Senior Prefect Interviews in Coláiste Bhride Carnew

Coláiste Bhride Carnew provides junior cycle students with a peer support system through the Meitheal leaders for first year students and the Senior Prefects for second year students. Peer Leaders for the Meitheal and Senior Prefect Programme are selected from the sixth year cohort. Meitheal leaders support first years in their transition from primary to secondary school and Senior Prefects have a similar role in relation to second year students. The role of a Senior Prefect is to visit and build a relationship with their assigned second year class grouping. Senior prefects are responsible for dealing with issues related to their assigned class and are expected to promote good behavior and positive school spirit. Senior prefects also have certain responsibilities in relation to helping out with school events throughout the academic year, such as parent-teacher meetings and graduation evenings. Furthermore Senior Prefects coordinate lunchtime activities and assist their relevant groups in activities such as fundraising. Senior Prefects receive leadership training relevant to their duties, they are taught and encouraged to be vigilant in relation to issues such as bullying and to be available to students who require help.

Under the Local and Community Development Programme, Youth Work Activities Action, County Wicklow Partnership has supported the Coláiste Bhride Senior Prefect Programme by conducting student interviews over the past four years. Each year the numbers of student applications for the programme have increased and 2013 delivered seventy one applications for twenty five posts. This is testament to the success of the programme as students consistently report how beneficial they found the mentoring system when they were part of the junior cycle. Furthermore students who have served time as a Senior Prefect have reported that it helps them to become more confident, responsible and mature.