Characteristic Spirit and General Objectives of Loreto High School
Loreto High School is a Catholic all girls voluntary secondary school with a Catholic ethos under the trusteeship of the Loreto Education Trust. “Catholic Ethos” in the context of a Catholic voluntary secondary school means the ethos and characteristic spirit of Catholic education, which aims at:
- the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the person of the pupil, including
- the intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual aspects; and
- a living relationship with God and with other people; and
- a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; and the formation of the pupils in the Catholic faith.
Loreto High School provides religious education in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions of the Catholic Church, and/or such ethos and/or characteristic spirit as may be determined or interpreted from time to time by the Irish Episcopal Conference.
In accordance with Section 15 (2) (b) of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management of Loreto High School shall uphold, and be accountable to the Patron for so upholding, the characteristic spirit of the school as determined by the cultural, educational, moral, religious, social, linguistic and spiritual values and traditions which inform and are characteristic of the objectives and conduct of the school.
The Characteristic Spirit of Loreto Schools
Loreto schools seek to provide an education that affirms the innate dignity of every human being created in God’s image, and fosters the full and harmonious development of each student, encompassing the intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual aspects in an environment of justice, freedom, sincerity, truth and joy.
The creation of a dynamic school community where every student is equally cherished and has a real sense of belonging is a priority in a Loreto school which draws its inspiration from Gospel values and the rich heritage passed on to us from Mary Ward and Teresa Ball, and enshrined in our documents on Loreto Education, including Kolkata Educational Guidelines for Loreto Schools, Continuing the Journey: A Loreto Education and A Mary Ward Schools’ Compass.
Students are encouraged to be reflective and discerning in the spirit of our Loreto and Ignatian tradition and continue to grow with integrity in right relationship with God, with other people and the environment.
Our philosophy of holistic education places the person of the student at the centre of the educational enterprise which nurtures the student’s capacity to “seek truth … to love what is good … to strive for excellence” (Teresa Ball) and joyfully engage with life-long self-directed learning in all its dimensions.
In so doing, we are committed to preparing students to take their place in society as generous, confident, perceptive, well-informed, articulate and compassionate people ready to contribute to the common good.
Loreto schools welcome students of all faiths and of none while maintaining a Catholic ethos. Inter-faith and inter-cultural dialogue together with a spirit of inclusivity and the celebration of diversity are fostered in the school.
In harmony with our characteristic spirit and recognising that care of faith and education are fundamental to the Loreto tradition, Religious Education is central to our curriculum and the faith formation of Catholic students is supported by the school in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions of the Catholic Church. Each student’s spiritual life is expressed and deepened through prayer, ritual in the cycle of the liturgical year, reflection on the profound link between faith and justice and creative engagement with the dialogue of faith and life communicated in nature, in science and in the arts.
In accordance with S.15 (2) (b) of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management of Loreto High School shall uphold, and be accountable to the patron for so upholding, the characteristic spirit of the school as determined by the cultural, educational, moral, religious, social, linguistic and spiritual values and traditions which inform and are characteristic of the objectives and conduct of the school.
Loreto Philosophy of Education
We aim to make our educational communities centres where:
- Love, freedom, justice, sincerity and joy find expression
- Young people feel accepted and allowed to experience the exercise of appropriate responsibility
- The potential of each individual, spiritual, intellectual, physical, is recognised and respected
- Special concern for the disadvantaged and underprivileged is experienced and encouraged
- Positive critical reflection is developed
- The challenge of suffering is faced
- Staff, parents, students, past-students co-operate for the common good
Philosophy of Education
All our policies are based on and are to be interpreted in the light of the Loreto Philosophy of education. Students are allocated to base classes alphabetically in first year and then per Subject Department Policy subsequently for various subjects. The decision regarding which class your daughter enters is final.
School Vision and Aims
In Beaufort we aim to make the school an educational community where:
- The system of teaching and learning is such that each girl feels accepted and encouraged as a unique individual, so that her potential as a person is fully realised
- The School environment fosters self-discipline, a sense of responsibility, honesty, respect for others and the environment, and the ability to interact positively with others
- The School wishes to create an awareness in the student of their European identity by intercultural exchanges and by educational trips
- An understanding of the Gospel and its implications for action will be an integral part of the education offered
- There is an awareness and concern for the disadvantaged and underprivileged at local, national and global level
- The Parents’ Association reflects our recognition of the importance of the parents in the effective functioning of the School
- An Association of Loreto Past Students taps into the experience of past students
