‘Positive acknowledgement of good behaviour is a very effective way of influencing and promoting good learning behaviour’ . (Guidelines for Developing Schools Codes of Behaaviour, NEWB, 2007)
At Our Lady’s positives are awarded on VSware to students in Junior Cycle for:
- Behaviour and cooperation in class
- Excellent Extra Curricular Participation
- Excellent Homework
- Excellent Test Result
- Helped another student
- Merit
- Other
Students accumulate positives on Vsware which are used to claim Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Awards. Students are presented with certificates and prizes at award ceremonies each term.
At Senior Cycle a separate awards programme is in place. The following elements are included:
- Academic awards for subjects in 5th and 6th year
- Student of the year award based on overall academic performance
- Dr.Jim O’Shea and Sr. Helen Kennedy award for 5th Year students
- Edmund Rice and Catherine McAuley award for 6th Year Students
- Contribution to Music Award
- Contribution to Art Award
- LCA Award
- Spirit of TY award for Transition Year Student
A formal awards ceremoney takes place in the final term where students are presented with their certificates.