Laois school wins national leadership training flag
A Laois secondary school has won a school flag for its work to develop future leaders amongst its students.
Portlaoise College has raised the Leading Irelands Future Together (LIFT) flag having achieved training in the programme.
Along with over 270 schools engaged in the LIFT training, and under the guidance of Ms Wilson, Portlaoise College’s Transition Year students were successful in acquiring the LIFT Ireland school flag.
Portlaoise College LIFT Coordinator is Adele Wilson.
“We want to inspire our students to step forward, take initiative, and make a difference not just in Portlaoise College but in their communities. With the LIFT programme, we are building a foundation for lifelong leadership development”
Principal is Noel Daly.
“We believe that each of our students at Portlaoise College is a leader, whether that is within their family, school community, sports teams, or with their friends.
"Portlaoise College shares LIFT’s vision, which is that by developing our personal leadership values, we can make
Ireland a more equal, caring and positive society, now and in the future,” the principal said.
Val O’Connor is National Training Coordinator for the LIFT programme.
“This is a great achievement and reflects the hard work and dedication of Ms Wilson and the 48 TY students in promoting positive leadership values and developing strong leadership skills. The flag recognises Portlaoise College’s commitment to excellence and a willingness to go above and beyond to create a positive school community. This also serves as an emblem of the achievement of our students as well as providing inspiration for future students to strive to maintain this reputation. We believe Better is Possible”.
At Portlaoise College, Transition Year students are now given the opportunity to develop skills and qualities in the Leading Irelands Future Together (LIFT) programme.
It teaches leadership skills such as Listening, Positive Attitude, Respect, Competence, Dedication and Determination, Empathy and Understanding, Accountability, and Honesty and Integrity.
It offers interactive workshops, mentorship, and experiential learning opportunities, LIFT fosters essential leadership qualities such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
The programme encourages students to explore their unique strengths and passions, enabling them to develop their leadership skills in a supportive and inclusive environment.