Ember/Amber Team
Student Leadership in Action: The Ember & Amber Teams
Empowering Students to Lead with Faith, Compassion, and Wellbeing
Ember Team
The Ember Team is a faith-based leadership programme for Fifth Year students across Ireland, and at Catholic University School, it plays a vital role in nurturing spiritual life, community spirit, and student leadership. The team is made up of selected Fifth Year students who undergo training to become spiritual leaders and role models within the school.
Ember students work closely with the Religious Education Department to organise a wide range of faith-based activities and initiatives. These include assemblies, classroom reflections, creative projects, prayer services, and supporting liturgical events throughout the school year. During Catholic Schools Week 2025, for example, the Ember Team collaborated with staff to plan meaningful, student-led activities for the whole school community.
The team also takes on a pastoral role, helping younger students feel supported and welcomed. Weekly reflective prayers are read to First Year students to ease their transition into secondary school, and the team frequently organises events that promote inclusion and wellbeing—such as quiz nights, movie evenings, and care packages for exam years.
Beyond CUS, the team represents the school in the wider Ember network. Training begins with a retreat at Ovoca Manor, where students develop key leadership, organisation, and communication skills. The team participates in inter-school Ember events, such as exchange visits with Loreto Abbey Dalkey and renewal days at St Patrick’s College, DCU, where they share progress and ideas with peers from across Ireland. Many team members also choose to become Eucharistic Ministers, further deepening their involvement in the school’s faith life.
In recent years, the Ember Team has also played a key role in the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, supporting students and staff on their spiritual journey.
The Ember Team experience is both transformative and rewarding, allowing students to grow in their personal faith, serve their school with purpose, and form lasting friendships. It is an honour and a privilege to be part of a team that carries forward the Marist ethos of kindness, compassion, and gentleness—and that leaves a lasting legacy in the heart of the CUS community.
Amber Team
The Amber Team at Catholic University School is a student-led initiative dedicated to promoting mental health, wellbeing, and emotional resilience within the school community. Operating as part of the school’s care system and supported by Pieta House, the Amber Team works year-round to create a positive, inclusive environment where students feel supported and valued.
The team plays a key role in raising awareness of mental health issues through campaigns, events, and educational initiatives. In September 2022, the Amber Team marked World Suicide Prevention Day by lighting candles in classrooms to show solidarity and honour those lost. They also celebrated European Week of Sport, highlighting how physical activity supports confidence, mental health, and productivity.
In 2023, the Amber Team continued its impactful work with a series of events, including:
- Raising over €800 for Pieta House through a non-uniform day
- Creating a positivity notice board to uplift and inspire students
- Organising a coffee morning to promote connection and community
- Leading campaigns for World Sleep Day and Blue Monday with awareness posters around the school
The team also hosts events such as the “Battle of the Bands,” which brings students together in celebration of creativity and school spirit, reinforcing the importance of connection and belonging.
Thanks to their dedication, the Amber Team proudly received the Amber Flag from Pieta House—a recognition of their commitment to promoting positive mental health in schools.
The Amber Team exemplifies CUS’s focus on holistic education, nurturing not just academic success but also student wellbeing, leadership, and community involvement. Their efforts continue to shape a school culture grounded in empathy, awareness, and support.
