St Kilian’s Community School

NEW YEAR SCHOOL MASS

On Tuesday, September 13, the entire school community from St Kilian’s came together in St Fergal’s Church, Ballywaltrim, to celebrate the opening of our school year with mass. Fr Larry Behan, PP presided.

The school choir led the singing, under the direction of Ms.Louise O’Sullivan. The congregation was welcomed to the celebration of the mass by Tia Kenna, Head Girl. The homily was given by Ms. Roseanne Sinnott, Chaplain, explaining the importance of kindness in all of our lives.

St Kilian’s places great stock in the warmth of its welcome to all, especially our new students so our first years stood for a formal blessing from Fr Larry. Earlier in the service, they had presented their class shields, placing these around the school crest, which was carried in procession by Brady Yeoh, Head Boy.

The readings were read by Alan Acres, Deputy Head Boy; the psalm was sung by Anthony O’Brien and Taylor Flood, accompanied by Ms. O’Sullivan. Additional music was provided by Ms. Laura O’Shea and St Kilian’s traditional music group.

The students walked to church, taking up their assigned places. Several members of the staff assisted in their role as Eucharistic Ministers, which enabled the distribution of communion to be reflective and solemn. After the final blessing from Fr Larry, Mr John Murphy, Principal, addressed the congregation.

It was a wonderful mass, made special by the contributions of all present and their sharing of their many talents. We have so much to be thankful for as we embark on another year of academic achievement and sporting excellence. We wish all of our students, their families and the staff and management at St Kilian’s every grace and blessing on this journey.

TRIP TO LOURDES

From the seventh to September 12, five students and one tTeacher from St Kilian’s went on pilgrimage to Lourdes as part of the Dublin Diocesan Pilgrimage. Their task was to mind 176 pilgrims from Arklow to Balbriggan. North Wicklow was well represented on this pilgrimage, with groups from Arklow, Holy Redeemer and Queen of Peace parishes, Bray.

The five students representing St Kilian’s were chosen after a rigorous selection processs, which took into account their performance in the school, a written application and a formal interview. The caliber of candidates was extremely high and the available spaces could have been filled several times over. The Five students selected were: Saoirse Kane, Yasmin Keogh, Niamh Devlin, Aislinn De Barra and Chloe Kehoe.

During the five day pilgrimage, the students attended to the needs and wishes of the other pilgrims, organising sing songs, shopping expeditions, participating in the church Services and candle light processions to the grotto. They made friendships and had great fun together, and said their few prayers. Letters are still being received from Pilgrims who appreciated their assistance in Lourdes.

We would like to thank most sincerely everyone who helped to fund and support this initiative, so that five of our students could have this amazing opportunity to grow and share their energy and good humour with pilgrims from Wicklow and the rest of the diocese.

Fundraising was difficult, because no one wants to ask for cash when times are lean. Cake sales, sports day shop, a brilliant charity bag pack at Tesco, Bray, were very well supported, with current students, staff, former students and the wider community chipping in to reach the target.

A big thank you to all, particularly to the five girls, and Mr Connolly their year head, who accompanied them.

ART DEPARTMENT NEWS

Fifth and sixth year art students at St Kilian’s already have a busy schedule of visits arranged to assist them with their art history LC paper.

On Tuesday, October 27 in wonderful weather, the sixth years visited the magnificent Neolithic sites of Newgrange and Knowth where two excellent guides engaged with them on the mysteries of both. The students were fascinated and though tired, had a wonderful visit, which both they and their teachers thoroughly enjoyed. Then back to the school for a very successful sixth year parent teacher meeting organised by Mr Connolly their year head.

Both fifth and sixth year art students will visit the annual ‘Sculpture in Context’ exhibition in the Botanic gardens in Oct. where they will spend a wonderful day drawing and researching among the art pieces and the plants both in, and outside the stunning glass houses.

Then, to top it all in November they will visit the ground-breaking Lucian Freud Art exhibition in IMMA and will take a look at the studio of Francis Bacon in the Hugh Lane gallery. Both of these artists are considered the ‘giants’ of the 20th century. Thanks to their art teachers, Ms. Hume and Ms. Murray

JUNK KOUTURE

On Thursday, October 6, Ms. Murray’s transition year group, and a group of seven second years years from St Kilian’s participated in a workshop in the re-create studios in Ballymount. The transition years were very inspired by the workshop on how to turn unwanted waste materials into reusable objects. These students will be competing in this year Junk Kouture competition.

Junk Kouture is a national competition in which students create wearable designs made completely from recycled waste materials. This will be the third year that St Kilian’s will enter the competition – having reached the regional final for the last two years running.

Both groups had a great time making a wearable accessory, and being inspired by the wonderful materials available to schools or individuals who become members of re-create. Their Junk Kouture designs for this year’s competition are well under way and will hope- fully be completed by the January deadline. Thanks to Ms. Murray for introducing this fantastic opportunity to St Kilian’s fourth years.

EVENING STUDY

The very successful evening study has also recommenced in St Kilian’s and is again this year very well subscribed. Students avail of the supervised facility, lasting two hours and with a much-appreciated break for tea and biscuits in the middle.

A huge word of thanks to Mr Connolly who has been the instigator of this wonderful and very popular addition to the services provided by the school to the local community. He is always on the premises (with a kind smile for everyone), to assist his band of supervising teachers, and to control the heavy demand for the biscuits that he always kindly provides.

Many extra-curricular classes are already up and running after school in St Kilian’s. Many evenings, a visitor might be forgiven for thinking that they were visiting the school in the middle of the day there is so much evening activity around the place.

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

St Kilian’s Library is always a busy and stimulating place under the expert guidance of our enthusiastic librarian Chris Stokes.

St Kilian’s Paired Reading Program runs again this year and is organised by Home School Liaison Ms. Garvey. Parents volunteer to come in once a week and read with our first year students in the library. This helps the first years settle in and develop the reading habit.

Our Book club meets once a month in the library to eat cake and talk about the months read this month it was ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’. Mixed opinions on the book, as it was written as a play and not a novel. However, students from all year groups agreed that the carrot cake was exceptional. Thanks to Ms. Garvey and Mr Stokes

VISIT TO THE PLOUGHING

On Thursday, September 22, A group of Ms. Whelan’s fourth and fifth year Home economics students travelled to the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

They were blessed with great weather and a great gang of students and their teachers explored and enjoyed all things farming. Their focus was on the Irish food industry and the farm to fork traceability of our food. They enjoyed cookery demonstrations from Nevin McGuire and tasted lots of different foods including homemade organic cheese. They also watched sheep being sheared. A wonderful experience for our city dwellers.

A great day was had by all, so a big thank you to Susan, Mr Donohoe and Ms. Whelan for organising the trip.

KILRUDDERY VISIT

On Wednesday, September 21, Ms. Whelan and her sixth year Hotel Catering and Tourism class went on a tourist trail to Kilruddery House and Gardens. They enjoyed the beautiful walk through Kilruddery Gardens where they saw all the fruit trees and the vegetable patch – even the fresh herbs being picked for the coffee house. A great attraction for everyone was the pig enclosure where they spent time watching the sow feeding her seven piglets.

Ms. Whelan would like to thank the staff in Kilruddery for their kindness and patience in answering all the questions. It was a thoroughly enjoyable trip. A big thank-you to Ms. Whelan.

GPO VISIT

Ms. Darcy brought Classes 3B and 3Z to the GPO museum in Dublin on Tuesday, September 20. They enjoyed the 1916 exhibition greatly and found it very informative for their Junior Certificate History. The guides included lots of personal details, helping to bring the Rising to life for all, and the documentary was also excellent. A big thank-you to Ms. Darcy.