Mount Sion CBS has become Ireland’s first ‘School of Sanctuary’ following an assessment process undertaken by the Places of Sanctuary Ireland charity in recent weeks, after years of welcoming students from many different nationalities to the school.
A School of Sanctuary is “committed to creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment that benefits everybody, including anyone in its community who is seeking sanctuary”.
Mount Sion was founded in 1802 by Edmund Rice as an educational institution for boys from Waterford. Its designation as a School of Sanctuary is symbolic of the school’s widespread appeal to those from many different nations.
The school’s founder, Edmund Rice, is considered ‘Blessed’ by the Church, famed for his efforts in education around the country.