ColáisteChill Mhantáin
BEREAVEMENT
Our thoughts are with Hugh O’Brien and the O’Brien family as we heard that our former colleague in Abbey CC, Miriam O’Brien, passed away last week after a long battle with illness. May she rest in peace.
OPEN NIGHT 2016
The school Open Night is on Thursday, October 20, at 6 p.m. This is an opportunity for parents and students to visit our school and get an indication as to what school life is like. Our students, who a wonderful ambassadors for our school, will be there to describe the teaching and learning environment in Coláiste Chill Mhantáin.
WELLREAD AWARD
Coláiste Chill Mhantáin received its national ‘Wellread’ award at a prize-giving ceremony in the City West Hotel in Dublin last Wednesday, October 12.
This award, run by the Professional Development Service for Teachers, was designed to encourage and promote a culture of reading in schools for the benefit of students’ personal and academic development. The award reflects the work our school has been doing in promoting reading through various subject departments, the resource department, JCSP and the library.
Thirty three schools from around the country were represented at the awards and were presented with a certificate and a Wellread flag. Well known author and illustrator, PJ Lynch, presented the awards. Schools who attended the event were also able to display a selection of the reading/literacy initiatives that they undertook in winning the award. Our librarian, Stephen Doherty, and Third Year students, Joanna Kuzio and Moe Tran Quoc, represented the school.
‘GRT TWO B YNG’
As part of their Interagency Youth Mental Health Week last week, the ‘gr8 two b yng’ Wicklow Youth Mental Health Initiative facilitated three workshops for TY students in the school on Tuesday, October 11. The aim of these workshops is to highlight for young people the importance of positive mental health and the steps they can take to protect their mental health.
The students engaged thoroughly in the workshops and the day was successfully concluded with a Mindfulness session. On Friday, October 14, all TY students were invited to attend a walk on the Murrough as part of the HSE’s Positive Steps Initiative where small steps to protect mental health, such as walking, can have a beneficial effect.
YSI JERSEY DAY
As part of the TY YSI project in partnership with GOAL, we participated in the National ‘Jersey Day’ campaign on Friday, October 14, an occasion when students are encouraged to wear a jersey of their choice. This event runs in conjunction with East Glendalough, the Dominican College and the Wicklow Syria Appeal to help raise funds and awareness of the plight of Syrians in Syria and in the Refugee Camps on the Syrian Borders. After hosting the Syrian Special Olympics team here in 2003, Wicklow is one of the few towns in Ireland with a connection to the people of Syria.
MATHS WEEK
Maths week started on Monday, October 17. The following challenges and activities are running throughout the week to celebrate the occasion. All junior students will be encouraged to take part in as many challenges as possible on Mangahigh. Challenges start at midnight on Saturday and the class with the most points wins a pizza party. A tower building challenge using jelly babies, marshmallows and spaghetti is taking place at lunchtime on Tuesday and Thursday. This challenge is open to all students in G75.
Other activities taking place are a Poster Competition encouraging students to create a Maths poster and display on the wall outside the staffroom; a Countdown Challenge to be carried out during each Maths class with the winner going through to the final Countdown Challenge Final on Friday lunchtime; a Kite-Making Competition giving all students the opportunity to make a kite and fly the kite on Friday lunchtime. Everyday, during Maths Week, students will Drop Everything and Reason for five to 10 minutes. Their teachers will read out a maths teaser/puzzle in class and give students 5-10 minutes to work it out. Solutions are gathered by the teacher, placed in a box in the Staffroom and a winner drawn each day.
FRENCH VISITORS
On Tuesday, October 11, we welcomed students and teachers from Lycée Descartes, Montigny, as they visited the school. The students really enjoyed their visit which featured a guided tour by our Mentor team and a fitness session which afforded them the opportunity to use the fitness machines in the school’s gym suite. The students attended a range of classes, from Home Economics and art to Woodwork and Metalwork, and enjoyed interacting with our First Year students of French. Many thanks to Mrs Whyte of the French department, the Mentors and everyone who assisted with the visit.
CONCERN DEBATING
Our Concern Debating team, comprised of Captain Lhamo Fitzsimons, Sophie Richardson, Jennifer Loughlin and Niall Carton, had a debate Thursday night against Presentation College, Bray. They were opposing the motion that ‘Ending world hunger is an impossible dream’. Among their points, they discussed the impact of climate change, humanitarian aid, educating women, the advantages of a vegan diet to name but a few. While they exchanged vicious rebuttal with the proposition, it came down to time penalties and we unfortunately lost. Their next debate is against St David’s, Greystones where we will be proposing the motion that ‘Europe is failing Africa’.
LCA2 SUGARLOAF WALK
Leaving Certificate Applied two students participated in a walk of the Sugarloaf on Thursday, October 6. Organised as part of the Enterprise module for VPG the students have so far raised €90 for their chosen charity Wicklow SPCA. Thank you to Mr Duffy and Mr Doherty for assisting the students in this venture.
UNDER-16BOYS’BASKETBALL
Hard luck to the under-16 Boys Basketball team who were narrowly defeated by Avondale CC on Monday, October 10. The boys lead for the whole match out-scoring the opposition in three of the four quarters but Avondale had more in the tank in the end to win by three points. The lads had a great team performance with particularly strong performances from Tommy Quinn, Caolán Mooney, Daniel Rooney and Joseph O’Shea.
Hard luck, also, to the under-19 Boys Basketball team who were defeated by Avondale CC on Monday. There were solid performances on the day from Evan Doyle, Jack Gibney, Robert Moffitt and Dylan Frazer. Well done to Patrick Keogh who made his CCM basketball debut.
SENIOR SOCCER
The senior boys’ soccer team played their first competitive fixture on Thursday, October 13, in an away match against Presentation College, Bray at Greystones Unit- ed Astro Pitch.
CCM had an excellent start to the match and went 1-0 up inside 10 minutes. Jack Geraghty found John Hayden-Moorehouse running through on goal, and even though he had a lot to do, he managed to find the top left hand corner with a ferocious right-footed strike. The loss of a key player, due to injury, affected CCM, who seemed to lose their way for a period of time. CCM found themselves 3-1 down, and it could have been more but for some vital saves from Ross Hamilton.
With 10 minutes to go, CCM received a free kick at the edge of the box. Robert Keogh stepped up to take it and managed to find the top left hand corner of the goal with a brilliant effort, making the score 3-2. CCM then upped the pressure and had most of the possession for the rest of the game. With the game heading into the dying moments, CCM very nearly rescued a draw. Robert Talaga found himself in space in the penalty area, but his shot was cruelly denied by the post, and the referee blew the final whistle soon after.
Transition Year students travelled to Dublin last week for a fieldtrip as part of their module on ‘Chinese Language and Culture’. This module teaches basic skills in Mandarin Chinese language while also educating students on Chinese traditions and culture. Students travelled to the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin Castle to observe an Asian art exhibit. The exhibition is very impressive, including one of the finest collections of Chinese jade books in the world.
Students then went to Dublin’s Chinatown for an authentic Chinese meal where the students practiced their language skills. A very enjoyable day.
TY RADIO
For the last three weeks, The TY Journalism class have been producing an hour long radio show for Garden County Radio. This involves researching, editing and producing the show. The show was broadcast every Friday evening between 6 and 7 p.m. and was available online or through the Garden County Radio Smartphone App. The students involved really enjoyed the experience.
MUSIC DEPARTMENT
Ms Armstrong and the Music Department has been very busy recently. The music year kicked off with Open Night when all the music students joined forces for the finale of the evening. Since then, all the music students, along with staff and the newly formed ukulele orchestra sang in the GP area for National Choral Week in aid of Mental Health Ireland.
It was wonderful to have the ‘feel good factor’ spread throughout the school community. This event was also recorded as part of the TY Radio module. Many thanks to all involved in making these events such a success.
MIDTERM BREAK
general well-being and mindfulness among young people.
There was a wide range of stands set up including ‘Teenline’, ‘RSA’, ‘Reach Out’, many universities and countless others. There were also interactive activities on offer such as badminton, tennis, hockey and music, as well as general information about how to maintain a good mental health. As well as all this there were various talks and workshops. Many of us attended the ‘inspiration’ talks. It was really interesting to hear the stories of different people’s lives and how they have deal with difficult times.
However, the talk that stood out most to us was, of course, Bressie. It was brilliant and inspiring to hear him discuss some of the hardship and difficulties he has faced throughout his life. The day was very enjoyable and we all walked away from it with much more knowledge about mindfulness and the general well-being of our generation. Written by Ciara Hutchinson, Head Girl.
TY NEWS
This week saw our TY’s get involved with the ‘Gr8 to be Young’ programe run by HSE in the town. This involved talks on health and well being, mindfulness and the importance of physical activity and mental health. It culminated with a walk along the Murrough with the other schools in Wicklow with refreshments along the way. It was a great experience and fantastic to see so many young people out and about enjoying Wicklow’s beautiful coastline.
We are still collecting Lego for the Jack and Jill foundation and the TY office is slowly filling up with bricks of all shapes and sizes. Please do have a dig around at home, each 1kg bag we collect raises €8 for the charity, all of which goes directly to help families who need it most.
The TY play this year is an ambitious one with Mr Gargan taking on A Midsummer Nights Dream. The cast has been picked and rehearsals will get under way shortly. We look forward to seeing the whole year embrace the show with their usual enthusiasm.
Finally this week see our TY’s away in Killary where mud, muck, water and good times are being had by all. You can look forward to a full report on the trip next week.
ORIENTEERING
Nathan O’Connor came second in the Leinster Schools Orienteering Post Primary Event one held in Marlay Park recently.
SWIMMING CLUB