As the term draws to an end on these crisp frosty days,

it’s nice to look back at the term thus far.

Autumn

We started September with just our existing students returning, which gave a lovely settled feeling after the move the year before. We have since taken in 3 new students and look forward to welcoming more students as the year progresses.

As a Sudbury school it’s not always easy to put into words what has happened during the term, as so much of the learning and developing is subtle and slow work.

What we have seen though is students starting to use their voice more in the school meeting and take greater ownership of the conflict resolution process.

We’ve seen friendships develop and grow, and students making WCSS their own place of learning.

Networking

In November there was the second ever Democratic Education Ireland conference, which five staff and two students attended. This was an inspiring event, particularly for the students who got to see their school in the context of a national movement.

...and to spend time with other young people

where they didn’t need to explain their school!

We look forward to more events like this and networking with other democratic schools.

Learning & Projects

Following on from the Trashion show project last year the video of this was edited and released on our YouTube channel.

This term some of the older students started the Gaisce Awards, the President’s achievement awards. This entails committing to working on a personal skill, doing a physical activity and some form of community involvement. Students have chosen things such as cookery, archery, chess, soccer, music and volunteering in a local home for the elderly and community garden. At the end of the school year they will need to do an overnight expedition which we are looking forward to planning.

Community & Fundraising

As always we have to be creative about fundraising to support our school and keep it accessible. This term we launched the Plant a Tree - Grow a School project in collaboration with Future Forests, combining the school with our passion for the environment. For as little as €10 (introductory !special offer! until the end of 2022), you can take part in this inspiring project - students, staff and parents will plant your sponsored native tree here in West Cork and you will be helping Irish re-forestation and support self-directed, democratic learning at the West Cork Sudbury School (WCSS)!

A huge THANK YOU to Future Forests for donating all the trees and managing the planting sites 100% free of charge.

Find out more, and sponsor a tree here: https://www.westcorksudburyschool.ie/plant-a-tree

The Pop Up Restaurant & Live Music Event - Best of the West, organised by one of WCSS's parents was a huge success and listening to the feedback a whole lot of fun! A huge THANK YOU to Corinna and everyone who put in tons of effort, love and tunes to make it such a great night.
 

Our Christmas market was such a lovely day spent with the community and thanks to a lot of hard work from staff, students, parents and the wider community everyone had a great time! Students helped bake for the café, and served behind the counter on the day. The real life learning of things like this is huge!

You can also now donate to us through the PayPal Giving Fund, by selecting WCSS as your favourite charity. Once you have set WCSS as your favorite charity, you can choose to give €1 to WCSS every time you check out with PayPal.

Click here , then click the heart to like WCSS - It's that easy!

Please share far and wide. Thank you!

Looking ahead to January we will be putting on our play, which had to be postponed due to the cold weather and hopefully will be getting out hiking again.

We wish you all a very warm and cosy festive season,
however you choose to celebrate.

If you are interested in joining the WCSS community

make sure to be added to our waiting list.
To do so, please submit your Expression of Interest form (EOI)
which you can find on our website in the Admissions section.

Sincerely,

The WCSS Team

#DemocraticEducation #DemEd #SelfdirectedEducation #SDE

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

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CHARITY DETAILS

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Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA) 20206027
 

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