In Belmayne we celebrate all cultures and belief systems.  Children learn about all main festivals and celebrations- e.g. Christmas, Chinese New Year, Diwali, Ramadan etc.  While teachers are sensitive to all belief systems, children cannot be accommodated during Learn Together time should parents wish their children not to be involved. Educate Together schools are all inclusive.

However, the Belief Systems are only a small part of our programme.  Other strands include-Moral & Spiritual, Equality and Justice, Ethics and the Environment. While Learn Together is timetabled, the ethos of our Learn Together Programme and the real life use of what we learn underpins the whole day in school, from the manner in which we address and relate to each other, to the songs we sing outside and the Art you see on the corridors etc.

As part of the belief strand many of our celebrations are based on the Learn Together Programme for example International Week, Remembrance Week, Community Week, Nature Week,  Diwali, Christmas, Fairtrade, Children’s Health Week, Dyslexia Week, Mental Health Week, Family Week, Volunteer Week etc.

As part of the Moral and Spiritual Strand we aim to develop the children’s understanding of good decision making, personal wellbeing, being respectful etc. We help to develop the children’s sense of worth and give them skills to help enrich their own spirituality. Strategies we have introduced to the children include yoga, mindfulness and quiet time and are part of our Curriculum in BETNS.

As a school we acknowledge all celebrations. We teach our children to respect other children’s beliefs and none while being allowed to acknowledge and celebrate difference.  We do not allow children to exempt themselves from Learn Together lessons.

We do not provide faith formation classes in Belmayne ETNS during school time. We do facilitate classes for pupils who attend the school where the need arises to support their individual beliefs or none.

Learn Together Curriculum – https://www.educatetogether.ie/app/uploads/2023/05/Revised-Learn-Together-Curriculum.pdf