Principal's Welcome
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Rice College Westport website.
Rice College is a Catholic, co-educational post-primary school at the heart of the Westport community. As a school under the trusteeship of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST), we are proud of our Edmund Rice tradition and the values that continue to shape who we are and what we aspire to be.
Our transition to co-education marks an exciting new chapter in the history of Rice College. While our school has a proud tradition as a Christian Brothers school, today we welcome both young women and young men and are committed to providing an inclusive, respectful and aspirational environment in which every student can flourish.
At the heart of our school is a simple belief: every young person has unique gifts, talents and potential. Our role is to help students discover those strengths, develop their confidence and use their abilities in ways that enrich their own lives and the lives of others.
The Edmund Rice Schools Charter provides an important foundation for our work. We seek to nurture faith and Gospel values, promote excellence in teaching and learning, build strong and respectful partnerships, foster a caring school community and encourage leadership that makes a positive difference in the world.
We offer a broad and balanced curriculum designed to meet the needs, interests and aspirations of our diverse student body. Alongside strong academic provision, we recognise the importance of creativity, sport, practical learning, wellbeing, relationships, personal development and participation in the life of our school and community.
Our programmes include the Junior Cycle, Transition Year, Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied. We continually review and develop our curriculum so that our students have meaningful opportunities to explore their interests, challenge themselves and prepare for the many different pathways available to them after school.
Our campus provides a modern learning environment with excellent facilities, including specialist classrooms, a school gym, an AstroTurf pitch and an all-weather grass playing area. Our ongoing investment in our facilities reflects our commitment to providing students and staff with an environment that supports high-quality teaching, learning, creativity and participation.
However, while buildings and facilities are important, it is the people who make Rice College.
Our dedicated and talented staff work in partnership with students and parents to create a school community characterised by respect, care, encouragement and high expectations. We place particular emphasis on pastoral care and student wellbeing because we know that young people learn best when they feel safe, valued, listened to and connected.
We want our students to leave Rice College with more than qualifications. We want them to be confident and compassionate young people who think critically, act with integrity, respect the dignity of others and have the courage to contribute positively to their communities and to the wider world.
I am immensely proud of the school community we have built together and excited about the future of Rice College Westport.
I hope that this website gives you a sense of our school, our values and, most importantly, the people who make Rice College such a special place.
Mr Michael Rabbette
Principal
Deputy Principal's Welcome
Welcome to Rice College Westport.
Our school is first and foremost a community. It is a place where students, staff, parents and the wider community come together to share knowledge, experiences, ideas and aspirations.
At the centre of that community are our students.
We want every young person who comes through the doors of Rice College to feel that they belong here. We want them to know that they are respected, that their voice matters and that they are encouraged to become the very best version of themselves.
As a co-educational post-primary school, we are proud to welcome both young women and young men and to provide an environment where students can learn from and with one another. We value difference and diversity, and we believe that a strong school community is one in which everyone is treated with dignity, kindness and respect.
Our Edmund Rice tradition is central to this vision. We strive to be a school community that is caring, inclusive and committed to excellence. We encourage our students to look beyond themselves, to recognise the needs of others and to understand that education can be a powerful force for positive change.
Life at Rice College extends well beyond the classroom. Students have opportunities to participate in a wide range of sporting, artistic, musical, cultural and extracurricular activities, as well as school trips, community initiatives and leadership opportunities. These experiences help young people develop confidence, resilience, friendships and a sense of belonging.
We also recognise that success looks different for every student. For some, it may be academic achievement; for others, it may be excellence in sport, creativity, practical skills, leadership, personal growth or service to others. Our responsibility is to recognise and celebrate those different forms of success and to help each student discover their own strengths.
We want our students to become:
- Confident – comfortable in who they are and willing to embrace new challenges.
- Compassionate – caring about others and recognising the dignity and worth of every person.
- Curious – eager to learn, ask questions and explore new ideas.
- Resilient – able to learn from setbacks and keep moving forward.
- Responsible – prepared to make good choices and take responsibility for themselves and their community.
- Respectful – valuing difference and treating others with kindness and integrity.
- Active citizens – willing to use their talents and their education to make a positive contribution to the world around them.
These qualities are nurtured through partnership between home and school. Parents and guardians are an essential part of the Rice College community, and we greatly value their support and engagement in the education and wellbeing of their young people.
Our students are supported by a committed team of teachers, SNAs, pastoral care staff, special education teachers, administrative and support staff, coaches, facilitators and volunteers. Together, we strive to create a positive environment in which young people can learn, develop and thrive.
I am privileged to work with such a dedicated school community. Our students continually remind us why education matters and why our work is so important.
I hope that when you explore our website, you will see not only what Rice College offers, but also the sense of community, care, ambition and possibility that lies at the heart of our school.
Ms Sinéad Ruddy
Deputy Principal