Le Chéile Pay It Forward Day 2017

Le Chéile Pay It Forward Day 2017

Beneavin College

Dominican College, Muckross Park

By Danielle Lawless, RE Teacher

Our fourth year students organised a bake sale for daffodil day, to raise money for cancer awareness , they raised €270 . All of the cakes were decorated with either pay it forward, a daffodil, or le Cheile. We had posters covering the school reminding other years to do something nice for someone else and our 6th year students organised a meet and greet breakfast with our first years to see how they are settling in. 
All in all the day went really well.

FCJ Bunclody

By Simone O’Neill, Anam Cara

We began the day with an announcement over the intercom by one of the students who had been at the conference. He informed us of the role of Le Cheile, and the importance of giving expression to the gospel values which are at the heart of the Le Cheile Charter. He gave us some suggestions for Pay it Forward Day, and let us know what was planned in FCJ Bunclody. 
The Trad Group made up of senior and junior students  played for the whole school at lunchtime, a thank you to Ms Kearns for organising it. Some students took to the floor, and would be worthy rivals for River Dance!
The staff were delighted to find treats in the staffroom (even if it is lent!). 
The day was a fantastic opportunity to feel part of the wider Le Cheile Community of 62 schools, and 14 religious congregations. 

Maryfield College, Drumcondra 

By Patricia Seery, Anam Cara

On Friday the 24^th of March – we held our second “Pay It Forward Day”, here at Maryfield College. We didn’t announce it beforehand as we wanted the element of “surprise”.

When the students entered the school main entrance there was a lovely “sacred Space” created with this year’s theme – “A CUP of KINDNESS”. We hoped that this would encourage the school community to PAUSE, and THINK about kindness.

Throughout the morning we held special assemblies in the hall for each year group, and staff.

• We introduced the theme of the day and its purpose.
• We lit the “Le Cheile” candle, to remind us that we are part of a bigger story now, we are not just Maryfield , but we are connected to all the other schools within the Le Cheile community, who would also be trying to mark this day today.
• We had a lovely reflection about the power of ONE to make a change.
• We showed two amazing video-clips of two very powerful songs: (Hands by Jewel and Humble and Kind by Tim Mc Graw.
• We suggested ways in which everyone could become involved in doing some acts of kindness during this day and over the weekend.
• We asked the students to become involved in a “Can of Kindness” appeal – a food appeal for those in need. (Paying It Forward, again.)
• As students were leaving the assembly hall, they received a “TEA-CUP of Kindness, with a lovely thought or a positive affirmation or quote printed on one side of the teacup. On the other side was a number.
• Throughout the day we surprised staff and students by having them RAK’D – this meant that their number was randomly pulled out of a hat and they received prizes.
• There was a great fun atmosphere in the whole school that day full of good nature. May it continue! Lots of people were the recipients of some lovely gifts throughout the day.
• PIFD is a really nice feel good day on the school calendar.

Our Lady’s School, Terenure

By Marie Therese Pierce, Anam Cara

We are delighted to say that the Le Chéile Pay it Forward Day went very well.  We have noted below some of the activities that took place during the week.  We also attache some photos of the activities.

• 2nd. Years started last week with the letters of Good Luck made by each of the second years for each of the 120 sixth years who really appreciated the thought.
• The Social Responsibility committee organised some great activities with 2^nd. Years to celebrate Le Chéile Pay it Forward Day and promote inclusivity, friendliness and general good will within their year group:
  
  – Secret Sisters : Involved students choosing a name of a student in their form class from a hat and being extra nice to them for the week. Many students wrote letters to their secret sister and left them in their lockers, others bought them chocolate and picked flowers for them, while some just made an extra effort to get to know this person and help them in any way they could.

  – Compliment Sheet:  Completed during religion class involved students passing a sheet around the class with their name on it, and everybody writing a nice comment/compliment on it.

  –Treasure Hunt: All students (1 student from each class per team) worked together to solve clues to complete a treasure hunt in Bushy Park. Once they solved the clue they had to move to the next point to get another clue and a letter. Once all 5 clues and letters were obtained they had to solve the anagram to make the word Unity. The first team back to the starting point won.

Today (Friday) at Pastoral Care we had the whole second year group together in Lourdes Hall.  Our first task was to reiteatre the rules and how we pass the message of respect through our contacts, including social media.  Then we distributed the smiley faces and asked the girls to decorate them and on the back to note 3 acts of kindness they had experienced.(photo attached) They will be displayed on second yr notice board on Monday 

Then in groups they had to fill in the A-Z of kindness.  (Some examples attached)

Finally the girls were asked to create an emoji to represent  kindness. The top 5 entrants are attached. A winning entrant will be decided. It was a lovely meeting. The girls worked calmly and quietly and really thought about the theme. I gave sweets to everyone at the end to say thanks for their positive contribution 

First Years made cookies and bought toys for ‘Lua’ the dog belonging to the sisters in the convent.  They also made some cupcakes and bought small easter eggs for the sisters.  They went down to the convent and presented their random acts of kindness asking the sisters to pass them on.

First years placed post-its on the staff cars with a note of gratitude on each one.

Fourth years gave sweets to the Junior School students when they were taking the Faith Friend class for First Communion.  They also asked them to Pay it Forward when they went home by doing something kind for someone.

The Sixth years made Good Luck Cards for the third years who were also grateful by the kind thought.

The Principal and Deputy Principal treated the staff to Hot Cross buns at break time.  Other staff members also brought in sweets and treats for their colleagues to enjoy and pay forward.

TheStaff Social Committeebought lolli-pops for every student in the school. 

Saint Dominics College, Cabra

By Karen Fanning, Anam Cara