariat and has been developed in partnership with a number of professionals who engage with young people in a faith capacity.

What we did?

As part of our training we spent two nights in Ovoca Manor, Wicklow. We completed many team building activities, both indoors and outdoors. Some examples included scaling Jacob's Ladder, which involved climbing vertical logs in teams of four and developing our communication skills. These tasks tested us as a team and showed each of us our strengths and weaknesses as leaders. At the end of our training we came up with our first idea for an event in the school and stated our ambitions for the year.

Ambitions for the year.

As a leadership group our first and foremost ambition is to promote student leadership around the school. Raising funds for charities is central to the events we hope to organise, as we aim to benefit our communities to the greatest extent. As a result of all this we aim to create a strong and thriving school community.  We also hope to link in with Ember groups in other school on joint projects as the year goes on.  

EMBER 2023/24

We are delighted to announce the formation of our newly commissioned Ember Leadership Team for 2023/2024, known as the "Swords of St. Michael’s". These outstanding individuals have successfully completed their Ember training at Ovoca Manor, in the company of representatives from six other esteemed schools within the Dublin diocese. 

This achievement reflects their dedication, commitment, and passion for serving our school community. The Ember Leadership Team plays a crucial role in fostering a positive and inclusive environment within St. Michael’s College, and we are confident that they will excel in their responsibilities. 

As we embark on a new academic year, we extend our best wishes and wholehearted support to the Swords of St. Michael’s. May their leadership inspire and guide our students, ensuring a vibrant and enriching experience for everyone at our school. 

We look forward to witnessing their impact and the positive changes they will bring to our school community. Together, let us continue to nurture the spirit of leadership, service, and excellence that defines St. Michael’s College. For more information, please access the Student Voice section of the school website.

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