Graduate Student Profile

The process that our learning community undertook to develop our St Kevin’s Graduate Student Profile came about as we investigated our ‘WHY’.

Why do we do what we what we do at our school? Why are our priorities important at our school?

We wanted to identify those key values and attributes of lifelong learning that we as a community would not leave to chance that our children would understand, appreciate and be able to demonstrate in different contexts in their lives. And so our Graduate Student Profile took shape.

The process started with our pupils – Our Principal Ms Bailey spoke with each of the classes to get their understanding of what the St Kevin’s learner is like. What the St Kevin’s learner can do, what attributes they have, what kind of learner they are.

The pupils came up with many insightful discussions about what it means to be a learner in our school. From there, our staff, Board of Management and Parents’ Association took the suggestions that the children had brought to see what values we as the adults in the learning community felt embodied the St Kevin’s Learner.

We grouped together attributes that work in unison and before long, we had 5 key values that we as a community hold up as our ‘WHY’. These 5 values reflect the values of our community. We are committed to ensuring that by the time a learner leaves our school, they will have a clear understanding of each and how to utilise the 5 values to continue to lead their own lifelong learning.

They are:

• Self-Awareness
• Teamwork
• Kindness
• Engagement in Learning
• Versatility

Taking the first letter of each of these spells STKEV – making the values easy to remember!

Kevador

From there, our Student Council decided that we needed a mascot that represented the values. They ran a schoolwide design competition and the winning design ‘Kevador’ came from Faye H in 5th Class. Kevador is made up of parts from 5 different animals – each animal having an attribute that represents our 5 values. Her Kevador design was sent to a graphic designer who finalised our mascot and Kevador now can be found throughout our school, representing the STKEV values.

Each day at St Kevin’s pupils are encouraged to demonstrate the values throughout the school and each month, we have our STKEV assembly where we celebrate the values in each class.

If you would like more information on the process we used to develop our STKEV values and the ways that they are living at our school, please feel free to contact our principal Mrs Bailey at principal@stkevins.ie.

“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”

We also use the symbol of the boat at St Kevin’s to represent our learning. Being a seaside town is a big part of the identity of our school.

Ms Bailey talks to the pupils each year about their boat with this story.

When each child comes to St Kevin’s they are coming to sail their boat, which represents their learning. The harbour represent our school, a place where it is safe to come to learn, to try, to make mistakes and to have fun. The wind in our sails represents our families. It directs and guides us. And sometimes nudges us forward when we need to be nudged!

The STKEV values are the gentle lapping waves that keep us afloat.

The Sugarloaf in the background represents the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in our futures. St Kevin’s tower is on the sail so that no matter where you go, you have St Kevin’s with you.

Along the way, you will have crewmates to help and guide but each pupil will learn to sail their own boat in their own way and in their own time. When they are ready, they will set sail for adventures ahead and are always welcome to come back and visit the safe waters of the harbour. We’d love to hear about your travels!