Bunaíodh Meitheal i gColáiste Daibhéid i mbliana. Tá seachtar dalta ón gcúigiú bliain ar an bhfoireann. Mí Bhealtaine seo caite chaitheadair ceithre lá fada ag traenáil don ról. Tá fiche scoil i gCorcaigh páirteach i Meitheal agus níos mó ná 200 dalta. Bíonn an traenáil agus cruinnithe ar suil i Scala i gCarraig Dhubh agus bíonn na cruinnithe sin ar siúl gach cúpla Domhnach. Is post tábhachtach é bheith mar bhall den ghrúpa seo mar oibríonn siad díreach leis an chéad bhliain nua ag teacht isteach sa scoil gach bliain.
Is saol nua agus ‘scanrúil’ é dos na daltaí nua seo ag tosnú sa mheánscoil ach deineann an grúpa Meithil iarracht iad a chur ar a suaimhneas an chéad lá a thagann siad isteach. I mbliana tháinig an grúpa Meithil isteach luath sular thosnaigh éinne eile ar ais ar scoil chun bualadh leis an chéad bhliain agus d’imir siad cluichí leo. Bhí an-spórt agus craic acu.
Ina dhiaidh sin bhunaigh siad an córas ‘Buddy’ idir an 4ú agus an 1ú bhliain agus bhí “cara” éagsúil ag gach dalta chun cabhrú leo, go háirithe ag tús na bliana. Bhualadair le chéile cúpla uair chun aitheantas a chur ar a chéile. D’eagraigh an grúpa Meithil roinnt imeachtaí don chéad bhliain i rith na bliana cosúil le Bowling agus turas chuig Spike Island Adventure Centre. Bhí cúpla cóisir acu freisin timpeall Oíche Shamhna agus an Nollaig.
Anois tá sé ag druidim le deireadh ré an ghrúpa seo agus tá seachtar eile réidh chun traenáil i gceann cúpla seachtaine. Beidh siad réidh i mí Lúnasa chun fáilte a chur roimh an chéad bhliain nua atá ag teacht isteach chugainn. Go n-éirí leo!
‘Sé mana Meithil ná ‘ Justice Compassion Humility ‘Cóir Atrua Uirísle’ agus táimid cinnte de go bhfuil na tréithe seo beo i Meitheal Choláiste Daibhéid.
Meitheal began in Coláiste Daibhéid this year. There are seven 5th year students on the team. They spent four long days last May in training for their new role. There are twenty schools and over 200 s in Cork involved in Meitheal. Training and meetings take place in Scala in Blackrock on Sundays. A member of this group has an important function within the school as they work directly with the new incoming First Year classes.
It is a new and sometimes ‘scary’ experience for these new students beginning second-level education but the Meitheal group make every effort to put them at ease on their first day here. This year, the Meitheal team came back to school early to meet the new First Years and they played games with them to help them to get to know one another. A great time was had by all.
Following on from this, they initiated the ‘Buddy’ system between Transition Year and First Year students. They were paired with a ‘buddy’ who helped them settle into school life, particularly at the beginning of the school year. They met a few times to get to know one another. The Meitheal group organised activities for First Years during the year, including bowling and a trip to Spike Island Adventure Centre. They also had a number of parties around Halloween and Christmas.
This year’s group are now nearing the end of their work and seven new students are ready for their training in a few weeks. They will be ready in August to welcome our new incoming First Years. We wish them the best of luck!
Meitheal’s motto is ‘Justice Compassion Humility’ and we are certain that these qualities are evident in Meitheal Choláiste Daibhéid.
