Coláiste Chraobh Abhann
PRIMARY TRANSITION DAY
The CCA Primary to Secondary Transition Day took place on Wednesday, November 20, where a number of the local Primary Schools visited us here in the school and got a flavour of what school life in CCA is all about.
It was great to see so many students visiting and taking part in all the various class demonstrations on their school tour.
The primary students had a wonderful experience and they left with a great impression of our facilities, staff and students. It was also lovely to see the students leaving with some mementos which they made in some of the practical classes.
Thanks to the CCA students who volunteered on the day and to the music students who performed in the GP Area. Many thanks to all the staff who made this event a great success and especially to Yvonne for all her support in the planning behind the scenes.
FRENCH TRIP
25 CCA French students visited Rouen, France as part of the annual CCA French exchange trip.
This is a long-standing exchange programme with Lycée Thomas Corneille, Rouen, where the CCA students get to experience what French school and home life is like, and where they get the opportunity to practice and improve their French.
On the first day there was a welcome party and several ‘getting to know you’ activities, including an Escape Room.
On the second day, the students visited the old city of Rouen, seeing some of the historical sights and getting some shopping in, before relaxing with a game of bowling.
The third day included trips to the Normandy coast, Mont SaintMichel, and a fun trip to Disney Land. The students were also interviewed by the local French media on the cultural exchange programme.
Thanks to all the host families, the staff of Lycée Thomas Corneille and to Ms O’Brien and Ms Phillips, who facilitated the exchange programme and who accompanied the students on their trip. The return leg of the exchange trip will take place next year.
LGBT+ WEEK
LGBTQ+ week was held last week in CCA. We are a school that respects and celebrates everyone’s individuality and we pride ourselves on being an inclusive school and workplace.
As part of the celebrations this year, students could get their nails and face painted. There were cupcakes and ribbons on sale with the proceeds going to Shout Out, a voluntary educational organisation that gives workshops and talks on important LGBTQ+ issues and who visited the school and spoke to the students on Monday.
Throughout the week sixth year students provided an opportunity for any student to drop in and chat with them in the Meditation Room at lunch time and there was a competition for students to wear the rainbow colors as part of their uniform on Thursday.
On Friday, there was a surprise Lip Sync by Cormac Timmons and a hilarious performance by Mr Rice and Mr Hughes. There was also a beautiful artistic display in the GP Area with the banner reading Be Proud To Fly. Thanks to all the students and staff involved in making this a very enjoyable week.
TY MINI-COMPANIES
On Tuesday, November 19, the TY mini-companies displayed and promoted their products in the GP Area. There was a wonderful standard of products on show with some great ideas for Christmas gifts.
Over the next few weeks students, parents and staff will have an opportunity to purchase or place an order from the companies. The products will also be on sale during the Christmas market in December.
Thanks to the business department for working with the students and supporting them with their products.
CAREERS WEEK
CCA celebrated Careers Week last week. Teachers wore ‘Ask Me’ badges all week to encourage students to talk to them about what college they attended, and what their own experience of college life was like. Posters and information leaflets were available in the GP Area regarding the choices for different students after their Leaving Cert. As part of Careers Week, TY students attended IADT Dun Laoghaire for their open day. Thanks to all the staff who were involved in the TY trip and facilitating all the events throughout the week.
ATHLETICS
CCA athletes travelled to the Shoreline track on Tuesday, November 19, to take part in Event three on the Wicklow Athletics calendar. Despite the bad conditions, all our athletes performed very well, with Clara Doyle, Amber Scully, Oscar Durston, Moya Kelly, Charlotte Pelz-Olufafe, Shane Collins, Stevie Stokes, Cian Evans and Callum Phelan all picking up individual medals. Thanks to Mr Duffy for organising this event.
BADMINTON
Well done to the Senior Girls’ badminton team who went undefeated in their group stages of the Dublin League competition, with victories over St Mary’s, Naas, Kishoge CC and Adamstown CC the girls are now the quarter-finals of the league. Well done to the team and their manager Ms Lillis.
HURLING BLITZ
Three CCA Junior teams took part in a hurling blitz against three teams from Coláiste Chill Mhantáin. The games were played in a very good spirit and there was some wonderful skills on show. Thanks to bainisteoir Mr Staunton for working with the teams and facilitating the event.
PSYCHO SPAGHETTI
The CCA TY students attended the ‘Psycho Spaghetti’ comedy show in the Laughter Loungein Dublin on Thursday, November 21.
The one-man show which is written and performed by Ger Carey is a hilarious look into the teenager’s mind. The TY students thoroughly enjoyed the day.