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The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Mary Hanafin T.D. joined in a celebration of Diversity and the Awarding of the Yellow Flag with the staff, students and friends of St. Dominic’s Secondary School, Ballyfermot on 14th April 2010. The school was one of two secondary schools to be awarded a Yellow Flag during 2009 which acknowledges their commitment to social inclusion.
 
What is the Yellow Flag?
The Yellow Flag is a recognition that a school has not only got policies of Social Inclusion but take practical steps to ensure that all students, parents and staff are valued and that diversity is celebrated and respected in the day to day activities of the school community. St. Dominic’s is one of two Secondary Schools in the country to receive a Yellow Flag in 2009. It is a pilot intercultural education project which is coordinated by The Irish Traveler Movement.
The nine steps that were undertaken by the school were:
- Step 1 Intercultural and Anti-Racism Training for Staff and Management
- Step 2 Involvement of local Community Groups
- Step 3 Establishment of the Diversity Committee (including parents, pupils, teachers and other staff)
- Step 4 Intercultural Review
- Step 5 Action Plan for a Diverse School
- Step 6 Monitoring and Evaluation
- Step 7 Development of Curriculum Work
- Step 8 Going beyond the School’s Walls: Engaging with the Community
- Step 9 Production of a Diversity Code
The Yellow Flag Programme is unique in that it promotes a whole school approach in supporting interculturalism on both a practical and theoretical level. Sr. Liz, Deputy Principal who is a member of the co-ordination committee with teacher Aisling Griffin says “I am delighted that St. Dominic's has been recognized as an inclusive school" which was also noted in their Whole School Evaluation Report.
We will also launch our diversity badge on the 14th April, each student will receive a badge with the school crest and the Yellow Flag symbol which they will be asked to wear with pride to show all, that we are a school who continue the process of making our school an inclusive school community where all members are given the opportunity to learn.
Principal Mary Daly thanked "the sponsors, the Parish of the Travelling Community, The Irish Traveller Movement, Ballyfermot Partnership and the Dominican Sisters who have made the production of the badges and our celebration a possibility. Also thanks to Cathy Bradley Visiting Teacher for Travellers, Helen Burke (DCC) all the staff, students and parents who are members of the Diversity Committee for their commitment to making our school an inclusive school on a daily basis".
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