The CNM English department is one of the biggest departments in the school. Extra-curricular activities such as the book club are open to all students. Students in first year participate in the Accelerated Reader programme gaining extra practice at reading and comprehension, while also growing in confidence and self-esteem.
As a department, we are eager to support and promote the literacy incentives that are a concern of the entire school. Ideas such as ‘Word of the Week’ help to improve pupils’ literacy. We also run a Spelling Bee, a readathon and debating competitions during Literacy Week which is held every March.
Leaving Cert students are given the opportunity to see their Shakespearian texts in practice. Students visit The Mill Theatre Dundrum and The Clasac Theatre in Clontarf to watch their chosen texts in performance.
One of our main aims as a department is to highlight the importance of English in all walks of life, as opposed to simply the work that is covered in the classroom. We want English to be fun, informative and engaging because literacy is something that all pupils, no matter what their college choice, will require in the outside world.
