Fáilte chuig Gaelcholáiste na Mara agus chuig suíomh idirlíne na Scoile. Ar an suíomh seo tá eolas faoi réimse leathan de ghnéithe éagsula bainteach le saol na scoile, gnéithe acadúla agus imeachtaí seach-churaclaim ina measc.
Scoil lán Gaeilge dara leibhéal mheascaithe is ea Gaelcholáiste na Mara. Tá an scoil faoi phatrúnacht Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Chill Dara/Chill Mhantáin. Bunaíodh an scoil i Mean Fómhair 2007 agus tá fás agus forbairt tagtha uirthi ó shin. Tosaíodh ar an Idirbhliain i Mean Fómhair 2010 agus rinneadh scrudú na hArdteistiméireachta don chéad uair sa scoil i 2013.Faoi láthair tá 315 scoláire cláraithe sa scoil don bhliain 22/23.
Tá an scoil lonnaithe i bPáirc na bPiarsach agus tá foirgneamh sealadach breá nua-aimsire aici le háiseanna den scoth do scoláirí, ceantín scoile, seomraí ranga, saotharlann eolaíochta, seomra ealaíne, seomra adhmadóireachta, seomra ceoil, seomra eacnamaíochta bhaile agus seomra ríomhaireachta. Tá Gaelcholáiste na Mara ar liosta togála an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna (2016) agus tá pobal na scoile ag tnúth go mór le foirgneamh buan go luath. Beidh tógáil don champas nua ag tosú i Mí Lúnasa 2023.
Múintear raon leathan ábhair sa scoil.don Teastas Sóiséarach, don Idirbhliain agus don Ardteistiméireacht.
Is scoil dhigiteach sinn agus tá Ipadanna in úsáid againn ar scoil. Tá áiseanna agus tacaíocht don scoth sa scoil maidir le teicneolaíocht an eolais. Tosaíodh ar thionscnamh ipad sa bhliain 2014/15 agus anois tá ipad ag foireann agus scoláirí uile na scoile. Creidimid go láidir go dtugann an teicneolaíocht nua seo deiseanna oideachaisiúla dár scoláirí chun iad a ullmhú don 21ú chéad.
Tá béim freisin ar imeachtaí breis-curaclam. I measc an spórt a imrítear sa scoil tá Peil Gaelach, Sacar, Iomanaíocht, Camógaíocht, Rugbaí, Rasaíocht Treas-tíre, snámh srl. Tá Dramaíocht ar siúl ann, Cór, Banna Ceoil agus Club Lego Robots. Eagraítear Díospóireachtaí, Tráth na gCeist Boird, Ceolchoirmeacha, Seachtain na Gaeilge agus imeachtaí eile do scolairí i rith na bliana. Tá Comhairle na nDaltaí an-ghnóthach agus gníomhach againn sa scoil. Chomh maith le sin tá Muintir na Mara(Coiste na dTuistí) an-chabhrach ag eagrú imeachtaí difriúla i rith na bliana.
Ós rud é gur scoil bheag í bíonn sár aithne ag an bhfoireann scoile ar gach dalta agus tugtar cúram an-mhaith do gach éinne Tá béim ar smacht dearfach agus tugtar aitheantas do scoláirí ar sár- iompar i rith na scoilbliana. Bíonn aitheantas ar leith tugtha go scoláirí atá ag cur Gaeilge chun cinn sa scoil.
Scoil Ghlas is ea Gaelcholáiste na Mara. Bronnadh sé Bhratach Glas uirthi ó bhunaíodh í. Tá béim láidir sa scoil ar chaomhnú na timpeallachta, ar athchursáil, athusáid agus gearradh siar.
Tá nascanna idirnaisiúnta aimsithe ag an scoil agus bhí tionscnamh Comenius ar bun aici ó 2008-9 agus arís i 2011-12. Tá malartú scoile ann idir GCM agus Lycée Emile Zola i Châteaudun sa Fhrainc Bíonn turas thar lear eagraithe go Bliaintiúil, le roinnt blianta anuas tá grúpaí imithe ó GCM go dtí an Iodáil, an Spáinn, an Fhrainc , Sasana agus tíortha eile leis.
Tony Ó Murchú, Príomhoide na Scoile
Welcome to Gaelcholáiste na Mara and to our updated website. We look forward to keeping you informed of the latest developments in the school, both academic and extra-curricular.
We are proud of our growth and development since the establishment of the school in 2007 with 23 students. The achievement of our students academically, in extra-curricular activities, sport, and the world of work is a matter of great pride to us all.
A special thanks to the teaching and support staff of Gaelcholáiste na Mara, for their enthusiastic input and support to ensure that the very highest standards are achieved by students at all times in all areas of school life.
Gaelcholáiste na Mara is an all-Irish, mixed, multidenominational, second-level school under the patronage of Kildare/ Wicklow Education Training Board. The school was founded in September 2007 and had developed and expanded since then. The Transition Year Programme commenced in the school in September 2010 and the Leaving Certificate programme commenced in September 2011. There are 315 students currently enrolled in the school for the year 22/23.
The school is located in Páirc na bPiarsach on the Vale Rd. in Arklow. It is housed in a temporary modern building with enviable facilities, including a school canteen, classrooms, Science lab. Art room, Woodwork-room, Music, Home Economics and Computer-room. Gaelcholáiste na Mara is listed on the DES (2016) building list for a permanent building and the school community awaits this new school with great anticipation. Construction on a new state of the art campus will commence in August 2023. A broad range of subjects are taught in the school at Junior Cert., Transition Year and Leaving Cert. level.
Gaelcholáiste na Mara is a digital school. The school has excellent IT facilities and support. The ipad project commenced in 2014/15 and after a phased in approach, now all teachers and students use an ipad as a daily educational tool. We strongly believe that the use of modern technology greatly enhances the learning experience of our students and helps prepare them for life in the twenty-first century.
There is a strong emphasis on extra-curricular activities. Sporting Activities on offer include Peil Ghaelach, Soccer, Hurling, Camógaíocht, basketball, Rugby, swimmimg and Cross-country running. Drama, Debates, Table-Quizzes, Concerts, Seachtain na Gaeilge and other events are organized during the school year. We also a very active Comhairle na nDaltaí (Student Council) in the school and Muintir na Mara(Parents Council) who support the school with the organisation of various events throughout the year.
As this is a small school the teaching-team know the students very well and take excellent care of them. Positive Disciple is encouraged and students are rewarded for good behaviour. Students also get special recognition for their promotion of the Irish Language in the school.
Gaelcholáiste na Mara is a Green School. The school has to date been awarded six Green Flags by An Taisce. There is a strong emphasis on Care for the Environment, Reducing, Reusing and Recycling.
Many International links have been established. Comenius projects took place in 2008-9 and again in 2011-12. A French –exchange project takes place with Lycée Emile Zola, in Arklow’s twin town of Châteaudun. Yearly foreign trips are arranged and in the past number of years groups from GCM have travelled to destinations including India, Spain, Italy, France and England to name a few.
Tony Ó Murchú, Príomhoide na Scoile