ColáisteChill Mhantáin
SCHOOL AWARDS CEREMONY
Our annual Awards Ceremony is one of the highlights of the school year and was held in the school Gym on Monday, May 23. The event celebrates the outstanding efforts and achievements of our students throughout the school year.
Awards were presented on range of themes including attendance, academic progress, cooperation and endeavour. Awards were also presented for sporting excellence and involvement in extracurricular activities including debating, enterprise and to student mentors.
A special Millen Varghese Photography Award was inaugurated at this year. Millen was a Second Year student in the school who tragically passed away last autumn. In accordance with Millen’s love of photography, the prise was awarded following a competition in the school and was presented to Katie Dockery by Millen’s parents.
TY NIGHT OF CELEBRATION
The Transition Year Night of Celebration was held in the school last Wednesday night and, as always, was colourful, energetic and highly entertaining. The hall was decorated with some the fruits from this year’s’ work, including reports, portfolios, craftwork and wall displays.
Students were presented with an array of certificates and awards for the work they engaged in over the course of the year including Gaisce, First Aid, MOS, Build a Bank, Kick Start FAI Coaching and Sustainable Education. Around the hall guests could see items from a variety of the modules including Childcare, Heritage Studies, Horticulture, Chinese and even a hen and her recently hatched brood of chicks. The evening was further enhanced with music and song and performances including from the finalists in the Junk Koture competition. The evening ended with a presentation to students for their participation, attendance and achievements throughout the year. Dara Bushe received the TY Endeavour Award and Ronan Murray received the prize for exemplifying the Spirit of TY. The parents and students got a fantastic overview of the range of projects, activities and active learning students experience as part of the programme.
GRADUATION CEREMONY
A wonderful graduation ceremony was held with Sixth Year students, their parents, guests and staff of CCM on Thursday evening. This is the fifth year to graduate from the school and the groups are getting larger each year. Several students and teachers had been busy preparing the event over a number of days in order to make it a special night for all those involved.
The theme of the event was ‘Count not your journey in days and miles but in memories and friends’ and the students prepared readings, reflections and music which represented their journey over the past five years. Ms. Whyte, the Year Head, and Mr Donoghue, the Principal applauded the graduates for their tremendous achievement on completing their studies in CCM.
We congratulate all our sixth year who have graduated, we wish them well in their exams and the very best in their future endeavours.
CANCER SUPPORT
Eileen Earls and Pauline Leonard from Wicklow Cancer Support gave a presentation to Fifth Year students last week. The five Liffey class had recently organised a charity football match to raise funds for the organisation. Eileen gave a very detailed account of the activities of the charity and how they help people affected by cancer in the local area. The information obtained as well as the organising and running of the charity match will be used by the students to write up a Summary Report as part of their Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme Portfolio.
PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION
The CCM parents’ association met recently for the final time this school year. There were plenty items on the agenda especially relating to planning for next year. We are all grateful for the invaluable support and commitment given by those on the committee to the work of the school. The PA affirmed the work of the management and staff of the school and look forward to further engagement next year.
SWIMMING SUCCESS
We are all delighted with the recent swimming success of our First Year student, Dylan O’Donovan. Dylan travelled to Kilkenny’s Watershed Aquatics Centre last week for the Leinster Schools B Championship. He came home with two medals – third in the 50m Backstroke and third in the 50m Butterfly. Dylan also came fourth in the 50m Freestyle missing out by just one second. We wish Dylan continued success in the pool and will follow his swimming endeavours with interest.
SUMMER EXAMS
Students are in the process of completing their summer exams. It has been a busy year for them all in Coláiste Chill Mhantáin. We hope they will all perform very well. We wish them an enjoyable summer vacation and look forward to seeing them all in September.