Coláiste Chill Mhantáin
MOCK EXAMS
We would like to wish all of our Third and Sixth year students sitting Mock Exams from January 26 to February 9 the very best of luck. These exams provide the students with an opportunity to put their skills and knowledge to the test and are an invaluable experience prior to the state examinations in June.
PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION
The parents’ council will meet on Thursday, February 8, in the school at 7.30 p.m. This always proves to be a very positive forum where the council are apprised of school activities and are given the opportunity to reflect on the life of the school and make contributions which may enhance student experiences. Please remember to follow the parents’ association on Facebook.
ACADEMIC AWARD
Last Wednesday First and Second year students received their academic awards for excellence in their Christmas Examinations. During the Award Ceremony students received a certificate and had a photograph taken which will be sent home as a reminder of their achievement.
This is a great opportunity to recognise and compliment those students who have excelled in a particular subject. Many thanks to Ms Thornton for coordinating the distribution of these academic awards; it was a really positive event and demonstrates that our students respond well to the ethos of positive recognition we foster in our classrooms and throughout the school environs.
Thanks to the First and Second year Heads for their ongoing support of the students and to Mr Tim Thornton, who took the photographs of our top performers.
STUDENT/TEACHER MATCH
As part of the YSI Programme TY2 students organised a student v teachers soccer match on Wednesday, January 31, on the school pitch. The students and teachers lined out and showed great sportsmanship in what turned out to be a very close game.
The teachers won the toss and had the wind at their backs in the first half. Mr Mackey got the game off to a flying start with the first goal followed quickly by another goal for the teachers by Mr O’Toole. In the second half the students started to fight back with goals from Jack Fox and Caolan Mooney making it 2-2. The teachers thought they had it with another great goal from Mr Mackey but Jamie Noble scored making it 3-3 with the last kick of the game and with that the referee, Mr Diamond decided it was time for penalties.
After a nail biting penalty shoot out the students won 5-4 and were ecstatic with their victory. Their captain, Caolan Mooney, made a speech thanking all the staff and students involved. The teachers are looking forward to a rematch in the future.
Thanks to Mr Diamond, Mr Mackey, Mr Upton, Mr McInerney, Mr Cassidy, Mr Murphy, Mr O’Connor, Mr O’Leary, Ms Griffin and Ms Lynch, who gave up their time to play and support the YSI class. Thanks, in particular, to Ms Murphy, who encouraged and coordinated this great event.
All money raised from the match goes to the Wicklow Homeless Five Loaves charity. This charity feed 30-40 homeless people every day and provides warm coats and sleeping bags to people in need. They depend on generous donations so we hope the money raised from our school can make a difference.
JUNK KOUTURE
Junk Kouture is a national contest which encourages students in second level education to create striking couture designs and impressive works of wearable art from everyday junk. We are so proud to have four beautiful and creative entries this year. Well done to the four groups, the models, Eve Cowdrey, Kayla Del-Mundo, Phoenix Anderson and Eva Franey, and Ms Somers for all the hard work in bringing the creations to fruition.
READY STEADY COOK
Healthy Living Week in CCM came to an exciting end on Friday with the eagerly anticipated Ready Steady Cook event. Mr Nolan and Mr McInerney came head to head with Sophie Richardson and Zoe Byrne (fifth year) in a cook off in G23 at lunch time.
In front of an audience of both staff and students, the teams, each accompanied by a souschef (Abbie and Ryan), had to plan, prepare, cook and serve a nutritious main course using a variety of ingredients.
Midway through their task, the Home Economics department introduced a secret ingredient that both teams had to incorporate in their chosen dish – a Sharon Fruit. After an entertaining battle, the teachers emerged victorious for the second year running. Massive thank you to the competitors, audience and, of course, the Judges, Ms Kilgallen, Mr Upton and Conor Hogan.
The Home Economics department would like to thank all staff and students who assisted in the runnng of this year’s Healthy Living Week.
GR8 2 B YNG WORKSHOP
All Transition Year students had the opportunity to attend a Gr8 2 b yng workshop which was held in Clermont last Tuesday. It was facilitated by Suicide or Survive, an organisation which was set up in 2003 due to a desire to harness each individual’s own strengths and provide them with the tools to improve their own mental wellness. Caroline McGuigan, CEO of SOS, and Robert Carley were the speakers on the day.
They spoke to the students about their own personal stories of dealing with depression and suicide attempts. They gave advice on how to deal with both the good and the bad events that can happen in life. All students left equipped with a Wellness workbook, points about how to help their own wellbeing, and a goodie bag which contained a stress ball and links to many organisations which offer help and assistance if they need it.
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
TY students were delighted to welcome Mr John O’Shea, a social entrepreneur, to the school on Wednesday, January 31, to talk to students about his life and work with ‘the poorest of the poor’. He spoke in particular about his time in Calcutta and showed pictures of the ‘forgotten people’ he encountered through his work.
His talk also focused on the current refugee crisis and our collective duty to open our doors to those who need our help. John O’Shea’s main aim in visiting schools is to inspire the next generation of social entrepreneurs.
YOUNG SOCIAL INNOVATORS
TY1 students invited a speaker from Alcoholics Anonymous to speak to all Transition Year students as part of their Young Social Innovators project – Raising Awareness of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. The talk from Philip was very interesting and informative. He told his own story as well as explaining the general effects of alcohol abuse on the person and on their families and friends. The students left with a better understanding of this issue. Thanks to TY1 for organising and all teachers who helped on the day.
FIRST YEAR SOCCER
The First year soccer team won 3-0 against CCA on Friday to top their group and advance to the semi-finals of the Wicklow Wexford league.
The team started well and had an Ethan Snell goal disallowed for offside. CCM broke the deadlock with an Aaron Murray header to make it 1-0 at half time. The team upped their game in the second half and Toby Lee Curran’s hard work paid off when he scored an excellent free kick to make it 2-0. Aaron Murray topped off an excellent performance with a second headed goal to seal the points.
The whole team performed well today with a solid defence of Tomás Kennedy, David Butler, Daniel Browne and Michael Cash, helped by Mikey Merrigan as defensive midfielder and Alex Sinnott, who slotted into central defense well. Thanks to Mr Mackey for coaching the team. Coláiste Chill Mhantáin students, Eve Cowdrey, Kayla Del-Mundo, Phoenix Anderson and Eva Franey showcasing the school’s four beautiful and creative entries in the Junk Couture national competition which culminates in a glamorous Grand Final on April 19th in the 3Arena, Dublin.
Well done to the first and second year Girls’ Basketball teams in their recent matches.
The first year team learned a huge amount in their first league match, showing a huge improvement in their game against North Wicklow Educate Together. The girls were leading at half time, but unfortunately fatigue set in in the second half and NWETS came back very strong in the final quarter, resulting in a narrow loss for CCA.
The second year girls’ team showed great skill and endeavour in their first two matches of the league. On Friday, January 26, they played a strong St Mary’s team. The girls worked really hard, with Lucy Toomey scoring six of the eight baskets, while Alysia Larkin and Taylor Brandon worked tirelessly in defence. CCA won the game by 16 points to eight.
On Monday the 29th, the second year girls’ team played their second game of the league. The entire team put in an amazing performance, winning the game by 44 points to 18.
BOYS’ GAELIC
Congratulations to the first year Boy’s Gaelic Team, who had a convincing win against Avondale on Wednesday, January 31, winning by a margin of 5-8 to 1-4. The entire team put in a great team effort in very difficult conditions.
CYBER SAFETY POSTER
The closing date for the Cyber Safety poster competition is Friday, February 9. The winning entry will be included in next year’s journal and will be framed and exhibited in the school. Best of luck to all entries.
INCOMING FIRST YEARS
There will be an information night taking place in Coláiste Chraobh Abhann on Thursday, February 8, for all incoming first year students. The information night will begin at 7.30 p.m.